These Apple Cheesecake Bars are a delicious and easy treat that is going to become a family favorite. Buttery brown sugar crust, great apple cheesecake middle, and delicious crumble topping!
Happy Sunday, happy people! If all the stars align perfectly, today we will head out to pick apples. It is one of my very favorite fall traditions. We have been doing it for the last nine years or so, and something about it fills my heart with joy. Even if kids are crabby about walking, and I’m tired from lack of sleep, once we get out there it’s like all of that disappears. Magical apple trees, I love you.
So! I thought it would be appropriate to give you an amazing apple recipe to make with those gorgeous red orbs. This delicious recipe comes from Christi Johnstone of Love From the Oven and her incredible book: My Little Pony Baking Book!
How to Make Apple Cheesecake Bars
Here is a brief overview of how these apple cheesecake bars come together. For the full recipe including all measurements and ingredients, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post. The end result is cheesecake bar perfection.
- Make the crust. Combine cold butter, flour, and brown sugar in a food processor. Press the crumby mixture into the bottom of a baking dish and bake.
- Make the cheesecake filling. While the crust bakes, mix together the softened cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Set aside.
- Combine the apples. Mix together the peeled and diced apples, cinnamon, sugar, and nutmeg. Set aside.
- Make the crumble topping. In your food processor (no need to clean it first), combine flour, brown sugar, oats, and cold butter.
- Layer the bars. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust when it comes out of the oven. Then add the apples and finally the crumb topping.
- Bake the bars. Bake it all up until the crumb top is golden brown! Allow to cool before cutting the bars.
Baking Pan
Apples For Baking
These apple cheesecake bars can be made with any kind of apple. I prefer to bake with apples that are slightly crisp and hold up well, such as Honeycrisp or Gala.
Tips and Tricks
- If you don’t have a food processor: Use a pastry cutter to combine the ingredients for the crust layer and the ingredients for the crumb topping.
- Make sure your cream cheese is softened. To create a smooth cheesecake filling, your cream cheese must be at room temperature. Let it sit out on the counter for 30 minutes or so to do this, do not put it in the microwave. I also highly recommend using a brand name cream cheese like Philadelphia.
How to Store These Cheesecake Bars
These bars cut best if you let them completely cool first. It helps the cheesecake layer to really set and cut nicely. After you take the bars out of the oven, let them cool enough to touch the pan without hot pads. Then cover them well with aluminum foil and fridge until fully set. Store in the refrigerator for up to four days.
To freeze, place them in a single layer in the freezer for a few hours. Then stack them and transfer to an airtight container. Return to the freezer and store for up to three months. Allow them to thaw for about 30 minutes at room temperature before eating.
Adding Caramel Sauce
I highly recommend serving these with some caramel sauce on the side. They are incredible when you turn them into caramel apple cheesecake bars. Prepare the bars as the recipe directs and drizzle with caramel just before serving. You can buy caramel sauce from the store (often found near the ice cream toppings) or make it from scratch. I have a simple caramel sauce recipe that is also perfect for dipping apples!
Caramel Sauce
Other Great Apple Recipes
If you are also headed apple picking and you need more great recipes for those apples, here are some of my favorites:
- This Apple Pecan Fall Salad is super popular on the blog. Great for lunches or double it and bring it to a potluck.
- I will eat this Naked Apple Spice Cake all year long, no need to just save it for fall!
- And of course, you must make my Apple Carrot Zucchini Muffins. They are super popular and the kids love them.
If you make this caramel apple cheesecake bars recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know!
Apple Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
Crust Layer
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar firmly packed
- 3/4 cup cold butter cut into cubes
Cheesecake Layer
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened (2 8 ounce pacakges)
- 1/2 cup (plus 2 tablespoons) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
Apple Layer
- 3 medium apples peeled and diced into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Crumb Topping
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup brown sugar firmly packed
- 1/2 cup quick cook oats
- 1/3 cup cold butter cut into cubes
- caramel sauce for serving optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9 by 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a food processor, combine 2 cups of all-purpose flour, brown sugar, and cold butter until you get a crumb-like texture.
- Press into the bottom of the 9 by 13 inch pan and bake for 15 minutes.
- While the crust is baking, beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time until just combined.
- In a medium bowl combine the apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and 2 tablespoons sugar. Stir to combine.
- In the food processor (no need to clean it first) combine 3/4 cup flour, brown sugar, oats, and 1/3 cup cold butter until just combined.
- Carefully spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust, taking caution as the crust and baking dish will be very hot after 15 minutes in the oven. Next, sprinkle the apple mixture on top. Finally, sprinkle on the crumb topping.
- Bake for 25 to 35 minutes uncovered or until the entire top is a nice golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before slicing. Store in the refrigerator, covered. Enjoy with caramel sauce on top!
Christi says
I love this recipe so much! Thank you for sharing!
Molly says
These look so so good. I am making them immediately for my fiance’s weekly pot luck. Any advice in single serving cook time? If i bake these in muffin tins with liners would the bake time and/or temp vary at all?
I haven’t tried them that way, so I can’t say for sure, but I think that if you do about 15 to 20 minutes they will be good. Make sure that the topping is nice and golden brown.
Cindy says
Has anyone tried this recipe with a traditional streusel topping? I’m philosophically opposed to putting oatmeal in a crumble topping. Would it bake up as well without the oatmeal?
Sara says
It is really delicious.
So glad you liked these Sara!
Amy says
Delicious
(I did not have a food processor-so I used a pastry cutter)
Still yummy!
Also, I only used 1 eight ounce block of cream cheese, but made the adjustment on the sugar for that part.
I’m so glad you liked this!