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    Home > Recipes > Cookies, Brownies & Bars

    Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

    ↓ Jump to Recipe · By: Julia Foerster · Posted: 09/11/17 · Updated: 09/11/17 · This post may contain affiliate links

    Easy Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars have three delicious layers and are a perfect fall dessert! A graham cracker crust topped with a creamy cheesecake layer loaded with cinnamon spiced apples and cookie-like streusel and salted caramel on top.

    Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars have three delicious layers and are the perfect fall dessert! A graham cracker crust topped with a creamy cheesecake layer loaded with cinnamon spiced apples and cookie-like streusel and salted caramel on top.

    Close-up of a teal plate with a caramel apple cheesecake bar garnished with apples and cinnamon sticks.

    Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars will be your favorite apple bar recipe this season! These bars combine the deliciousness of my popular Apple Streusel Sheet Cake and cheesecake bars into one perfect fall dessert.

    Move over apple pie! Between the rich flavors of salted caramel and cinnamon spiced apples to the tempting layer of cream cheese and cookie-like streusel, this will be your new favorite fall recipe. My cheesecake caramel apple bars are always gone in seconds so you better be quick!

    The only “bad” thing about this apple bar recipe for me as an impatient person is that they take a few minutes to prep and they need to chill before slicing, but those tasty layers are so worth it! Your house will smell like a bakery while the bars are baking!

    A black baking sheet with caramel apple cheesecake bars, garnished with apple wedges and cinnamon sticks.

    Tips and Tricks for making these Apple Streusel Cheesecake Bars

    • For easier slicing and serving line the baking pan with aluminum foil or strong parchment paper and leave an overhang to lift out the bars after chilling them in the fridge to set.
    • Crush the graham crackers yourself! They taste fresher and better. If you can’t find graham crackers you can also use digestive biscuits or other plain whole wheat cookies. Crush them in a food processor or put them in a zipped top bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
    • Tart apples work best for this recipe but sometimes I use what I have on hand and they taste delicious too. I like to peel the apples because I like the texture better in this recipe.
    • Instead of two 8 oz brick-style cream cheese, you can also use one 8 oz cream cheese and 1 cup Greek yogurt. I always use full-fat cream cheese and yogurt but to make this recipe lighter you could also try using fat reduced (not fat-free) cream cheese and fat reduced or fat-free Greek yogurt (like Chobani 0% fat, plain for example).
    • The bars need to chill before slicing them into squares. I find that refrigerating them overnight works best! Don’t slice the bars too early because they will likely fall apart.
    • The bars keep fresh in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.

    Let’s start baking! The recipe begins with a super easy buttery graham cracker crust that’s topped with a creamy cheesecake layer.

    A baking sheet with a graham cracker crust and a red measuring cup.

    Then cinnamon-spiced apples are spread all over the simple cheesecake layer.

    A baking sheet with a cheesecake layer topped with apple pieces.

    The last step before baking is making the streusel topping. I love big cookie-like German streusel! You want to use your hands and press the crumbs together to form bigger ones to get the cookie-like texture everyone loves.

    A baking sheet with streusel topping.

    When the apple crisp bars come out of the oven drizzle the caramel sauce on top and let cool for 1 hour.

    Then transfer the pan to the fridge and chill until set before cutting into squares. I find chilling overnight works best and makes less of a mess!

    Close-up of a teal plate with a caramel apple cheesecake bar.

    Looking for more apple recipes? Here are a few of my other favorites:

    • Covered German Apple Cake Recipe
    • Puff Pastry Walnut Apple Strudel
    • German Apple Streusel Sheet Cake
    • Apple Cinnamon Muffins
    • Apple Cake Recipe with Cinnamon Butter

    Tools used for making these Caramel Apple Cheese Bars

    9 x 13 inch Pan with Lid: I love this baking pan! It comes with a lid so it’s easy to transport baked goods or casseroles and it’s super easy to clean, everything slides right off. I use this pan for all my 9×13-inch cakes, bars, and casseroles.
    Stand Mixer: The most beautiful appliance in my kitchen! I own it in the gorgeous Ice Blue but the new Imperial Black one is my current favorite color.
    Vanilla Extract: This is my favorite vanilla extract. I also love their vanilla sugar for recipes where I don’t want to add more liquid.
    Caramel Sauce: This caramel sauce is thick and comes in a squeezable bottle. It’s a good alternative if you can’t get the Trader Joe’s caramel sauce which tastes better in my opinion. But the best caramel sauce is a homemade one! I love the recipe for salted caramel sauce from Sally’s Baking Addiction.

     

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    A teal plate with a caramel apple cheesecake bar garnished with apples and cinnamon sticks.
    Servings: 18

    Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

    Easy Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars have three delicious layers and are a perfect fall dessert! A graham cracker crust topped with a creamy cheesecake layer loaded with cinnamon spiced apples and cookie-like streusel and salted caramel on top.
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Calories: 368kcal
    Author: Julia Foerster
    5 from 3 votes
    Print PIN RECIPE Rate

    Ingredients

    For the crust:

    • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs, (15 full sheets)
    • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted (115g)
    • 1/2 cup granulated sugar, (100g)

    For the cheesecake layer:

    • 16 ounces cream cheese, softened (450g)
    • 1/2 cup granulated sugar, (100g)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten

    For the spiced apples:

    • 3 medium tart apples, peeled and finely chopped
    • 2 tablespoon brown sugar
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

    For the streusel topping:

    • 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, (190g)
    • 1/2 cup granulated sugar, (100g)
    • 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed (100g)
    • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1/3 cup (salted) caramel sauce, see notes above
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    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease a 9x13-baking pan with baking spray.
    • Combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar with a rubber spatula. Press mixture into the bottom of the pan. The crust should be tight and compact, I like to use the bottom of a measuring cup to press the mixture into the pan.
    • Pre-bake the crust for 8 minutes.
    • While the crust is baking make the cheesecake layer: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth, about 1 minute.
    • Add eggs and beat on low speed until just combined. Spread over the slightly cooled crust.
    • In another bowl, combine apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Toss until all the apple pieces are evenly coated. Spread over the cheesecake mixture.
    • For the streusel topping: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment beat the flour, sugar, cubed butter, and cinnamon together until you have a crumbly mixture, about 2-3 minutes. Distribute streusel evenly over apples. The streusel should look like in the picture above.
    • Bake for 30-35 minutes or until filling is set. Drizzle with salted caramel sauce and let cool in pan on a wire rack for 1 hour. Then transfer pan to the fridge and cool for at least 3 hours. Cut into bars.

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 368kcal
    Did you Make this Recipe? Tag me Today!Share it on Instagram and tag @platedcravings or #platedcravings!

    Image with text: caramel apple cheesecake bars, image: Cloe-up of a caramel apple cheesecake bar.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Abby says

      October 26, 2022 at 3:56 pm

      Wondering if you can make ahead and freeze and then thaw when ready to use? Has anyone tried freezing them

      Reply
    2. Linda says

      April 09, 2022 at 6:52 pm

      5 stars
      I made these for Easter(I know wrong season😁). They are so delicious and easy to make

      Reply
    3. Rachel says

      December 25, 2020 at 12:27 pm

      5 stars
      Make this at least once a month. Couldn’t be easier. Couldn’t be more delicious. I have added chopped walnuts to the apples…also great

      Reply
    4. Tiffani says

      September 02, 2019 at 9:15 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for a family dinner.. was a big hit! Everyone loved it! I will make this a few more times this year!!

      Reply
    5. Susan Cozad says

      April 25, 2018 at 8:06 am

      can I make crust with an already baked salted caramel cookie ?

      Reply
      • Julia says

        April 26, 2018 at 9:14 am

        Yes, sure!

        Reply
    6. Megan @ MegUnprocessed says

      September 21, 2017 at 1:10 pm

      That caramel looks delicious!

      Reply
    7. Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says

      September 20, 2017 at 6:17 pm

      These cheesecake bars look great!! Thanks for sharing!!!

      Reply
    8. Krissy Allori says

      September 20, 2017 at 12:08 pm

      Heck yes! Looks delicious!!!

      Reply

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    Julia Foerster from Plated Cravings

    Hi, I'm Julia! Born in Germany, I call Canada now my home and love to share my favorite dishes with you! Here you'll find hundreds of recipes, all made from scratch with lots of tips and detailed step-by-step instructions. ➝ Visit my about page and ➝ subscribe to never miss a new recipe!

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