Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars perfectly capture the essence of fall. Apples, caramel, cream cheese… It doesn’t get better than this for fall desserts!

Cheesecake Bars

This recipe starts with sweetened cream cheese on a buttery crust. The apple layer adds a tangy burst of flavor with cinnamon, sugar, and nutmeg adding warmth. Crunchy, caramel-covered streusel on top is the finishing touch, making this dessert a definite crowd-pleaser!

Si’s note: A few years ago, someone brought a dessert to a neighborhood gathering. I did not see who brought the dessert, but LOVED it. I asked around and no one claimed the dessert. I finally found out a couple years later that my friend Kim, who grew up in the same circle where we raised our kids in Bountiful, made the Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars! I asked her for the recipe, and the rest is history.

Si’s dear friend, Kim Goalen Bailey from Bountiful, shared this family recipe. It’s definitely become a fall favorite!

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Tips for the best Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

  1. Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your dairy is at room temperature. This helps everything blend smoothly for a creamier cheesecake texture. The streusel also comes together easily when it’s not chilled.
  2. Cooling and Chilling: For best results, let the bars cool completely and chill before cutting with a serrated knife.
  3. Preventing Browning: Right after cutting the apples, coat in cinnamon sugar to keep them from browning.
  4. Bulk Cream Cheese: If you plan to make more than one batch, consider buying cream cheese in bulk from Costco to save money.
  5. Creating a foil “handle”: Make a handle to remove the cheesecake bars by lining the baking pan with a long piece of foil (see photo above). The bars can be removed from the pan in one piece, making it easier to chill and slice.

Why DO We Love This Dessert?

  1. We get to use our favorite fall kitchen tool – the Apple Peeler, Corer, Slicer! If you’ve never used one, check it out! It’s fun for kids of all ages.
apple peeler corer slicer
Although this recipe calls for peeled apples, it also works to leave the skins on!

2. Pan cookies and desserts are a huge time-saver! One pan makes 24 generous servings, eliminating the need to form and bake individual servings. Just bake, cut, and serve!

3. This dessert is a delicious mix of flavors and textures—creamy, tart, sweet, and crunchy. It’s a simple recipe, making it the perfect recipe for beginner bakers.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bar on a plate with fork

We know you’ll love this fantastic fall dessert. Some of our other favorite apple recipes are: Easy Apple Crumble Pie, Favorite Apple Crisp, and No Peel Instant Pot Apple Butter.

Leave us a comment when you try this recipe! Happy baking!

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

5 from 1 vote
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Cheesecake Bars
Author: Si Foster
Course: Dessert
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Cool: 1 hour
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
A delightful autumn dessert featuring streusel-topped cheesecake bars covered in caramel.

Ingredients 

Crust

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

Cheesecake

  • 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Streusel Topping

  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup old-fashioned oats
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 egg white
  • ½ cup caramel topping, store bought or homemade

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place rack in the center of the oven.
  • Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with foil. Be sure the foil is long enough at each end to use as a handle for removing the bars after baking. Grease the foil.

Crust

  • In a food processor or medium bowl, add flour, brown sugar, and butter. Using the food processor, mix until crumbly. If combining in a bowl, mix with a pastry cutter or fork.
  • Using the back of a measuring cup, press the crust into the prepared pan.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden.

Cheesecake

  • In a medium bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together cream cheese and ½ cup granulated sugar. Mix in eggs and vanilla until smooth. Spread over hot crust.
  • In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gently stir sugar mixture together with sliced apples until coated.
  • Evenly layer sugared apples on top of cream cheese layer.

Streusel Topping

  • In a small bowl, using a fork or a pastry cutter, mix together brown sugar, flour, oats, and softened butter until crumbly. Stir in egg whites until fully combined. Spoon over apples.
  • Bake for 30-40 minutes or until filling is set and streusel is golden. Cool 15 minutes. Remove cheesecake bars from the pan using the foil overhang.
  • Cool completely. Drizzle caramel sauce evenly over the top. Chill in the refrigerator until firm.
  • Cut into 24 squares for serving.

Notes

  • This recipe does not freeze well. Best served within a day of baking!
  • Homemade caramel sauce will taste amazing in this recipe, however, we typically use Torani or Ghirardelli caramel sauce from the grocery store.

Did you make this recipe?

Be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, letting me know how you liked it. I’d love to see a photo, tag @abountifulkitchen on Instagram!