Bring all your favorite fall flavors together in these Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars. Easy to make in an 11×15 inch sheet pan with simple ingredients, they are perfect for sharing with family and friends.
Finish with a drizzle of caramel sauce and some whipped cream or ice cream for a decadent dessert special enough for the holidays or a weeknight treat to curb that sweet craving.
Recipe Highlights: Love Every Layer
- Why Make It: These apple cheesecake caramel bars are packed with delicious layers, bringing all your favorite fall flavors together in every bite!
- Flavor: The buttery crust, creamy cheesecake, sweet spiced apples, and crumbly streusel build layers of fall flavor and interesting texture.
- Pan: Most cheesecake bar recipes use a 9 x 13-inch pan, but I make mine in an 11 x 15-inch pan to whip up a bigger batch with plenty to share!
- Make Ahead: Make these bars and chill until you’re ready to serve. They’re a great option when you want to get some holiday baking done in advance.
The Good Stuff That Makes It Great
- Shortbread Base:
- Flour provides the structure, brown sugar adds sweet and rich molasses flavor, while butter binds it all together and creates a tender, crumbly crust.
- Cheesecake Layer:
- Cream cheese is the key to this rich and tangy layer, while granulated sugar lightly sweetens and still allows that tangy flavor to shine through. Eggs bind the filling and help create a smooth texture, while vanilla extract adds a deliciously warm flavor.
- Apple Layer:
- I love to use Granny Smith apples because they remain slightly firm when baked. If you like a softer texture, try Macintosh, Golden Delicious, or Gala apples. Sugar sweetens the apples, while apple pie spice is an easy blend of fall flavors. I like to add extra cinnamon for extra warmth.
- Streusel Topping:
- Oats add a hearty texture and a little crunch, while flour provides structure to the streusel. Brown sugar gives a sweet, slightly caramel-like flavor, and cinnamon adds a fall-inspired warmth that is classic paired with apples. Butter binds these ingredients together and, when baked, creates a delicious golden topping.
- Caramel Sauce: While optional, it is a delicious way to finish these bars! Use store-bought or make homemade caramel sauce!
Make It Your Own
- If you don’t need a large batch, half the recipe and use a 9 x 9 inch baking pan.
- Use a mix of apples for a mix of texture and sweetness.
- Stir chopped pecans or walnuts into the streusel topping for extra crunch and nutty flavor.
- For even more caramel flavor and gooey texture, toss a handful of caramel bits into the apple layer.
- Use pumpkin pie spice in place of the apple pie spice and cinnamon for an easy way to bring out those fall flavors.
- Leave out the oats to make a simple brown sugar topping.
How To Make Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
- Mix the base in an 11 x 15-inch pan and bake (full recipe below).
- Mix streusel ingredients until crumbly and set aside.
- Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth, then add eggs and vanilla. Set aside.
- Core and chop apples, toss with sugar, apple pie spice, and cinnamon.
- Assemble. Spread cheesecake over the base, top with apples, then streusel.
- Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes. Cool completely before slicing.
Storing Your Sweet Treats
- Once cooled, cover the pan with foil or transfer the bars to a container. Store bars without the caramel topping and drizzle it on just before serving.
- These bars need to be refrigerated because of the cream cheese, for up to 5 days.
- You can freeze these bars for up to 2 months. Be sure to cut them into individual portions and place parchment paper between layers. Or you can wrap each piece in plastic wrap and transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag.
- To thaw, transfer frozen bars to the refrigerator to sit overnight.
Delicious Dessert Bars To Try
I hope you enjoy these Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars? Leave a comment and rating below.
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
Round out your dessert tray with sheet pan caramel apple cheesecake bars this holiday season.
Equipment
11 x 15 inch sheet pan
mixing bowls
Ingredients
Base
- 3 cups flour
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup butter cold
Cream Cheese Mixture
- 16 ounces cream cheese 2 blocks
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
Apples
- 5 small green apples
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Struesel
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup flour
- ⅔ cup butter
- 1 cup oats
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Topping
- caramel sauce optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F, grease and line a 11×15 inch pan with parchment paper or foil.
Base
- In a bowl mix 3 cups flour and ¾ cup brown sugar. Shred or cube 1 cup butter into dry ingredients and blend with a pastry cutter, or a fork, until crumbled.
- Add mixture into prepared pan, spread evenly, and press down with a measuring cup, press the edges with your fingers.
- Bake for 15 minutes, remove from oven and cool.
Streusel
- Using the same bowl as the apples, mix ½ cup brown sugar, 1 cup flour, 1 cup oats, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Add ⅔ cup butter and blend until crumbled. Set aside.
Cream Cheese Mixture
- In a mixing bowl, blend 16 ounces cream cheese and ½ cup granulated sugaruntil fluffy. Add 2 eggs and 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract then blend again until smooth, scraping the bowl as you mix. Set aside.
Apples
- Wash, dry, core, and slice 5 small green apples into small pieces. Place in mixing bowl, add ¼ cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon apple pie spice, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Mix and set aside.
Assemble
- Pour cream cheese mixture on top of the baked base.
- Sprinkle apples evenly over the cream cheese layer.
- Top with struesel, being careful to distribute evenly over entire pan.
Bake
- Bake for 40 minutes. Remove and set on baking rack to cool.
- Serve with caramel sauce drizzle if you like.
Notes
- Nutrition calculated without caramel sauce.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 360 | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 171mg | Potassium: 120mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 688IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
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