Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
Layers of buttery crust, creamy cheesecake, spiced apples, and crunchy streusel, all drizzled with caramel! 🍏🍰 These bars are the ultimate fall dessert!
Ingredients
Crust:
- 2 cups 240 gr all-purpose flour
- ½ cup 100 gr light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup 225 gr butter, (2 sticks) softened
Cheesecake:
- 16 oz 450 gr block cream cheese, (two 8-oz blocks) softened
- ½ cup 100 gr granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Apples:
- 4 cups 370 gr Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, & diced (about 3 large apples)
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Streusel:
- 1 cup 120 gr all-purpose flour
- 1 cup 200 gr light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup 40 gr quick cooking oats
- ½ cup 115 gr butter, (1 stick) softened
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Extras:
- ½ cup 165 g caramel topping, for drizzling after being baked
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Prepare a 13×9-inch baking pan by lightly greasing it or lining it with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on each side for easy removal.
For the Crust:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the flour, brown sugar, salt, and softened butter. Initially, the mixture will be dry and crumbly, but as you mix, it will come together and become moist. Press this mixture evenly into your prepared pan and bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly golden.
For the Cheesecake Layer:
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Pour this creamy mixture over the warm crust.
For the Apple Topping:
- In a small bowl, combine the diced apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Evenly distribute this apple mixture over the cheesecake layer.
For the Streusel:
- In a medium bowl, mix all the streusel ingredients with a fork (or your fingers) until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle this evenly over the apple topping—feel free to press it in slightly if you prefer larger clusters.
- Bake the assembled dessert at 350°F for an additional 30-35 minutes, or until the cheesecake filling is set. Allow the bars to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for about 2 hours until chilled. Just before serving, drizzle with caramel topping for an extra touch of indulgence.
Notes
- Allow the dessert to come to room temperature for 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving, as the chilled crust can be quite firm. If you've lined your pan with parchment paper, use the overhang to gently lift the dessert out. For clean, precise cuts, use a hot knife and rinse it under hot water between each slice.