Creamy Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Streusel
These Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars are made with a buttery crust, creamy cheesecake filling, cinnamon-spiced apples, and a crumbly streusel topping. It’s an easy fall dessert to make ahead for Thanksgiving, fall bake sales, or any get-together.
WANT TO SAVE THIS FOR LATER?
We'll email it to you - along with our free printable party planner!
If you love apple pie and cheesecake, this dessert bar recipe is a must-try! It also goes great with recipes from my 20+ Flavorful Fall Appetizers post. And if you love baking, don’t miss my 20 Must-Try Fall Baking Recipes for even more cozy treats like this one.
How to Make Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients you’ll need for the crust
Ingredients you’ll need for the FILLING
Ingredients you’ll need for the apples
Ingredients you’ll need for the topping
Step by Step Guide
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper and set it aside.
2. In a stand mixer, mix the flour, brown sugar, and softened butter until the mixture is crumbly and well combined.
3. Press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking dish.
4. Bake the crust for 14–16 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden. Remove from the oven and set aside.
5. In a clean mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth (about 1 minute). Add the sugar and mix until well combined, scraping down the sides as needed.
6. Then, mix in the eggs and vanilla until everything is fully blended.
7. Pour the cheesecake filling over the pre-baked crust and spread it out evenly.
8. In a separate bowl, toss the finely diced Granny Smith apples with the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well coated.
9. Sprinkle the seasoned apples evenly over the cheesecake layer.
10. In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, flour, and oats. Mix until the texture is crumbly.
11. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the apples and cheesecake filling.
12. Bake again at 350°F for 40–45 minutes, or until the cheesecake is mostly set with a slight jiggle in the center.
13. Let the bars cool at room temperature for about 30–60 minutes and refrigerate for 4–6 hours (or overnight) to fully set before slicing.
14. Drizzle with caramel sauce just before serving and enjoy!
Serve and Enjoy!
Important Recipe Notes
- Let it chill completely before slicing! The bars need at least 4–6 hours in the fridge to set properly. Overnight is even better for clean cuts.
- Use room temperature cream cheese for a smooth, lump-free filling. Cold cream cheese can make the batter harder to mix evenly.
- Granny Smith apples are best for this recipe because their tartness balances the sweetness of the cheesecake and caramel.
- Finely dice the apples so they soften nicely during baking and spread evenly in each bite.
- Use parchment—it makes lifting and slicing the bars so much easier!
- Mix streusel until crumbly, not smooth. You want little clumps for that classic crisp topping texture.
- These bars keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Add the caramel drizzle just before serving so it stays pretty and doesn’t soak in too much.
Creamy Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Streusel
Ingredients
For the Filling
- 24 oz cream cheese , softened
- ¾ cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla
For the Apples
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 3 cups Granny Smith apples – peeled and finely diced
For the Topping
- ½ cups unsalted butter , softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup quick oats
- Caramel sauce , to serve
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper and set it aside.
- In a stand mixer, mix the flour, brown sugar, and softened butter until the mixture is crumbly and well combined.
- Press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking dish.
- Bake the crust for 14–16 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden. Remove from the oven and set aside.
- In a clean mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth (about 1 minute). Add the sugar and mix until well combined, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Then, mix in the eggs and vanilla until everything is fully blended.
- Pour the cheesecake filling over the pre-baked crust and spread it out evenly.
- In a separate bowl, toss the finely diced Granny Smith apples with the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well coated.
- Sprinkle the seasoned apples evenly over the cheesecake layer.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, flour, and oats. Mix until the texture is crumbly.
- Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the apples and cheesecake filling.
- Bake again at 350°F for 40–45 minutes, or until the cheesecake is mostly set with a slight jiggle in the center.
- Let the bars cool at room temperature for about 30–60 minutes and refrigerate for 4–6 hours (or overnight) to fully set before slicing.
- Drizzle with caramel sauce just before serving and enjoy!
Check Out More Apple Recipe Ideas!
Layered Caramel Apple Trifle Cups
