Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars – Experience the layers of our Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars, a delightful dessert that combines the tanginess of Granny Smith apples with the creamy sweetness of cheesecake all nestled on a crumbly and buttery crust. This recipe is perfect, for any occasion whether it’s a family gathering, a celebration, or simply a moment to indulge in something. Created using ingredients like all-purpose flour, brown sugar, cream cheese, and of course the star ingredient. Granny Smith apples. This dessert is guaranteed to make your taste buds dance with delight. Dive into this post to discover how you can bring this mouthwatering dessert to life in your kitchen!
The first time I prepared these scrumptious Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars was, on a chilly autumn afternoon. The leaves were gracefully falling outside while the sweet fragrance of apples and cinnamon filled my kitchen. I was searching for a dessert that truly captured the essence of the season. This recipe exceeded my expectations. As these bars baked in the oven excitement grew and soon enough our entire home was enveloped in an inviting warmth and aroma. When my husband and child took their first bites their eyes lit up with delight and smiles instantly graced their faces. It was a hit! These Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars have quickly become a treat, for my family eagerly anticipated every autumn.
What makes these Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars truly special?
Experience the combination of sweet flavors with these irresistible Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars. What sets this recipe apart is the balance of textures and tastes. The tartness of Granny Smith apples beautifully complements the creamy cheesecake layer. Each bite offers a medley of sensations thanks to the buttery crust and the satisfying crunch of the streusel topping. These bars are not only delicious but convenient as they can be prepared in advance and will maintain their mouthwatering taste in the refrigerator for up to five days. You can even freeze them for, up to four months ensuring you can enjoy these treats whenever you want. Whether you’re hosting a gathering celebrating an occasion or simply pampering yourself these bars are guaranteed to be a hit bringing warmth and joy to any event.
What You Need To Make This Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bar Recipe?
Butter: The smooth and luscious texture of butter creates the base ensuring our crust has that crumbly quality that melts in your mouth.
Brown Sugar: With its molasses content brown sugar adds a caramel-like sweetness enhancing the flavor of the crust. When it comes to the Streusel Topping its richness perfectly complements the apples while contributing to a crumbly texture.
Cream Cheese: The shining star of our velvety and dreamy cheesecake layer, cream cheese wraps your taste buds in an embrace making every bite an experience.
Eggs: They play a role, in providing structure while also adding a touch to the filling.
Vanilla Extract: A dash of vanilla brings warmth and depth of flavor taking our cheesecake layer to heights of deliciousness.
Granny Smith Apples: These tangy gems cut through the sweetness providing a zest and juicy crunch that elevates all the layers of decadence.
Ground Cinnamon and Nutmeg: These cozy spices infuse the apples with autumn vibes making each bite feel warm and comforting.
Quick Cooking Oats: They bring excitement with their crunchiness offering a contrast, to the smoothness of the cheesecake while adding rustic charm to our dessert.
Caramel Topping: The touch of elegance, its rich golden drizzle brings a sweetness harmonizing all the layers in a delectable symphony of taste.
Steps To Make Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars:
Step 1: Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit creating a warm atmosphere, for your bars to bake.
Step 2: Grab a bowl and add the all-purpose flour and brown sugar. Now it’s time to get your hands there! Incorporate the butter by cutting it in until you achieve a sand-like mixture. This will serve as the foundation for all the layers to follow.
Step 3: Prepare your baking pan either by greasing it or lining it with heavy-duty aluminum foil or parchment paper. Press the crust mixture evenly across the bottom of the pan. Bake it in your preheated oven for 15 minutes or until lightly browned and emitting a toasted aroma.
Step 4: While your crust is baking let’s move on to preparing the cheesecake filling. In a bowl use a mixer, on medium speed to beat together the softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy. Add in one egg at a time giving each addition a mix. Don’t forget to incorporate some vanilla extract! Stir everything together until well combined and pour this mixture over your warm crust.
Step 5: In a bowl combine the apples, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It will give off an autumn aroma! Evenly spread this apple mixture over the layer of cream cheese.
Step 6: For the streusel topping; Mix together sugar, flour, cooking oats, and softened butter in a small bowl. Now it’s time to get your hands there and blend everything until you have a combined and crumbly mixture. Sprinkle this over the layer of apples.
Step 7: Bake everything for 40 to 45 minutes until the filling sets. Turns golden and bubbly.
Step 8: Once done allow the bars to cool at room temperature before placing them in the refrigerator. They can be chilled there for, up to 5 days or frozen for up to 4 months.
Step 9: When you’re ready to serve drizzle caramel topping over the bars. Let it set. Slice them up, serve them cold, and witness everyone’s affection, for these treats!
Tip:
For a creamy layer of cheesecake make sure your cream cheese is fully softened to room temperature before you start mixing. This will help avoid any lumps and give you a velvety texture throughout. Also when adding the eggs gently mix them in one at a time—be careful not to overmix, as air can cause cracks in your cheesecake while it bakes. Taking the time to perfect this layer will result in a contrast of textures, between the crust, creamy cheesecake, and crunchy streusel topping making each bite of your Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars an indulgent experience to enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I make these Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars ahead of time?
Absolutely! These bars are perfect, for making ahead of time. Once they have cooled down to room temperature you can store them in the refrigerator for up to five days. It’s important to cover them or store them in an airtight container to maintain their freshness. If you want to keep them for a longer period you can freeze them for up to four months. Just make sure to wrap them well and place them in a freezer container.
My cheesecake layer has some cracks in it. Did I do something wrong?
Sometimes cheesecakes can develop cracks due to overmixing, which incorporates air into the batter, or because of sudden changes in temperature. However, the great thing about this recipe is that any imperfections on the cheesecake layer will be concealed by the streusel topping and caramel drizzle so your dessert will still taste amazing. For attempts try mixing the ingredients at a low speed and ensure all ingredients are, at room temperature as this might help prevent cracks.
Can I use a different type of apple for this recipe?
While Granny Smith apples are preferred because of their tartness and firm texture that holds up well during baking feel free to experiment with different types of apples. Please remember that using sweeter apples will alter the taste of the bars and using softer apples might not give you the same texture contrast. If you choose to use a different type of apple ensure they are fresh and crisp, for best outcomes.
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
- Total Time: 50 MINS
- Yield: 24 BARS 1x
Description
Indulge, in a world of luxury with these Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars, where the classic dessert takes on an autumn twist. Every bite offers a combination of textures and flavors. It all begins with a buttery crust that gives way to a creamy layer of cream cheese perfection. The tangy freshness of chopped Granny Smith apples adds a burst of tartness beautifully complemented by the embrace of cinnamon and nutmeg which bring the cozy essence of fall to life. To top it off there’s a sprinkle of crunchy streusel topping along with a drizzle of rich caramel that transforms this dessert into an absolute masterpiece. Not only does this treat capture the spirit of autumn. It also guarantees to impress everyone at any gathering, with its timeless appeal.
Ingredients
CRUST:
2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c firmly packed brown sugar
1 c butter, softened
CHEESECAKE FILLING:
3 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 c sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
APPLES:
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and finely chopped (about 3 c)
2 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
STREUSEL TOPPING:
1 c firmly packed brown sugar
1 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c quick cooking oats
1/2 c butter, softened
DRIZZLE:
1/2 c caramel topping for drizzling after baked
Instructions
To begin preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Take a baking pan that measures 9×13 inches and either grease it thoroughly or line it with foil or parchment paper for easy removal of the bars later on.
In a bowl combine 2 cups of flour and 1/2 cup of brown sugar. Use your fingers or a pastry cutter to incorporate 1 cup of softened butter until the mixture resembles crumbs. Press this mixture firmly onto the bottom of your pan. Place it in the oven. Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until it turns a light golden brown.
While the crust is baking, take a bowl. Beat together cream cheese and 3/4 cup of sugar until smooth and creamy. Add one egg at a time making sure to mix after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract. Once the crust is baked pour this cream cheese mixture over it.
In another bowl combine chopped apples, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg. Mix them thoroughly before spooning this apple mixture, over the cream cheese layer.
In a bowl mix together 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of flour and half a cup of oats. Use your fingers or a pastry cutter to incorporate half a cup of softened butter until you achieve a crumbly texture.
Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly across the layer of apples.
Put the pan back, in the oven. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the filling becomes firm.
Let the bars cool down to room temperature. Once they have cooled drizzle some caramel topping over them.
For texture and taste refrigerate the bars before cutting them into squares. Enjoy your delicious homemade Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars!
Notes
If you want to make our Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars suitable, for a gluten-free diet just replace the regular all-purpose flour with your preferred gluten-free 1 to 1 baking flour in both the crust and the streusel topping. Make sure to use gluten-free quick-cooking oats as well. Before you begin double-check the ingredients, in your caramel topping to make sure it’s also gluten-free. With these substitutions you can create a dessert that everyone can enjoy even those following a gluten-free lifestyle!
- Prep Time: 10 MINS
- Cook Time: 40 MINS
My name is Natasha and I am the owner of nodashofgluten.com, a blog dedicated to all kinds of recipes. On my website, you can find classic dishes, vegetarian delights, creative snacks, Gluten-free recipes, and desserts – all proving that cooking isn’t as hard as it seems! With easy-to-follow instructions and tips on how to make your meals even better, I strive to help everyone become master chefs in their own kitchen. Come join me at nodashofgluten.com for some delicious fun!
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