Description
Delicious Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars featuring a creamy cheesecake layer topped with juicy apples, streusel, and drizzled with homemade caramel sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- ¼ cup chopped pecans (optional)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (for caramel)
- ¼ cup water (for caramel)
- ½ cup heavy cream (for caramel)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter (for caramel)
- ¼ tsp salt (for caramel)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and cinnamon to make the crust.
- Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Bake for 10 minutes, then let cool while preparing the other layers.
- Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth for the cheesecake layer.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Stir in vanilla extract.
- Pour over the cooled crust and spread evenly.
- Toss diced apples with lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg for the apple layer.
- Spread the apple mixture evenly over the cheesecake layer.
- In a bowl, mix flour and brown sugar for the streusel topping.
- Cut in cold butter until the mixture is crumbly.
- Stir in chopped pecans if using.
- Sprinkle the streusel over the apple layer.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, until the streusel is golden and the cheesecake is set.
- Allow to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- In a saucepan, combine sugar and water for the caramel sauce. Heat over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
- Increase heat to medium-high and cook without stirring until the mixture turns amber (about 8-10 minutes).
- Remove from heat and carefully whisk in cream (it will bubble vigorously).
- Stir in butter and salt until smooth, and let cool slightly.
- Cut the chilled bars into squares and drizzle with warm caramel sauce just before serving.
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free graham cracker crumbs.
- Make sure to let the cheesecake bars cool completely before refrigerating to achieve the best texture.
- Optional: top with whipped cream for an additional treat.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 80mg