Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars – Cozy Fall Dessert Recipe
These Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars feature a buttery shortbread crust, creamy cheesecake filling, spiced apple topping, and a crumbly oat streusel — all finished with a gooey caramel drizzle.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
Ingredients
Scale
Shortbread Crust:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon (optional)
Cheesecake Layer:
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Apple Layer:
- 2 large apples, peeled and diced
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tbsp flour
Crumb Topping:
- ¾ cup old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 6 tbsp butter, cold and cubed
- Pinch of salt
Topping:
- ½ cup caramel sauce
- Optional: sea salt for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 pan with parchment.
- Mix crust ingredients and press into pan. Bake 15 min.
- Beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Pour over crust.
- Toss diced apples with brown sugar, spices, and flour. Sprinkle evenly.
- Mix crumble topping ingredients and scatter over apples.
- Bake 40–45 min until center is set. Cool completely.
- Chill 2+ hours, drizzle with caramel, slice, and serve.
Notes
- Store covered in fridge up to 5 days.
- Freeze before adding caramel for up to 2 months.
- Use tart apples for best flavor balance.