Get ready to fall head over heels for fall with our irresistible caramel apple cheesecake bars! With a creamy cheesecake layer swirled with tart apples and drizzled with gooey caramel, these bars are the perfect blend of autumn flavors in every bite.
Looking for the perfect creamy cheesecake bars?
This easy recipe will become your new favorite way to enjoy cheesecake. With a smooth cheesecake filling and a buttery oat crust, these cheesecake bars are easy to make and are the perfect dessert for any occasion.
If you love a classic New York cheesecake but don't want the hassle of making a full-size cheesecake, you'll love these cheesecake bars. They've got all the fall flavors from the caramel and apple, like our maple cheesecake with cinnamon pear topping, but in the form of dessert bars.
What Are Cheesecake Bars?
Cheesecake bars take the classic dessert and shrink it down into portable perfection. With a creamy, dreamy filling nestled on a buttery crust, every bite is a burst of indulgent flavor. Perfect for sharing, these cheesecake bars make the perfect shareable dessert, like our bananas foster cheesecake bars and key lime cheesecake bars.
What you'll love about this recipe:
What You Need to Make Cheesecake Bars
Dough
Creamy Cheesecake Layer
Topping
How to Make Cheesecake Bars
- Now, let's get started on the dough. First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Next, in a medium bowl, mix together the flour and brown sugar to make a crumbly crust. Use a food processor or fork to cut in the butter until the mixture looks crumbly, like sand, with some larger crumbs still remaining.
- Then, press the dough evenly into a 13 × 9-inch baking pan. Bake it for about 15 minutes or until it's lightly browned.
- Moving on to the Cream Cheese Layer: While the crust is baking, let's prepare the cream cheese layer. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar together until smooth.
- Now, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Don't forget to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Finally, mix in the vanilla until everything is well combined. Be careful not to overbeat the batter.
- Next, pour the cream cheese filling over the baked crust.
- Now, let's prepare the apples. Peel, core, and chop them into pieces, then toss them with cinnamon and sugar.
- Spread the apple chunks evenly over the cream cheese layer.
- Moving on to the topping: In a small bowl, combine the flour, oats, and brown sugar. Cut in the butter using a pastry blender or fork until the mixture is crumbly, with no smooth parts.
- Now, sprinkle the crumbly mixture heavily over the apple layer. You might not need all of it, so use your judgment.
- Bake cheesecake bars for about 25 minutes at 350 degrees F. Then, reduce the temperature to 300 degrees F for the last 5 minutes or until the cream cheese layer is set.
- Finally, allow the dessert to cool completely before serving. If you like, you can add caramel topping for extra sweetness. Enjoy!
Expert Recipe Tips
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure that your cream cheese, eggs, and sour cream are all at room temperature before starting. This ensures a smooth and creamy texture in your cheesecake mixture.
- Chill Before Cutting: After baking, allow the cheesecake bars to cool completely at room temperature, then chill them in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight before cutting. This helps them set properly and makes for clean, neat slices.
- Creative Toppings: Get creative with toppings! Add a drizzle of chocolate ganache, fresh fruit compote, or a dollop of whipped cream to elevate the flavor and presentation of your cheesecake bars.
How to Store Leftovers
Store leftover cheesecake bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For longer storage, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
Indulge in a slice of cheesecake bar bliss and treat yourself to a moment of creamy perfection. With each bite, you'll savor the rich flavors and irresistible textures that make these bars the ultimate dessert indulgence. If you try this recipe, please rate the recipe card and leave a comment down below to help out the next reader!
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup 2 sticks butter - at room temperature
For the cream cheese layer:
- 2 8- oz packages cream cheese - softened
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 eggs - at room temperature
- 1 teas vanilla extract
- 2 large golden delicious apples
- ½ teas cinnamon
- 2 teas sugar
For the topping:
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup 1 stick butter - at room temperature
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
Instructions
For the dough:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a bowl, combine the flour and brown sugar. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender, or a fork, until the mixture is crumbly. (You’re going for a sand type texture with coarse crumbles remaining). Press the dough evenly into a 13 × 9-inch baking pan. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
For the Cream Cheese Layer:
- While the crust is baking, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition, stopping if needed, to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla and mix until combined.
- Don’t over-beat the cheesecake batter, just mix until everything is blended well. Pour the cream cheese batter over the crust.
- Peel, core, and chop the apples into pieces. Toss the apples with the cinnamon and sugar.
- Spread the apple chunks over the cream cheese mixture.
For the topping:
- In a small bowl, combine the flour, oats, and brown sugar. Cube the butter and using a pastry blender, or fork, create a crumbly mixture (once again, not smooth – crumbly) and sprinkle heavily over the cream cheese layer. You may not have to use the entire mixture – or you may – you’r call.
- Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees F. Reduce the temperature to 300 degrees F for the last 5 minutes, or until cream cheese layer is set. Cool completely and serve with caramel topping if desired.
Notes
Nutritional informations provided as a courtesy and is only an approximatation. Values will changes based on ingredients used.
⭐ Tried this recipe? Rate it ⭐
Help out the next person and give it a star rating below!
I love it! And I want to see some puppy cuteness! Whhat a sweet story!
I want to see those pups!!! Another amazing looking apple dessert!
Aww, that sounds like something my dad would do too. I used to come home to dogs in our garage - he'd be out knocking on doors trying to find the owner. Dads are awesome.
These bars look seriously delicious! I don't even like apple but with caramel and cheesecake? I think I could handle some apple.
Serve with caramel if desired???? It's required! Look at those bars. They're gorgeous. And perfect. And wonderful. I'm making them today; I swear I am.
How sweet is your dad to pick up those little ladies and adopt them instead of taking them to a shelter. That is one big hearted man! I can't wait until you're able to take pictures of them in their little outfits!
Your Dad is a good man rescuing and taking care of those pups. I have a rescue dog myself, and I just can't understand what drives people to do the things they do to these poor animals.
I am in love with this recipe. I've been promoting any and all apple recipes I come across because, in my opinion, we foodies have for the most part bypassed apples and gone to pumpkin. So sad! More apple love is needed, and this recipe is a great contribution. Om nom nom! 😉
Can't wait to see those cute little pups! How great of him to take them home and give them a place to live.
These bars are amazing! Everything about them is just deliciousness!
Love your 12 weeks to christmas countdown. You had me at caramel! The Cheesecake cookie bars look divine!
We're having an apple blog hop too! You should come and share your recipe w us: https://bakerstreet.tv/2011/10/01/apple-blog-hop-cream-cheese-apple-tart/
Aw! They sound like lucky pups! And these bars look amazing!! Layers of goodness 🙂
OMG, I can only imagine how cute those puppies are. Poor little babies. Your dad sounds like an angel.
Oh yeah, and WOW, your bars look divine.
I've been wanting to branch out to other fall flavors besides pumpkin, and this is it!
I have a special chihuahua at home and am glad your dad found it in his heart to save those two abandon/lost pups from the street.
The flavor layering in these bars are awesome. Nothing here I do not like-delicious post.
What a cute and sweet post, Kita!
Your cookie bars look amazing..It would be perfect with cup of cold milk:))
Thats ok these apple bars sound so ONO! WOW! I can just imagine the puppy cuteness...I used to detest the little outfits on dogs and now that I have a bishon (mix) he is so prissy that he just SCREAMS to be dressed! Gotta have the accessories!
I'm so grateful that they found a good home. I would like to officially abopt your caramel apple cheesecake bars. They look like they need my home!
These sound too good to be true. I love cute little puppies, and your dad sounds like a total prince for bringing them home. 🙂
So glad that your dad saved the little puppies!! We need more people like that! And these bars look absolutely fantastic! They look so gooey! And I LOVE goo!!
The cookie bars look absolutely yummm and delicious!Good thing that you gave the pets a nice home:)
Mmm these look presidential and I only use that word for the special stuff! Great story about the pets and I love dogs, I have a labrador but I like looking at your bars more 🙂
Glad to have found your blog, and I'll follow you on Twitter...
Take care...
I cannot wait to see the puppies in their pink outfits. They sound SO cute! For now, though, those cheesecake bars have my full attention. They look delicious, Kita!
Another fantastic cookie bar! And I so need to see the pics of the pups ... or when they're all nice and chubby!
Wow these bars look amazing! Love that caramel drizzle on top. Great photos too!
a cheese cake and apple in a bar! perfect!
Tq for sharing the recipe kita... and tq for sharing the story with us...
your father is a lovely and warm-heart person... glad to know that there's still a person like like ur father in this world 🙂
My little sister chihuahua is missing a month ago and just a week ago she being find by the neighbor ... she is so skinny and looks so sad when the first time being found, but now she stay by my sister lap and don't want to go anywhere 🙂
Lovely dessert kita! u got my buzzed!;)
Can't wait to see pictures of the new pups! Unicorn costumes would be amazing! Oh, and these bars are also amazing!
Kita, these bars look great. I can't wait to see the pictures of the new gals!
Oh, i'm sure you'll find ways to incorporate puppy cuteness in future posts 🙂 Loving the pink!
Loving these cookie bars too...holiday yumminess!
YUM! I'll take some, please! So kind of your father to rescue those pups from the street. I bet their adorable in their pink duds!
I keep scrolling by these bars in my reader. I have to stop and stare every time. Caramel, apple, and cream cheese? Perfect.
Your Dad sounds like a wonderful human being 🙂 His puppy rescue is just adorable.You will have to share photos!
These apple cheesecake bars look amazing and your dad is a keeper!
Your dad is a great man saving those puppies, I can imagine the smile on his boys when they saw the puppies.
The cookie bars look stunningly delicious. care to share 🙂 nice photos.
OMG I want i want I want! These look so good! Buzzed and bookmarked for later. =)
Great story accompanied with a great recipe. Hats off to your dad!
Dang girl! These are looking fab. Three of my favorite things all in one bar -- perfection!
I found these on the Food Network and made them yesterday...they are FABULOUS!!! Your photos are wonderful, too~
you better share pictures of the dogs!!!!
My boss makes these all the time. she loves cheesecake and I love these since it's not too much cheesecake since the apples and caramel help cut that richness.