These delectable bars have everything that's wonderful about the fall and holiday season - they're sure to impress at any of your family gatherings and potlucks.
The bars start with a crust made from crushed Nilla wafers and graham crackers. There's plenty of them, too, so the crust is nice and thick and helps the bars stay together when you cut them apart.
Next, the deliciously smooth cheesecake batter is piled on top.
Then that's spread into an even layer. I don't know about you, but I love stealing tastes of raw cheesecake batter, uncooked eggs be darned. I live dangerously in the kitchen.
Next, tart Granny Smith apples are tossed with cinnamon and nutmeg and packed onto the cream cheese layer.
If that's not enough, a sweet streusel topping finishes things off before this guy gets popped into the oven.
Once the bars have cooled and chilled in the fridge for a few hours, they can be cut into squares.
You could certainly stop here, they are delicious just as they are.
But drizzle on some warm salty caramel and these become something else altogether. Something irresistibly amazing.
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
- FOR THE CRUST:
- 12 Graham Cracker Sheets
- 50 Nilla wafers (or similar)
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 12 tablespoons butter, melted
- FOR CREAM CHEESE LAYER:
- 16oz (2 packages) cream cheese, softened
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- FOR APPLE LAYER:
- 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped
- 1 TBS sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- FOR STREUSEL TOPPING:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup quick cooking oats
- ½ cup butter, softened
- FOR THE CARAMEL:
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 TBS butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- FOR THE CRUST:
- Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly coat a 9x13 dish with cooking spray
- In a food processor, pulse Nilla wafers and graham crackers until they are finely ground. You may need to do this in batches.
- Transfer crumbs to a bowl and stir in cinnamon and butter until thoroughly combined. Press into an even layer in prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 8 minutes
- FOR CREAM CHEESE LAYER:
- Using a hand or stand mixer, beat cream cheese, eggs, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
- Pour over crust.
- FOR APPLES:
- Place apples in a small bowl and sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Distribute evenly on top of cream cheese layer.
- FOR STREUSEL:
- Mix brown sugar, flour, oats, and butter until combined - it will be coarse and crumbly.
- Sprinkle evenly on top of apples
- Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes until set. Cool to room temperature and then chill in refrigerator for 3-4 hours.
- FOR CARAMEL:
- Place sugar and water in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium high heat.
- Cook without stirring until sugar dissolves and becomes a rich caramel color.
- Remove from heat and add the cream, whisking constantly (be careful - it will steam and bubble).
- Cook for an additional minute or two until all caramel pieces have dissolved.
- Remove from heat and stir in butter, vanilla extract, and salt. Drizzle warm caramel over bars and serve.
Janet L Russelle
I'm off to the store for some ingredients then I'm going to make this apple cheesecake bar and invite family and friends over for a treat and a visit. Thanks, I really like your blog.
Katie
Y'all also check out this video with the instructions. These are super yummy! especially with apples we picked, we used a mixture of different kinds. super easy to make and easy to eat on the go. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNqDIMXz-BM&feature=youtu.be