Description

Delight in the rich and creamy texture of Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars, a perfect blend of smooth cream cheese filling topped with spiced apples and a buttery crumb topping drizzled with luscious caramel. This dessert combines fall flavors with a cheesecake twist, ideal for holiday gatherings or cozy nights.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust:

1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 sticks (1 cup) cold butter

Cheesecake Filling:

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Apple Topping:

2 Golden Delicious apples, chopped
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Crumb Topping:

1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1 stick (1/2 cup) cold butter, cubed

Finishing:

Caramel topping (1 jar)

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to preheat while you prepare the crust.
Prepare Crust: In a bowl, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup brown sugar. Use a pastry blender to cut in 2 sticks of cold butter until the mixture is crumbly. Press this evenly into a 13×9-inch pan or a cookie sheet with edges. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
Make Cheesecake Filling: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract. Pour this creamy mixture evenly over the warm crust.
Prepare Apple Topping: In a small bowl, combine chopped apples with 2 tablespoons sugar and 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. Distribute this mixture evenly over the cream cheese layer.
Make Crumb Topping: In another small bowl, mix together 1 cup flour, 1 cup brown sugar, and 1/2 cup quick cooking oats. Add cubed 1 stick cold butter and combine until crumbly. Sprinkle this crumb topping evenly over the apple layer.
Bake Bars: Bake the assembled bars in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the filling is set and the topping is golden.
Add Caramel Drizzle: Remove from oven, allow to cool slightly, then generously drizzle with caramel topping. Chill in the refrigerator before serving for best texture and flavor.

Notes

Use Golden Delicious apples for their sweetness and tenderness when baked.
Ensure butter is cold when making crust and crumb topping for the best crumbly texture.
The bars should be chilled before serving to allow the cream cheese filling to set properly.
You can substitute pumpkin pie spice with a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves if unavailable.
Store leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: caramel apple cheesecake bars, caramel apple dessert, fall dessert bars, apple spice cheesecake, buttery crumb topping cheesecake