Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars are layered with a shortbread crust, creamy cheesecake filling, cinnamon apple filling, a brown sugar streusel, and caramel drizzle! They are easy to make and makes a perfect Fall dessert!
Servings: 12 bars
Ingredients
Shortbread Pie Crust
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup salted butter slightly softened and cut into cubes
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
Cinnamon Apples
- 2 apples peeled and diced into 1/4-1/2 inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- dash nutmeg
Cheesecake filling
- 12 ounces full-fat cream cheese softened at room temperature
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 whole egg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Streusel Topping
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup salted butter very soft
- 1/4-1/2 cup caramel sauce
Instructions
To make the crust
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Whisk together the flour and sugar and use a pastry cutter to incorporate the cubed butter until dough pieces start to form. Then use your hand to mix together until shortbread dough forms. Line a 9x9 inch baking dish with parchment paper and press the dough into an even layer. Bake for 15 minutes and remove from the oven.
To make the cheesecake filling
- In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add in egg, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Beat again until combined, be sure to scrape the sides down with a rubber spatula.
- Pour the cheesecake filling over the warm shortbread crust and smooth out with the back of a spoon or spatula to get an even layer.
To make the cinnamon apples
- In a medium bowl, mix together the diced apples, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix just until combined. Top the cheesecake with the apples in an even layer.
Make the streusel topping
- In a small bowl, combine all of the streusel ingredients together and mix with a fork or your hands until crumbs form. Sprinkle the topping all over the apples.
Bake cheesecake bars
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the center is set. Cool completely then transfer to the refrigerator to chill for at least 3 hours or overnight. Top with caramel sauce, then cut into bars and serve. Enjoy!