Layered Caramel Candy Bar Cheesecake

Cheesecake Layers

2

bars (2.05 oz each) milk chocolate-covered nougat and caramel candy

1

cup unsalted butter, softened

1

cup sugar

4

packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened

4

eggs

1

package (4-serving size) vanilla pudding and pie filling mix (not instant)

2

teaspoons baking powder

Cake Layers

1

box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® dark chocolate cake mix

1

container (8 oz) sour cream

1/2

cup water

1/3

cup vegetable oil

2

eggs

Filling and Frosting

1

jar (12 oz) caramel topping

1 1/2

containers Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy chocolate frosting

2

bars (2.05 oz each) milk chocolate-covered nougat and caramel candy, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

• 1Heat oven to 325°F. Grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with shortening or cooking spray. Line bottoms of pans with cooking parchment paper rounds; lightly grease paper. Chop 2 candy bars into small pieces; store in refrigerator until needed.
• 2In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Beat in cream cheese a little at a time until smooth; scrape down bowl. Beat in eggs one at a time until well combined. Add pudding mix and baking powder; beat well until smooth. Fold in refrigerated candy bar pieces. Divide batter evenly between pans, about 4 cups per pan. Smooth top with off-set spatula.
• 3Bake 55 to 60 minutes. Layers will puff up during baking and then deflate when removed from oven. Cool in pans on cooling racks 10 minutes. Freeze until solid, about 3 hours.
• 4Turn cheesecakes out onto cookie sheet; peel off paper. Store in freezer until ready to use.
• 5While Cheesecake Layers are freezing, heat oven to 350°F. Grease 3 (9-inch) round cake pans with shortening or cooking spray.
• 6In large bowl, beat Cake ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until well combined. Divide batter evenly among pans.
• 7Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on cooling racks 10 minutes. Remove cake layers from pans onto cooling racks. Cool completely.
• 8To assemble, place 1 cake layer on serving plate or cake stand. Spread 1/4 cup caramel topping over top of cake layer. Place 1 frozen cheesecake layer on top of cake layer; top with 1/4 cup caramel topping. Repeat layering with another cake layer, another cheesecake layer, and finally top with remaining cake layer. Do not coat top cake layer with caramel.
• 9Use 1 container of frosting to evenly coat entire cheesecake. Using off-set spatula, swirl remaining container of frosting onto cake. Top with pieces from 2 candy bars. Refrigerate until cheesecake is well chilled before cutting, about 2 hours. Store in refrigerator.