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Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Name: Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 42 min
Total time: 1 h 12 min
Yield: 16
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup flour; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup (1 stick butter), at room temperature; 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature; 1/4 cup sugar plus 1 heaping tablespoon, divided; 1 egg; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; 2 small to medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and diced (about 1 1/2 cups); 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1/4 cup flour; 1/4 cup Quick Oats (optional); 1/4 cup (1/2 stick), butter, at room temperature; 1/2 cup caramel topping (jarred or see the link in the blog post for microwave caramel sauce)

posted by Liz Berg on November 14, 2021 (updated 6/1/22)

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These Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars pull together four favorite dessert components in a most scrumptious way!

Caramel, apples, cheesecake, AND streusel will delight your palate with every bite! Autumnal Cheesecake Bars are a delicious way to celebrate the season!

Caramel Apple Bars on a white ceramic plate with 2 forks

Table of Contents hide

1 Why You’ll Love this Cheesecake Bars Recipe

2 Frequently Asked Questions

3 Can Cheesecake Bars Be Left Out?

4 Can you Freeze Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars?

5 How Long Do Cheesecake Bars Last in the Refrigerator?

6 How Do you Cut Cheesecake Bars into Squares?

7 Tips for Making Caramel Apple Bars

8 Ingredient Notes:

9 More Delicious Apple Desserts:

10 Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars Recipe

Why You’ll Love this Cheesecake Bars Recipe

The pairing of caramel and apples is classic and this is living proof why it works!
This is a popular Paula Deen recipe that I first made 10 years ago in 2011. It’s as scrumptious as I remembered.
This satisfies your apple, cheesecake, caramel, and streusel cravings in one yummy dessert bar.

Caramel Apple Bars on a square white plate with a bamboo handled fork

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Cheesecake Bars Be Left Out?

The FDA recommends that dishes with perishable ingredients, like cream cheese, should not be left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Cheesecake always tastes creamier when it’s not ice-cold from the refrigerator, so it’s OK to bring it out an hour before serving, but return it to the refrigerator after that.

Can you Freeze Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars?

Yes, you can freeze these cheesecake bars, if they’re wrapped well, for up to 3 months. Just defrost overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

The streusel topping is not crisp, just sweet and buttery. Often there is concern about a streusel softening as it defrosts, but not with these bars.

How Long Do Cheesecake Bars Last in the Refrigerator?

My rule of thumb is 3-4 days to keep any leftovers. Remember to let these bars sit out at room temperature before serving for the creamiest cheesecake texture.

How Do you Cut Cheesecake Bars into Squares?

The following method is for an 8 x 8-inch pan.
If you line your pan with non-stick foil, first remove the bars from the pan, using the foil as a sling, onto a cutting board.
Pull back the foil from the sides of the bars.
Measure if necessary, and cut the bars in half from top to bottom, then side to side, making 4 equal-sized squares.
Make sure you use a sharp knife, wiping it clean between cuts.
Then cut each of these squares into 4 more squares, creating 16 squares.
Voila, you’ve just cut 16 perfect bars!

Tips for Making Caramel Apple Bars

Use non-stick foil for lining your baking pan. It will allow you to lift the bars out of the pan as one big square and place them on a cutting board. Plus the non-stick coating helps prevent sticking.
Have your butter, cream cheese, and egg at room temperature. This will help for easier incorporation.
I used Granny Smith apples but other favorite baking apples will work, too.
I’ve made the streusel with and without oats. If you have a picky family member (like my hubby), it works fine without oatmeal.
Again, if you’re feeding someone who doesn’t like caramel, these cheesecake bars are still delicious without a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Plus, make sure to check out all my tips on How to Cut Perfect Cookie Bars.

Ingredients for these caramel apple cheesecake bars

Ingredient Notes:

Pantry Staples – Flour, Brown Sugar
Butter – I use salted as the touch of salt is a flavor enhancer.
Egg – I use large eggs unless otherwise noted
Cream Cheese – Philadelphia Cream Cheese is my go-to brand
Real Vanilla Extract – I use Nielsen-Massey, but any real vanilla extract will do. Never use imitation as the flavor is substandard.
Apples – Use your favorite baking apples. Granny Smith is readily available.
Cinnamon – Spices do lose potency over time. Ground cinnamon is good for 1 year whether it’s opened or unopened. If you’ve had the same jar or can of cinnamon for 5 years, it’s probably time to replace it.
Quick Oats – Adds a bit of texture to the streusel, and they’re softer than old-fashioned rolled oats.
Caramel Sauce – If you don’t want to make your own, look for a premium brand that includes milk or cream, butter, and vanilla. My Microwave Caramel Sauce is a game changer. It cooks in less than 5 minutes in the microwave.

More Delicious Apple Desserts:

The Recipe: