Description
Deliciously creamy apple pie cheesecake bars featuring a buttery graham cracker crust, spiced apple pieces, and a rich cheesecake filling, all topped with caramel sauce and a sprinkle of sea salt. Perfect for a comforting dessert that combines the best of apple pie and cheesecake in convenient bar form.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Apple Filling
- 2 large apples, peeled, cored, and sliced into small pieces
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Cheesecake Filling
- 16 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 3 large eggs
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Topping
- Caramel sauce (store-bought)
- Sea salt
Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper and spray it lightly with cooking spray to ensure easy removal of the bars after baking.
- Make Crust: In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and ground cinnamon. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan using the bottom of a glass to create a firm crust layer. Bake this crust for 10 minutes to set.
- Prepare Apples: While the crust is baking, toss the peeled, cored, and chopped apples with sugar and cinnamon in a separate bowl. This will sweeten and spice the apple pieces for the filling.
- Make Cheesecake Filling: In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and salt on medium-high speed for about 5 minutes until the mixture is very smooth and creamy. Gently fold in the prepared apple mixture to incorporate evenly.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the cheesecake and apple filling over the baked crust, spreading it out evenly with a spatula. Bake the assembled bars uncovered for approximately 1 hour, or until the cheesecake filling is set and slightly firm to the touch.
- Cool and Slice: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the cheesecake bars to cool completely to room temperature. Once cooled, slice into squares for serving.
- Top and Serve: Drizzle the bars with store-bought caramel sauce and sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt to enhance the flavors before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature to achieve a smooth batter and prevent lumps in the cheesecake filling.
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a balanced sweet and tangy flavor that complements the creaminess of the cheesecake.
- Drizzling caramel sauce with a sprinkle of sea salt adds a delightful sweet and salty contrast to the bars.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- You can prepare the crust and apple mixture in advance to save time when assembling.
