Dessert

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars Recipe

ByLily Cross December 4, 2025December 4, 2025

Introduction

These Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars combine tender apples, creamy cheesecake, and a buttery shortbread crust topped with a crumbly streusel. Finished with a rich caramel drizzle, they’re the perfect dessert to impress without much fuss.

The image shows six square dessert bars arranged in two rows on a dark wooden board. Each bar has three visible layers: a crumbly light brown base, a thick creamy white middle layer, and a glossy caramel layer on top that drips slightly down the sides. The top layer is finished with a crunchy crumb topping that looks golden brown and textured. The background has a white marbled texture beneath the board, and the scene is softly lit to highlight the rich colors and textures of the dessert bars. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

Apples: 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and finely chopped
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Streusel Topping:
1 cup (7.5 ounces) packed light brown sugar
1 cup (5 ounces) all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup (1.75 ounces) quick-cooking oats
½ cup (1 stick, 4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
Shortbread Base:
2 cups (10 ounces) all-purpose flour
½ cup (3.75 ounces) packed brown sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup (2 sticks, 8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
Cream Cheese Layer:
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
½ cup (3.75 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Caramel Sauce:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup (7.5 ounces) packed light brown sugar
½ cup heavy cream
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract (reduce to 1 teaspoon if preferred)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon for the shortbread base. Add the softened butter and mix until the dough forms. Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
Step 3: In a medium bowl, toss the chopped apples with granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
Step 4: In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy. Add eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined. Spread this cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled shortbread crust.
Step 5: Distribute the apple mixture evenly over the cream cheese layer.
Step 6: In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and oats for the streusel topping. Cut in the softened butter using a fork or pastry cutter until the mixture becomes crumbly. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the apple layer.
Step 7: Bake the assembled bars for 40-45 minutes, or until the streusel is golden brown and the center is set. Remove from oven and let cool completely in the pan.
Step 8: To make the caramel sauce, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar, heavy cream, and a pinch of salt. Stir continuously until the mixture comes to a boil. Simmer for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Step 9: Drizzle the cooled caramel sauce over the bars before serving.

Tips & Variations

Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a nice balance against the sweet caramel and cheesecake layers.
Feel free to add chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, to the streusel topping for extra texture.
For a lighter caramel sauce, reduce heavy cream to ¼ cup and substitute the rest with milk.

Storage

Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm individual bars in the microwave for about 20 seconds or until softened. Drizzle with extra caramel sauce if desired before serving.

How to Serve

The image shows six square dessert bars placed in two rows on a dark wooden board. Each bar has three layers: a bottom layer of light brown crumbly crust, a thick middle layer of creamy white filling, and a top layer of golden caramel sauce with a crumbly, coarse brown streusel topping. The caramel slightly drips down the sides of some bars. The background shows a blurred white marbled texture beneath the board and some out-of-focus apples and other dessert bars. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these bars ahead of time?

Yes, these bars can be baked a day in advance and kept refrigerated. Just add the caramel sauce right before serving to keep it fresh.

Can I freeze Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars?

Yes, you can freeze these bars wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and foil for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and add the caramel sauce before serving.

Lily Cross