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Cozy Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Cinnamon Spice

cozy caramel apple cheesecake bars - featured image
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These bars combine tart apples, creamy cheesecake, and a cinnamon-spiced crust drizzled with homemade caramel for a cozy, comforting dessert perfect for fall gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
  • 16 oz (450g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and diced
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup heavy cream, warmed
  • Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
  2. Make the crust: In a bowl, combine 1½ cups flour, ¼ cup sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Add cold cubed butter and blend until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized bits. Press firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes until lightly golden. Let cool slightly.
  3. Prepare cheesecake layer: Beat softened cream cheese with ½ cup sugar until smooth and creamy (2-3 minutes). Add egg and vanilla extract, mixing until combined. Stir in 2 tbsp flour. Pour batter evenly over warm crust.
  4. Cook apples: Melt 1 tbsp butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Sauté about 5 minutes until apples soften but retain slight bite. Remove from heat and let cool.
  5. Top cheesecake layer evenly with sautéed apples.
  6. Bake again: Return pan to oven and bake 30-35 minutes until cheesecake is set but slightly jiggly in center. Avoid overbaking.
  7. Make caramel drizzle: In a saucepan over medium heat, stir ½ cup sugar constantly until melted into golden amber syrup (5-7 minutes). Remove from heat, stir in 3 tbsp butter until melted. Slowly whisk in warm ¼ cup heavy cream and a pinch of sea salt. Let cool slightly.
  8. Cool bars completely in pan on wire rack. Use parchment overhang to lift bars out onto cutting board. Drizzle caramel sauce generously over top.
  9. Slice into 12 bars with a sharp knife, wiping blade between cuts. Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Use almond flour for a gluten-free crust and coconut cream for a dairy-free caramel. Watch caramel closely to avoid burning. Let bars cool completely before slicing for clean edges. Overmixing cheesecake batter can cause cracks. Warm caramel gently if it thickens before drizzling.

Nutrition

Keywords: caramel apple cheesecake bars, cinnamon spice dessert, fall dessert, easy cheesecake bars, homemade caramel, apple dessert bars

Find it online: https://perkypan.com/cozy-caramel-apple-cheesecake-bars-recipe-easy-homemade-dessert-with-cinnamon-spice/