Fall Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars You’ll Love
These Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars combine creamy cheesecake, tender cinnamon apples, and a buttery streusel topping. Finished with a drizzle of gooey caramel, each bite tastes like fall in dessert form. Perfect for Thanksgiving, parties, or cozy baking days, these bars are simple yet irresistible. 🍎🍰✨
Servings 22
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup cold butter 12 tbsp cubed
- 2 8- oz packages cream cheese softened
- ½ cup plus 2 tbsp sugar divided
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 3 medium tart apples peeled and finely chopped
Streusel
- ¾ cup flour
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup quick-cooking oats
- ⅓ cup butter 5 ⅓ tablespoons cubed
- ⅓ cup caramel syrup
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a small bowl, mix together the flour and brown sugar, then cut in the butter until the mixture looks crumbly.
- Press this mixture evenly into a well-greased 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, just until the crust turns a light golden brown.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, ½ cup sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs and beat on low speed until just combined. Spread this creamy layer over the warm crust.
- In another small bowl, toss the chopped apples with cinnamon, nutmeg, and the remaining sugar until they’re nicely coated. Spoon this apple mixture evenly over the cream cheese layer.
- In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar, and oats, then cut in the butter until crumbly. Sprinkle this streusel topping evenly over the apples.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the filling is set and the topping looks golden.
- Drizzle with caramel sauce while warm, then let the pan cool on a wire rack for about 1 hour. (If you prefer, skip the caramel for now and drizzle it on later when serving. The bars are delicious either way!)
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting into bars.
Notes
- Storage: Keep the finished bars tightly covered in the fridge and enjoy within 5 days for the best texture and flavor.
- If you’re serving these on a platter for an easy grab-and-go treat, you can skip the caramel sauce completely. They stack neatly and travel well that way, just like cookie bars.
- For a more elegant dessert after dinner, serve the bars on plates and drizzle the caramel right before serving for that extra special touch.