Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars are such a fun fall treat! You’re going to love the flavors of this easy fall dessert recipe that is packed full of real apples, a shortbread crust, cheesecake filling, and topped with streusel and creamy caramel. It’s literally the perfect fall dessert, alongside my Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars.
These dessert bars will quickly become one of your favorite cheesecake bar dessert recipes – guaranteed! Don’t save them for special occasions. The best part about these apple cream cheese bars is that you can make this any time of the year!
Chopped Apples, Oats, and Caramel – One of My Favorite Apple Recipes – The Best Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars recipe
There’s nothing quite like the creamy texture of these homemade dessert bars. And after just one bite, it’s a safe bet that this might be your new favorite recipe for fall dessert! The rich flavors are out of this world good!
You’re not going to believe how easy this cheesecake recipe is. Not only are you making the crust and cheesecake filling from scratch, but you’re making the crumb topping which is super easy to make! This time of year, your tummy is going to be thanking you!
This might be the best caramel apple cheesecake ever because it uses real apples and jarred caramel sauce in the recipe – it really is an easy cake recipe!
I love having this sweet treat for the kids because it’s one that never has any leftovers. (check out this simple peach cobbler recipe, too!) When there is nothing leftover of this caramel apple cheesecake bars recipe, you know it needs to be added to your list of amazing recipes!
Caramel Cheesecake Bar Ingredients
Pumpkin pie spice – This is a must to get that delicious fall flavor.
Vanilla extract
Apples – You can choose any type of apples that you want.
Sugar – I like to use unsalted butter when I’m baking desserts.
Eggs
Butter
Cream cheese – Let it get to room temperature before using.
Brown sugar
Flour
Caramel topping
Quick-cooking oats – Make certain that they’re the Instant Oats as this is key for the topping.
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE FOR CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE BARS
1. Preheat
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
2. Combine
First, in a bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until the mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 13X9 pan or cookie sheet with edges. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
3. Mix
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar until smooth. Add eggs, 1 at a time. Next, add in the vanilla. Mix until combined. Pour over the warm crust.
4. Stir
Next, in a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, 2 tablespoons sugar, and pumpkin pie spice. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture.
5. Make the crumb topping
Combine flour, oats, and brown sugar for a crumb topping in another small bowl. Add cubed butter and combine. Crumble over cream cheese mixture.
6. Bake
Bake for 30 minutes or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping and store in the fridge.
Don’t be scared to add some vanilla ice cream to the apple topping.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
- Make certain that your cream cheese is softened before using it. Otherwise, your cheesecake is going to be lumpy.
- Use cold butter to make the crust AND the crumb topping. It will form the best crust!
- Change out the apple type for any kind of apple you want. You can also try this recipe with other fruit as well.
- If you like your cheesecake cooled, let it sit overnight to chill and firm up.
- Make sure to keep these dessert bars in the refrigerator because cream cheese needs to be kept cold to keep it from going bad.
VARIATIONS
Delicious Apples
This recipe calls for Golden Delicious apples but you can really use any type of apples that you have at home or from your local orchard. I vary up the diced apples all the time. Granny smith apples add a wonderful tangy flavor!
Brown Sugar Streusel Crumb Topping
The crumble-type topping on the top of this cheesecake is so easy to make and so delicious. It’s the perfect topping for these delicious cheesecake squares. Streusel topping just might be my favorite part of this simple crisp fall apple dessert.
Caramel Apple Nachos
Oh yes, we went there. These Caramel Apple Nachos are another super fun way that you can have your dessert and eat it any way that you want.
You could even try to make this into a caramel apple pie as well. Just add on a bit of extra caramel drizzle
FAQ
What is the sweetest type of apples to use when baking?
There are so many great apple choices. Fuji apples, Gala apples, and even Honeycrisp are all sweet and delicious choices.
How do you store these apple cheesecake bars?
Due to the ingredients that are added, you need to make certain that you add them to the fridge with a lid to keep them covered.
What are some other fun topping ideas for this simple caramel apple recipe?
The caramel sauce is amazing but I also think that adding on some mini chocolate chips or even a drizzle of hot fudge could really take the flavor over the top.
If you’re looking for great recipes, you’re going to love the creamy cheesecake layer of this fall baking favorite. It seriously is one of my favorite apple desserts to make and back during the fall. It’s the best thing to have when the air is crisp!
If you liked this simple apple dessert, you’re going to love these other easy fall desserts:
- Apple Dump Cake
- Pumpkin Dump Cake
- Pumpkin Spice Donuts
- Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Pumpkin Roll
- Apple Crumble
- Pecan Pie Bars
Caramel Apple Cheese Cake Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Golden Delicious apples
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar divided
- 1 cup 2 sticks butter, cold
- 2 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 jar caramel topping
Crumb Topping
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
- 1/2 cup 1 stick butter, cold
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
- First, in a bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 13X9 pan or cookie sheet with edges. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar until smooth. Add eggs, 1 at a time. Next, add in the vanilla. Mix until combined. Pour over the warm crust.
- Next, in small bowl, stir together chopped apples, 2 tablespoons sugar, and pumpkin pie spice. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture.
- Make crumb topping
- Combine flour, oats, and brown sugar for a crumb topping in another small bowl. Add cubed butter and combine. Crumble over cream cheese mixture.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping and store in the fridge.
Notes
- Make certain that your cream cheese is softened before using it. Otherwise, your cheesecake is going to be lumpy.
- Use cold butter to make the crust AND the crumb topping. It will form the best crust!
- Change out the apple type for any kind of apple you want. You can also try this recipe with other fruit as well.
- If you like your cheesecake cooled, let it sit overnight to chill and firm up.
- Make sure to keep these dessert bars in the refrigerator because cream cheese needs to be kept cold to keep from going bad.
Your recipe calls for sugar to be divided. I didn’t see where the divided sugar goes.
Thanks
Karen Peters
Hi! We use a 1/2 cup in step 3 and the remaining 2 Tablespoons in step 4!
So there’s no bottom crust?
Hi Michelle! There is a bottom crust to the recipe 🙂
The ingredients list for the crust is missing (with the amounts)
The ingredient list calls for the butter to be softened for both the crust and the topping but in the notes you say to use cold butter. Is “softened” an error on the ingredient list?
Good catch — cold butter for the crust and topping!