Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars You’ll Want to Make All Season Recipe
These Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars blend the cozy flavors of fall in an indulgent, easy-to-make layered dessert. Featuring a buttery flour crust, creamy cheesecake filling, tender spiced apples, and a crunchy oat streusel topping, all drizzled with luscious caramel sauce, these bars are perfect for holiday gatherings, potlucks, or any autumn treat. With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, you can prep ahead and impress your crowd with every rich, flavorful bite.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes plus chilling time
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Cheesecake Filling
- 24 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Spiced Apples
- 3 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled and finely diced
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Streusel Topping
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup quick oats
To Serve
- Caramel sauce, for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat oven & Prepare baking dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 13×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing some overhang for easy removal later.
- Make the crust: In a stand mixer, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, and flour, mixing until the mixture becomes crumbly. Evenly press this mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Bake for 14–16 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
- Prepare the cheesecake filling: Using a stand mixer, whip the softened cream cheese for about 1 minute until smooth and creamy. Add in the granulated sugar and continue mixing until fully combined, scraping the bowl sides as needed. Incorporate the eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract, beating until the mixture is smooth. Pour this cheesecake batter evenly over the cooled crust layer.
- Prepare the spiced apples: Peel and finely dice the Granny Smith apples. In a large bowl, toss the diced apples with sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg to evenly coat. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the cheesecake filling.
- Make the streusel topping: Either by hand or with a stand mixer, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, flour, and quick oats until the mixture forms a crumbly texture. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the apple layer.
- Bake the bars: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the cheesecake filling is just set but still slightly jiggly in the center and the streusel topping turns golden brown.
- Cool and chill: Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool to room temperature. For best results, refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to meld and to achieve clean slicing.
- Serve with caramel drizzle: Before serving, drizzle generously with caramel sauce. Cut into squares and enjoy your rich, creamy, and crunchy Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars.
Notes
- Use Granny Smith apples for tartness that balances the sweetness of caramel and cheesecake.
- Allow the crust to cool fully before adding cheesecake filling to prevent mixing layers.
- Refrigerating overnight sharpens flavors and firms the bars for neater slices.
- You can prepare the crust and cheesecake filling a day ahead to save time on baking day.
- If caramel sauce is not homemade, choose a high-quality store-bought version for best flavor.
- Make sure not to overbake; the slight jiggle in the cheesecake indicates perfect doneness to maintain creaminess.
Keywords: caramel apple cheesecake bars, apple dessert, fall baking, cheesecake bars, apple crisp cheesecake, autumn dessert, easy cheesecake recipe
