Caramel Apple Bars (Print)
Tangy apples, sweet caramel, and creamy cheesecake come together in these irresistible dessert bars. Great for fall gatherings!
# Ingredients:
01 -
2 cups of crushed graham crackers (crust layer).
02 -
½ cup of melted unsalted butter (crust layer).
03 -
¼ cup of white sugar (crust layer).
04 -
¼ tsp ground cinnamon (crust layer).
05 -
16 oz of softened cream cheese (cheesecake layer).
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½ cup of white sugar (cheesecake layer).
07 -
2 eggs, large (cheesecake layer).
08 -
1 tsp of vanilla extract (cheesecake layer).
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3 Granny Smith apples, diced and peeled (apple layer).
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2 tbsp of fresh lemon juice (apple layer).
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¼ cup of light brown sugar (apple layer).
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1 tsp of ground cinnamon (apple layer).
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¼ tsp of ground nutmeg (apple layer).
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½ cup of plain flour (streusel topping).
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¼ cup of light brown sugar (streusel topping).
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¼ cup of cold, cubed butter (streusel topping).
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¼ cup of chopped nuts like pecans (optional, streusel topping).
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1 cup of white sugar (caramel sauce).
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¼ cup of water (caramel sauce).
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½ cup of heavy cream (caramel sauce).
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2 tbsp of unsalted butter (caramel sauce).
22 -
¼ tsp of salt (caramel sauce).
# Steps:
01 -
Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9x13-inch pan with a sheet of parchment paper.
02 -
Stir together the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, melted butter, and cinnamon. Flatten the mix firmly into your pan's base, then pop it in the oven for 10 minutes.
03 -
Whisk the cream cheese with sugar until it’s creamy. Add one egg after another, mixing in between. Stir in vanilla before pouring onto the cooled crust.
04 -
Coat the diced apples with lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spread the apple mixture over the cheesecake layer evenly.
05 -
Mix the flour and sugar for the topping. Add in cubed butter and work it into crumbs. Toss in pecans if using, then sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples.
06 -
Place in oven to bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the streusel is golden and the cheesecake feels set. Cool everything down completely.
07 -
Stir sugar and water in a saucepan on medium heat until the sugar changes to a golden brown. Carefully mix in cream, then blend in butter and salt. Let it cool a little before using.
08 -
Slice the chilled dessert into bars. Pour the slightly warm caramel sauce over the top and enjoy.
# Notes:
01 -
These bars mix creamy cheesecake with tangy apple bits and a generous drizzle of caramel sauce—perfect for autumn!
02 -
The crumbly topping adds a nice crunch, with the rich caramel giving it a luxurious touch.