Apple Cream Cheese Breakfast Bars

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• 1 (18 ounce) box yellow cake mix
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine
• 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup half-and-half
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 fresh lemon zest
• 2 1/2 cups sliced apples (2 granny smith apples)
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350. combine cake mix and 1/4 tsp lemon peel in a large bowl, reserving 1/2 cup of the mixture; set aside.
• 2 add butter to remaining mixture and beat with electric mixer at low speed until crumbly.
• 3 press mixture onto bottom and up sides of ungreased 13x9 inch baking pan. bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
• 4 beat cream cheese and reserved 1/2 cup cake mix in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
• 5 gradually add 1/2 cup of sugar, beating until creamy. add eggs one at a time mixing well after each addition.
• 6 blend in half and half and vanilla, pour into baked crust.
• 7 combine 1/3 cup sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and remaining 1/4 tsp lemon peel in large bowl; add apples. gently toss until evenly coated.
• 8 spoon apple mixture over cream cheese batter, sprinkle with almonds.
• 9 bake 30 to 35 minutes or until center is set. cool completely on wire rack and then cut into bars.