Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
These are basically fall’s greatest hits in one bite! 🍏🍰 Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars have a buttery graham crust, creamy cheesecake, cinnamon apples, crumbly streusel and a caramel drizzle.
You bake a graham cracker crust, pour the cheesecake layer over it, spoon on buttery cinnamon apples, and sprinkle an oat streusel on top. After they bake, they cool and chill, then get a caramel drizzle before you cut them.
It makes 24 bars, so it’s perfect for Thanksgiving or any holiday table.
Why You’ll Love It
- Four layers. Crust, cheesecake, apples and streusel.
- Caramel drizzle. The finishing touch.
- Feeds a crowd. It makes 24 bars.
- Easier than pie. No pie crust to roll out.
- Make ahead. They need to chill anyway, so make them the day before.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar: The buttery crust.
- Cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla: The creamy cheesecake layer.
- Apples, brown sugar and cinnamon: Sautéed in butter until soft.
- Flour, old-fashioned oats, brown sugar and cold butter: The crumbly streusel.
- Caramel sauce: For drizzling over the top.
You’ll find the exact amounts and steps in the printable recipe card below.
How to Make It
Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment. Stir the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar together, press it into the pan, and bake the crust. Meanwhile, sauté the diced apples in butter with brown sugar and cinnamon until soft, then let them cool slightly. Beat the cream cheese and sugar until completely smooth, beat in the eggs and vanilla, and pour it over the warm crust. Spoon the apples over the cheesecake. Mix the flour, oats and brown sugar, cut in the cold butter until crumbly, and sprinkle it over the apples. Bake until the center is just set with a slight jiggle, then cool and chill. Drizzle with caramel sauce and cut into bars.
Tips for the Best Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
- Line the pan. Parchment makes it easy to lift the bars out and cut them.
- Soft cream cheese. Beat it until completely smooth before adding the eggs.
- Cool the apples a bit. Let them cool slightly before spooning them on.
- Look for a jiggle. They’re done when the center is just set with a slight jiggle.
- Chill before cutting. Cool 1 hour, then refrigerate at least 2 hours.
Cheesecake bars vs. pie — which one are you bringing to the holiday table? 🍰
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Stir together the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Press firmly and evenly into the pan. Bake 10 minutes; set aside.
- Melt the 1 tbsp butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced apples, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and cinnamon; sauté 5 minutes until the apples soften. Cool slightly.
- Beat the cream cheese and 1/2 cup granulated sugar until completely smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Pour over the warm crust.
- Spoon the sautéed apples evenly over the cheesecake layer.
- In a small bowl, mix the flour, oats, and 1/3 cup brown sugar; cut in the cold butter with a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle over the apples.
- Bake 30–35 minutes, until the center is just set with a slight jiggle. Cool 1 hour, then refrigerate at least 2 hours. Drizzle with caramel sauce and cut into 24 bars.
