Apple Cinnamon Cheesecake Bars with Caramel and Sea Salt Recipe
Delight in these creamy Apple Cinnamon Cheesecake Bars featuring a buttery graham cracker crust, spiced apples folded into a smooth cream cheese filling, baked to perfection and topped with rich caramel sauce and a sprinkle of sea salt. Perfect for a cozy dessert that combines the warm flavors of fall with a luscious texture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 9 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 6 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Apple Mixture
- 2 large apples (peeled, cored, and sliced into small pieces)
- ¼ cup 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 the Pan: Heat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper, spraying the pan with cooking spray first to help the parchment stick. Set aside.
- Make Crust: In a medium bowl, combine melted butter, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, sugar, and graham cracker crumbs. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan using the bottom of a glass for a thin, compact layer. Bake for 10 minutes until set.
- Prepare Apples: In another bowl, mix peeled and sliced apples with sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon, coating the apple pieces evenly.
- Make Cheesecake Filling: In the bowl of a mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and salt on medium-high speed for at least 5 minutes until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Gently fold in the spiced apples to combine without breaking down the apples.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the cheesecake mixture evenly over the baked crust and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake uncovered for about 1 hour or until the filling is set and slightly puffed.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the cheesecake bars to cool completely in the pan before lifting them out using the parchment paper. Slice into squares.
- Add Toppings: Drizzle bars with caramel sauce and sprinkle lightly with sea salt for a delicious finishing touch.
Notes
- Storage (Refrigeration): These bars will keep in the fridge up to 5 days when stored in an airtight container or tightly wrapped.
- Storage (Freezing): Freeze cooled bars uncovered on a baking sheet until solid, then wrap in plastic wrap and aluminum foil; stored this way, they last up to 3 months.
Keywords: apple cinnamon cheesecake bars, cheesecake bars, apple dessert, cinnamon dessert, graham cracker crust, caramel drizzle, baked cheesecake bars