The Best Apple Pie Cheesecake Bars Recipe
Did I ever tell you that cheesecake is by far my all time favorite dessert? There’s no question about it that when I go into a restaurant and if I have any type of dessert, 99% of the time I will always order cheesecake. I mean there has to be some extraordinary dessert on the menu that catches my eye to make me stray from the norm. These bars are not really about the salted caramel sauce, these squares are about the cheesecake and the apples. It’s no secret that I also like apple pie, so why not combine two of my favorite desserts together, cheesecake and apple pie? It’s really no rocket science here. While most apple cheesecake bars call to put the apples and some sort of streusel topping over the top of the bars, here I went against the norm and mixed the apples with the cheesecake together. And why not?
Crust
Graham crackers – The main ingredient in our crust and it also offers a great molasses flavor. Butter – Salted or unsalted though I prefer unsalted to control the sodium content of our dessert. Sugar – We want a nice clean flavor, white granulated sugar is your best bet. You can sub this with brown sugar. Spices – Some cinnamon to warm everything up and it pairs nicely with our apples.
Filling
Cream cheese – I used 2 packages of whole fat Philadelphia cream cheese. Reduced fat can also be used to cut calories. Sugar – Again granulated sugar is best for this cheesecake recipe. Eggs – Our key binding agent for this cake, eggs will allow it to bake properly. Salt – To season our cake, an important component.
Apples
Apples – I used Macintosh apples, however any kind will do! Be sure to slice them thin and bite sized. Spices – Some cinnamon to warm it all up, cinnamon also pairs perfectly with apple. Sugar – We want some white sugar to give us a clean sweetness.
Optional Topping
Caramel sauce – You can use store bought like I did to make things a bit easier, or you can make your own! I’ll include directions below for doing exactly that. Sea salt – Some of the nice flaky stuff sprinkled over top.
Prep The Oven And Baking Pan
First, you’ll need to preheat your oven to 350°F. Next, spray a 9×9-inch baking pan with cooking spray then line it with parchment paper, so that the parchment paper sticks to the pan. Make sure to leave a 2 inch overlap on the sides, so you can easily pull the bars out.
Make The Crust
In a medium bowl mix together the melted butter, ½ tsp cinnamon, sugar and the graham cracker crumbs. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan and press evenly. I find it easier to use the bottom of a measuring cup to press the crumbs down to make a thin layer. Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes.
Prepare The Apples
In a medium bowl mix together the apples with the sugar and cinnamon.
Make The Cream Cheese Filling
To the bowl of your mixer, add the cream cheese, sugar, eggs and pinch of salt. Beat on medium high for at least 5 minutes or until the mixture is smooth. Gently fold in the prepared apples into the cheesecake mixture. You can also use an electric mixer.
Pour The Filling Over The Crust
Once the crust has baked for 10 minutes, pour the cream cheese filling over it. Level the top off with a spatula.
Bake The Cheesecake
Transfer the baking pan to the oven and bake uncovered for about an hour or until the filling is set. You’ll want to let the cheesecake cool completely before slicing it. Once the cake is cooled feel free to slice it into squares. I love to serve mine drizzled with some caramel sauce and sprinkled with some sea salt.
What’s The Best Cream Cheese To Use For Cheesecake?
I prefer using Philadelphia cream cheese because it always makes a super silky cheesecake. However, if you can’t find the Philadelphia brand, use a cream cheese that is full fat for best results.
Want To Make Your Own Caramel Sauce?
Well I sure won’t try to stop you! I have a super easy 1 ingredient caramel sauce right here on the blog, just follow the directions listed there to really take this dessert up a notch.
What Else Can I Top My Bars With?
Besides this delicious caramel sauce with sea salt there are other toppings you can add. Here are some suggestions:
Whipped cream Chocolate sauce Toasted pecans or walnuts Cinnamon Cocoa Powder
Storing Leftovers
These little apple pie cheesecake bars will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Just store in an airtight container or wrap them up tightly before popping them in the fridge. Cooked cheesecake also freezes really well, just place the bars fully cooled and uncovered on a pan in the freezer and allow to freeze entirely. Remove them and wrap fully in plastic wrap and aluminum foil till ready to eat. This method should ensure the cheesecake bars lasts 3 months.
Other Delicious Apple Desserts To Try
Apple Crumble Air Fryer Apple Pie Bombs Apple Galette Apple Hand Pies Easy Apple Cake Dutch Apple Pie Apple Cider
