Gluten-Free Apple Butter Swirl Cheesecake Bars

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper, leaving an overhang on opposite sides to lift the bars out afterward. Spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
2. For the crust: Stir the flour, brown sugar and salt together in a medium bowl. Add the butter, and use a pastry cutter to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Press into an even layer in the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes, or until light brown and set. Remove the pan to a wire rack.
3. For the filling: While the crust cooks, in a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese with sugar until well combined and smooth. Add the egg, vanilla and salt, and beat just until the mixture is uniform.
4. Remove 1/4 cup of the cream cheese mixture into another bowl. Add the apple butter to the 1/4 cup cream cheese mixture and mix until blended.
5. Pour plain cheesecake mixture over the crust (it's fine if the crust is warm, no need to cool it completely). Top with drops of apple butter mixture and swirl with a knife.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the filling is set. Remove the pan to a wire rack and let the bars cool completely, then refrigerate for at least a few hours. Use the foil or parchment handles to lift the bars out. Cut into squares for serving.