Description
These Apple Pie Cheesecake Bars combine a buttery graham cracker crust with a creamy cheesecake filling studded with cinnamon-spiced apples, topped off with a drizzle of caramel sauce and a sprinkle of sea salt. Perfect for dessert lovers who enjoy a fusion of classic apple pie and rich cheesecake in a 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, for sprinkling
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 prevent sticking.
- Make Crust: In a medium bowl, combine melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and ground cinnamon. Mix until the crumbs are evenly coated with butter. Press this mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan using the bottom of a glass or your fingers. Bake the crust for 10 minutes to set.
- Prepare Apples: In another bowl, toss the peeled, cored, and chopped apples with sugar and cinnamon to coat evenly. Set aside.
- Make Cheesecake Filling: Using a mixer on medium-high speed, beat the room temperature cream cheese with sugar, eggs, and salt for about 5 minutes until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Gently fold the prepared apple mixture into the cheesecake batter, mixing carefully to distribute the apples without overmixing.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the cheesecake and apple filling over the pre-baked crust and spread evenly with a spatula. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for about 1 hour, or until the cheesecake filling is set but still slightly jiggly in the center.
- Cool and Slice: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the cheesecake bars to cool completely at room temperature. Once cooled, refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until fully chilled before slicing into squares.
- Top and Serve: Before serving, drizzle the bars generously with store-bought caramel sauce and sprinkle lightly with sea salt for contrast and an added layer of flavor.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a nice balance of sweetness and acidity.
- Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature for the smoothest batter.
- Let the bars chill properly to facilitate clean slicing.
- You can substitute the caramel sauce with homemade if desired.
- For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free graham cracker crumbs.
