Description
Delicious Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars that combine the flavors of creamy cheesecake, sweet caramel, and tart apples.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 cups peeled and diced apples (about 2 medium apples)
- ½ cup caramel sauce, plus extra for drizzling
- ¼ cup chopped pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease a 9×9-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and ¼ cup sugar. Mix until well combined. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form a crust.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and ¾ cup sugar with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and ground cinnamon until fully incorporated.
- Fold in the diced apples and chopped pecans (if using) into the cream cheese mixture. Pour the filling over the crust in the baking pan, spreading it evenly.
- Drizzle ½ cup of caramel sauce over the top of the cheesecake filling. Use a knife or toothpick to swirl the caramel into the filling gently.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly. Remove from the oven and let cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours to set completely.
- Once chilled, cut into bars and drizzle with additional caramel sauce before serving.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, try using a mix of tart and sweet apples, such as Granny Smith and Honeycrisp.
- To make it a bit healthier, substitute half of the cream cheese with Greek yogurt for added protein and a tangy taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 80mg