Irresistible Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars: The Ultimate Fall Dessert

Prepare to fall in love with these utterly divine Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars! Combining the best of two beloved desserts, these bars feature a luxurious creamy cheesecake layer nestled between a spiced apple pie filling and a delightful cinnamon oatmeal crumble. Perfect for autumn gatherings or a cozy night in, their easy-to-follow assembly means you’ll be enjoying these heavenly treats in no time. Forget having to choose between apple crisp and cheesecake – with this recipe, you get to savor both in every glorious bite!

As the leaves begin to change and the air grows crisp, our thoughts naturally turn to comforting, spiced desserts. While a classic apple crisp or a rich cheesecake often tops the list, these Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars offer an exciting fusion that truly elevates the experience. Imagine layers of tender, cinnamon-spiced apples, a velvety smooth cream cheese filling, and a buttery oat streusel that doubles as both the crust and a golden, crunchy topping. Each forkful delivers a symphony of textures and flavors – sweet, tart, creamy, and wonderfully crumbly. It’s an indulgence that’s sure to become a cherished fall tradition.

Whether you’re hosting a holiday celebration or simply craving a comforting dessert, these bars are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. For an extra touch of decadence, a drizzle of warm caramel sauce before serving takes them to an even more exquisite level. These bars join the ranks of our other favorite apple creations, such as our 6 Apple Fall Baking Recipes and the delightful Chunky Apple Walnut Cake, proving that apples truly are the stars of autumn baking.

It’s hard to deny the universal appeal of both cheesecake and apple crisp. When these two titans of dessert meet, the result is nothing short of brilliant. The luscious tang of cream cheese beautifully complements the sweet-tart goodness of baked apples, all brought together by the comforting crunch of an oat streusel. While the recipe involves a few distinct steps, the reward for your effort is an absolutely unforgettable dessert that tastes incredibly complex yet comes together with relative ease. The aroma that fills your kitchen while these bake is simply heavenly!

Choosing the Best Apples for Your Cheesecake Bars

The secret to any outstanding apple dessert lies in selecting the right variety of apples. While many apples taste wonderful fresh, baking requires specific characteristics that hold up well to heat, providing both structure and depth of flavor. For these Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars, you’ll want a mix of apples that offer a balance of sweet, tart, crisp, and slightly softer textures once baked. This combination ensures a dynamic and flavorful apple layer that isn’t mushy or overly sweet.

Excellent choices for baking apples include:

• Granny Smith: A classic for a reason! Their vibrant tartness provides a crucial counterpoint to the sweetness of the other layers, and they maintain their shape beautifully.
• Honeycrisp: Known for their incredible crispness and balanced sweet-tart flavor, Honeycrisps are fantastic for baking.
• Fuji: Sweet and juicy with a firm texture, Fuji apples add a lovely sweetness and retain some bite.
• Gala: Mildly sweet and crisp, Gala apples contribute a delicate flavor profile.
• Pink Lady: These offer a delightful balance of sweet and tart with a firm flesh, making them ideal for baking.
• Golden Delicious: While slightly softer than some, they are very sweet and aromatic, blending well with tarter varieties.

I personally love incorporating Granny Smith apples into my baking, not just for their amazing sweet and tart flavor, but also for their ability to hold up during cooking, as seen in our Awesome Country Apple Fritter Bread. For these bars, aim to slice your apples thinly – about ⅛-inch thick. This ensures they cook through evenly and become tender without losing all their structure, creating that perfect “apple pie” consistency.

Essential Ingredients You’ll Need

Gathering your ingredients before you begin ensures a smooth and enjoyable baking process. Many of these are pantry staples, but quality makes a difference!

Oat Crisp Crust & Topping

• Quick-cooking oats: Provide a tender yet discernible texture to the crumble.
• All-purpose flour: The structural base for our crumbly layers.
• Brown sugar, packed: Adds moisture, depth of flavor, and that characteristic caramel note to the crumble.
• Baking powder & baking soda: A touch of leavening for a lighter, more tender streusel.
• Ground cinnamon: Essential for that warm, inviting fall spice.
• Butter, melted: Binds the crumble ingredients together, creating a rich, golden crust and topping.

Cream Cheese Layer

• Cream cheese, room temperature: Crucial for a smooth, lump-free cheesecake batter. Full-fat block cream cheese is recommended for the best texture.
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cream cheese layer.
• Vanilla extract: Enhances the creamy flavor with a hint of warmth.
• Eggs, room temperature: Act as a binder and provide structure to the cheesecake, ensuring a silky-smooth texture. Room temperature eggs incorporate more easily.

Apple Pie Layer

• 3 large Granny Smith apples: Peeled, cored, and thinly sliced. As discussed, these offer the perfect tartness and texture. Feel free to use a mix of your favorite baking apples.
• All-purpose flour: Helps to thicken the apple juices, creating a luscious apple pie filling.
• Brown sugar: Sweetens the apples and caramelizes beautifully during baking.
• Ground cinnamon: The quintessential spice for baked apples.
• Caramel topping (for garnish, optional): A delightful finish that adds an extra layer of sweetness and visual appeal.

Crafting Your Apple Crisp Cream Cheese Bars: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating these layered dessert bars is a rewarding process. Follow these instructions carefully to ensure each component is perfect and comes together beautifully.

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a 9×13 inch baking pan by lining it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out later. Lightly grease the parchment paper with non-stick cooking spray or butter.

Oat Crisp Crust & Topping

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the quick-cooking oats, all-purpose flour, packed brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and ground cinnamon. Whisk these dry ingredients together until well combined.
2. Pour the melted butter into the dry mixture. Using a fork or your fingertips, mix until the ingredients are fully moistened and resemble coarse crumbs. Be sure there are no dry spots.
3. Carefully measure out 1 ¼ cups of this oat mixture and set it aside. This portion will be used later as the crunchy topping for your bars.
4. Press the remaining oat mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared 9×13 inch baking pan. This forms your delicious crust.
5. Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until it turns a light golden brown. While the crust is baking, prepare your creamy cheesecake layer.

Cream Cheese Layer

1. In another large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. Ensure there are no lumps of cream cheese remaining.
2. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs one at a time, beating just until each egg is fully incorporated. Be careful not to overmix, as this can introduce too much air and cause the cheesecake to crack during baking. Set this creamy mixture aside.

Apple Pie Layer

1. In a medium bowl, combine the thinly sliced Granny Smith apples (or your chosen apple mix), one tablespoon of all-purpose flour, one tablespoon of brown sugar, and one teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Toss gently until the apples are evenly coated with the flour and spice mixture. This coating will help create that signature apple pie filling texture.

Assembling Your Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars

Now it’s time to bring all the delicious components together to create your layered masterpiece.

1. Once the crust is partially baked, remove the pan from the oven. Evenly scatter the spiced apple slices over the warm, golden-brown crust.
2. Carefully pour and spread the cream cheese mixture over the apple layer, gently smoothing it out to cover all the apples.
3. Finally, sprinkle the reserved 1 ¼ cups of oat crumble mixture evenly over the cream cheese layer, creating a tempting, crunchy topping.

Baking and Cooling for Perfection

1. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes. The bars are ready when the cream cheese layer is mostly set (a slight jiggle in the center is okay) and the oat topping is golden brown and fragrant.
2. Allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature on a wire rack. This is a critical step for cheesecake bars, as cooling gradually prevents cracking.
3. Once cooled, refrigerate the bars for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, until thoroughly chilled and firm. Chilling makes them much easier to cut and improves the texture of the cheesecake.
4. To cut, simply lift the entire block of chilled cheesecake bars out of the pan using the parchment paper overhangs. Place it on a cutting board and slice into individual bars.
5. If desired, drizzle with caramel topping just before serving for an extra layer of flavor and a beautiful presentation.

Storage Tips for Your Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars

• Once completely cooled and chilled, these delightful Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will maintain their freshness and delicious taste for about 3-5 days. Be sure to keep them well-covered to prevent them from absorbing other refrigerator odors and drying out.
• For longer storage, these bars can also be frozen! Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 1-2 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

Can I Make These Apple Crisp Cream Cheese Bars Ahead of Time?

Absolutely! These bars are an excellent make-ahead dessert, perfect for entertaining or when you want to enjoy a sweet treat without last-minute rush.

• You can fully assemble, bake, and chill these cheesecake bars up to 24 hours in advance. In fact, chilling overnight often allows the flavors to meld and the cheesecake to set perfectly, resulting in an even better texture and taste.
• If you prefer to prep components separately, both the oat crumble mixture and the cheesecake filling can be prepared up to 24 hours ahead of time. Store the dry oat crumble mixture in an airtight container at room temperature, and keep the cream cheese filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to assemble and bake the bars.
• Regarding the caramel topping, you have options: you can drizzle it over the entire batch of bars before storing them in the fridge, or for a warm, fresh finish, heat the caramel in the microwave just before serving and drizzle it over individual slices.

These baked apple bars are the quintessential fall dessert, ideal for any special occasion or simply to satisfy a craving for something truly spectacular. The harmonious blend of textures and flavors makes them an instant favorite. Don’t stop here – explore our 45 Must-Try Best Apple Dessert Recipes for even more apple-inspired delights!

Recipe: Apple Crisp Cream Cheese Bars

By Kim Lange

These Apple Crisp Cream Cheese Bars are so dreamy with easy to prepare assembly instructions! When I think of fall, these apple crisp cheesecake bars are definitely on my radar!

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 40 mins

Course: Dessert

Servings: 9 Servings

Keyword: apple, bars, caramel, cheesecake, cinnamon, cream cheese, fall desserts, oats, streusel

Ingredients

Oat Crisp Crust & Topping

• ½ cup quick-cooking oats
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ¾ cup butter, melted

Cream Cheese Layer

• 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, room temperature
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, room temperature

Apple Pie Layer

• 3 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• Caramel topping for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease.

Oat Crisp Crust & Topping

1. In a large bowl, toss together the oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon.
2. Add melted butter to the mixture and using a fork, mix until it’s crumbly.
3. Measure out 1 ¼ cups of the oat mixture to use for the topping; set aside.
4. Pour the remaining oat mixture into the greased 9×13 inch baking pan and press firmly to the bottom of the pan to form the crust.
5. Bake for 15 minutes, or until a golden brown. Prepare the cream cheese mixture while the crust is baking.

Cream Cheese Layer

1. In a large bowl, add softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla and beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
2. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, one at a time, until fully incorporated. Set aside.

Apple Pie Layer

1. In a large bowl, combine apples, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Toss to coat evenly.

How to Assemble Apple Crisp Cream Cheese Bars

1. Scatter the prepared apple mixture on top of the pre-baked crust.
2. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the apples.
3. Top the cream cheese layer with the reserved oat crumble mixture.
4. Bake for 38-45 minutes, or until the cream cheese layer is mostly set and the topping is golden.
5. Let cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or overnight) until ready to serve.
6. To cut, easily remove the cheesecake bars from the pan by lifting out the parchment paper. Place on a cutting board and slice into bars.
7. Top with caramel topping when you are ready to serve, if desired.

More Amazing Desserts to Explore!

• Caramel Glazed Apple Crumble Coffee Cake
• No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
• Rhubarb Berry Crisp
• Caramel Apple Bundt Cake
• Triple Chocolate Cheesecakes
• Heath Caramel Cheesecake Pie
• Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Brownies
• Swedish Apple Pie
• Easy Melted Snowman Cookies