Apple Cheesecake Bars are the ultimate fall dessert! Fresh apples, smooth cheesecake, and a crispy streusel topping, all finished with a caramel drizzle.
Family Favorite
Why you’ll love this family favorite recipe!
A while back, I shared a reliable cheesecake bars, but I couldn’t stop thinking about all the fun variations I could make! So when fall rolled around and my craving for everything apple and pumpkin hit, I knew I had to try both. First came the pumpkin cheesecake bars, and then these incredible apple cheesecake bars. They start with a reliable graham cracker crust, and that caramel drizzle on top? Absolutely life-changing.
When I say these are a hit everywhere I bring them, I mean it—people love them! The best part is they look and taste impressive but are surprisingly simple to make. You’ll wow your guests without spending hours stressing over dessert!
Apple Cheesecake Bars Ingredients
| Ingredient | Swap or Tip |
|---|---|
| Cream cheese | Use full-fat for best set. Soften fully for smooth batter |
| Eggs | Room-temperature eggs mix in better |
| Granulated sugar | Don’t cut too much or the texture changes |
| Graham crackers | Use cinnamon grahams or add 1 tsp cinnamon to plain |
| Butter | Salted butter works—skip the added salt if using salted |
| Granny Smith apples | Dice small so they soften. Grab extras and make this crumble and turnovers next! |
| Lemon juice | Orange juice works in a pinch |
| Brown sugar | Light or dark both work; dark adds deeper flavor |
| Cinnamon and nutmeg | Start light on nutmeg—a little goes a long way |
| Oats and flour | Use quick oats for finer crumb |
| Caramel sauce | Use from-scratch or a good jarred sauce |
How To Make Apple Cheesecake Bars
- Prep Crust: Combine crust ingredients, then press into a baking pan. Bake and cool.
- Cheesecake Filling: Beat together cheesecake ingredients. Pour over cooled crust.
- Apple Layer: Toss finely chopped apples with lemon, sugar, and spices. Spread over cheesecake filling.
- Streusel Topping: Mix streusel ingredients until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over apples.
- Bake and Chill: Bake until set, cool to room temp, then refrigerate. Drizzle with caramel before serving and cut into bars. Enjoy!
Quick Tip
If you don’t have cinnamon graham crackers available for the crust, you can use regular graham crackers and add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to the mixture.
How To Serve These Bars
- Cool apple cheesecake bars for at least three hours (one hour at room temp, two in the fridge) or overnight.
- Cut into 24 small pieces for straightforward serving; use parchment paper and a hot knife for clean cuts.
- Serve with a drizzle of caramel sauce, store-bought or from-scratch.
Storage
- Refrigeration: Store in airtight container in fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Wrap cooled Apple Cheesecake Bars tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw in fridge before serving.
Other satisfying Apple Desserts:
Desserts
Apple Cobbler Recipe
Desserts
Caramel Apple Bites
Desserts
Apple Bread Recipe
Desserts
Mini Apple Pies
