Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

These bars scream AUTUMN! Cheesecake, apples, crumble topping AND caramel, oh my word…  I brought a few test batches into the office and the reactions were priceless. Not much talking, a lot of oohs and ahhs, and the eye opening gesture that I love.  I know that was my reaction because I love all of those things too.  It’s actually the only thing I do love about the fall season.

Yeah, the colours on the trees may be pretty to most people, but to me it means winter is coming, and the colours represent my summer dying a slow death.  The only thing that gets me through the fall days is apples, and caramels, and knowing Thanksgiving is coming soon (which is my favourite holiday for eating above all) So until Old Man Winter shows up and ruins everything, I am going to eat as many apples as I can, and cover as much of those apples with caramel as I can… and who the hell is going to say no to cheesecake joining that party!

There are a few steps to this recipe, and I remember the first time I made it, it felt like it took me forever!  The second and third time I breezed through it.  So don’t be intimidated, just tackle each section one at a time.  The end result is worth the TLC.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:1 hr

Total Time:1 hr 20 mins

Keyword: Bars & Squares, Dessert

Servings: 18 to 25 squares

Ingredients

Bottom Crust

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter softened, 230 grams

Cheesecake Filling

• 3 8-oz. packages of cream cheese softened
• 3/4 cup sugar plus 2 Tablespoons
• 3 large eggs at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Apple Mixture

• 3 Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, thinly diced
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Crumble Topping

• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1/2 cup butter softened, 115 grams
• Caramel for Topping
• 3/4 cup salted caramel topping for drizzling after baking

Instructions

Mise en place

• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Line a 9″x13″ baking dish with parchment paper

Prepare the Bottom Crust

• In a medium bowl, combine 2 cups of flour and 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• Cut in 1 cup of butter with a pastry blender, two knives, or your hands, until mixture is crumbly
• Press evenly into prepared baking dish
• Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly golden

Prepare the Cheesecake Filling

• In a stand mixer bowl fitted with the whisk attachment on medium speed, beat cream cheese with 3/4 cups of sugar until combined and fluffy
• Add vanilla and then eggs, one at a time until well combined
• Pour this mixture over the still warm bottom crust from above

Prepare the Apple Mixture

• Peel, core, and small dice the apples and add to a medium bowl
• Add 2 Tablespoons of sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg and mix well to evenly coat
• Spoon apple mixture evenly over cheesecake filling mixture

Prepare the Crumble Topping

• In a small bowl combine all ingredients
• Use you hands and cut in the butter
• Sprinkle mixture evenly over apples
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until filling is set
• When done, remove from oven and drizzle caramel sauce over top
• Let the bars cool completely (over night in the refrigerator is best) before cutting into desired size

Notes

Let the bars cool completely (over night in the refrigerator is best) before cutting into desired size.