Description
Sweet caramel apple cheesecake bars deliver pure comfort straight from your kitchen. Creamy cheesecake meets tender apples and rich caramel in a crumbly graham cracker crust that makes dessert time absolutely perfect.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 16 ounces cream cheese
- 2 medium apples
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 2 large eggs
Dairy and Sweeteners:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
Spices and Dry Ingredients:
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup quick oats
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 pinch salt
Optional Finishing Touches:
- Caramel sauce
- Optional: chopped pecans
- Optional: mini chocolate chips
- Optional: sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Blend 2 cups graham cracker crumbs, ½ cup melted butter, and ¼ cup sugar into a sandy mixture. Press firmly into a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Bake the crust for 8 minutes at 350°F until lightly golden. Remove and allow to cool completely.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat 16 oz softened cream cheese with ½ cup sugar until completely smooth. Add 2 eggs one at a time, then 1 tsp vanilla extract.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over your cooled graham cracker crust.
- Dice 2 medium apples and toss with 2 tbsp brown sugar, ½ tsp cinnamon, and ¼ tsp nutmeg. Distribute apple mixture across the cheesecake layer.
- Create streusel by combining ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup flour, ½ cup oats, ¼ cup softened butter, and a pinch of salt. Crumble mixture over apples.
- Bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes. Your bars are done when the center looks set and streusel turns golden brown.
- Allow bars to cool completely at room temperature for 1 hour, then refrigerate for 2 hours before slicing.
- Just before serving, drizzle caramel sauce over bars. Sprinkle with optional pecans or sea salt.
Notes
- Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature for a smooth, lump-free cheesecake layer that blends perfectly.
- Choose firm baking apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best texture and balanced tartness.
- Line your pan with parchment paper for easy removal and clean cutting of bars.
- For a gluten-free version, swap graham cracker crumbs with almond flour or gluten-free cookie crumbs.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-55 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 270 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 130 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg