My caramel apple cheesecake bars combine the creamy texture and sweet, tangy flavor of classic cheesecake bars with a layer of spiced apples and a sweet, crunchy pecan topping.
I love cheesecake recipes in all forms, from classic baked to no-bake varieties, and of course, bars. They’re so rich and sweet, making the perfect weeknight dessert or addition to any party.
I make all kinds of cheesecake recipes, from my pumpkin pretzel dessert to cherry cream cheese lemonade pie, and now I’ve added another fruity bar to my rotation.
These delicoius caramel apple cheesecake bars are a sweet, tangy treat loaded with apples and a crunchy, earthy pecan topping everyone will love!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: All you need are basic kitchen staples.
- Easy: if you can mix and turn on an oven, you can make this recipe!
- Rich and Sweet: The sweet, tangy cheesecake and spiced, sweetened apple layers create a luxurious flavor and texture.
- Customizable: You can easily tweak this recipe to make it your own.
- Versatile: These bars are perfect for weeknight dinners, potlucks, or parties.
- Great for Prep: You can freeze these bars for up to a month, making them ideal for meal prep.
Key Ingredients
You’ll find a complete list of ingredients and their exact amounts in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Cream Cheese: Cream cheese creates the rich, creamy, tangy base for the cheesecake layer.
- Sugar and Vanilla: Sugar and vanilla sweeten the cream cheese mixture and add a spiced note.
- Apples: A sweetened mixture of Granny Smith apples creates a sweet-tart, warmly spiced layer that pairs perfectly with the cheesecake.
- Pecans: A mix of chopped pecans, brown sugar, and a couple of other ingredients creates a topping that’s sweet, earthy, and crunchy.
- Caramel Sauce: A drizzle of caramel sauce before serving completes the caramel apple flavor profile.
Variations
- Apples: Gala, Honeycrisp, Cosmic Crisp, Jona Gold, and Braeburn are all excellent substitutes for Granny Smith apples.
- Berries: Use your favorite berries to make variations like these raspberry cheesecake bars or blueberry cheesecake bars.
- Nuts: Try any of your favorite nuts to create different topping flavors. They’re all delicious.
How to Make Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
1: Mix the flour and brown sugar. Then, cut the butter into it until crumbly.
2: Press the mixture into a 9×13 baking dish lined with parchment paper and bake at 350°F until golden.
3: Beat the cream cheese and sugar. Then, mix in the eggs, followed by the vanilla. Pour over the warm crust.
4: Combine the apple mixture ingredients and spoon over the cheesecake layer.
5: Mix the pecan topping ingredients and sprinkle over the apple layer.
6: Bake until set. Cool, slice, and drizzle with caramel sauce before serving.
Expert Tips
- Leave an overhang when lining the baking dish with foil. This makes it easier to remove the bars.
- Use a sharp knife and long, even strokes to ensure uniform slices with clean edges.
- Full-fat cream cheese is the way to go for this recipe. Low-fat varieties give the cheesecake the wrong texture.
- Cube your butter and refrigerate it until ready to use. This ensures it’s as cold as possible and gives you the best crust texture.
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars FAQS
Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Braeburn, Fuji, and Jonagold apples are all excellent choices for these cheesecake bars.
Refrigerate these bars for up to 4 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, wrap the bars in plastic wrap and freeze them for up to a month in an airtight, freezer-safe container.
Any nut you can think of will work for these bars, adding a nice crunch and different flavors. Try your favorites.
Great Pairings for Your Cheesecake Bars
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Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Brown Sugar Pecan Topping
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup butter
Cheesecake Layer
- 16 ounce cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Apple Layer
- 3 granny smith apples, peeled, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Brown Sugar Pecan Topping
- ¾ cup pecans, chopped
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- Ghirardelli Premium caramel sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9×13 baking dish with aluminum foil with the ends hanging over the edges a bit.
Crust
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and brown sugar until combined.
- Using a pastry blender or 2 forks, cut butter into mixture until crumbly.
- Press mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
Cheesecake Layer
- In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar together until combined.
- Add eggs, one at a time, and add vanilla. Beat until combined.
- Pour cheesecake mixture over the warm crust.
Apple Layer
- In a medium bowl, add apples, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir to combine.
- Spoon apples over the cheesecake layer.
Brown Sugar Pecan Topping
- In a small bowl, add topping ingredients and stir until combined.
- Sprinkle over the apple layer.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheesecake is set.
- Remove from the oven and drizzle with caramel before serving.
Notes
- Leave an overhang when lining the baking dish with foil. This makes it easier to remove the bars.
- Use a sharp knife and long, even strokes to ensure uniform slices with clean edges.
- Full-fat cream cheese is the way to go for this recipe. Low-fat varieties give the cheesecake the wrong texture.
- Cube your butter and refrigerate it until ready to use. This ensures it’s as cold as possible and gives you the best crust texture.
Nutrition
I baked these caramel apple cheesecake bars, and the brown sugar pecan topping was the best part. They have all the best fall flavors packed into one creamy, crunchy bite.
These caramel, apple cheesecake bars turned out, so delicious! They were easy to me, and the kids just love them!!
I love these Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars! My family enjoyed them.
I love all the layers of this dessert…they all work together perfectly for a decadent treat.
Tried them today and they turned out beautiful. Creamy cheesecake with that sweet crunch on top.
I made these for a birthday party this weekend, and they went FAST.
I love how complicated this tastes while being so easy. It made me look VERY good. LOL.