Description
Indulgent salted caramel apple cream cheese bars combine sweet and tangy flavors in a delightful dessert. Crumbly graham cracker crust, rich cream cheese filling, and caramel-glazed apple topping make this treat irresistible for anyone craving comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced into 1/8-inch pieces
- 3 (8 oz/226.8 g) brick-style cream cheese, room temperature
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 large egg yolks, room temperature
- 2 tbsps light brown sugar, packed
- 2 tsps pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ tsps all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups (249 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (227 g) sour cream
- 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ cup (113 ml/4 fl oz) heavy cream
- ½ cup (106 g) light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¾ cup (159 g) light brown sugar, packed
- ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Crust Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper and lightly spray with non-stick coating. Mix butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt into a uniform dough. Press evenly into pan and bake for 8 minutes, then cool completely.
- Cheesecake Filling: Blend cream cheese until silky, gradually incorporating sour cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Add eggs and egg yolks individually, mixing thoroughly. Fold in flour gently. Stir heavy cream, brown sugar, spices, and diced apples into the batter until well combined.
- Streusel Topping: Combine brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, rolled oats, and cinnamon in a bowl. Drizzle melted butter over dry ingredients, stirring until crumbly and slightly clumped.
- Assembly and Baking: Pour cheesecake mixture over cooled crust, smoothing the surface. Sprinkle streusel topping evenly across the entire layer. Bake 45-50 minutes until center sets and a toothpick comes out nearly clean.
- Cooling and Finishing: Allow bars to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Before serving, drizzle with salted caramel sauce and sprinkle flaky sea salt. Slice into bars and serve chilled.
Notes
- Chill for Perfect Texture: Refrigerate bars for at least 4 hours to allow cheesecake to set completely and enhance flavor development.
- Handle Delicate Crust: Use parchment paper sling to prevent sticking and ensure clean, easy removal of bars from the pan.
- Watch Baking Time Carefully: Check doneness around 40 minutes to prevent overcooking; center should be slightly jiggly but set.
- Slice with Clean Knife: Wipe knife between cuts with warm, damp cloth for neat, pristine bar edges when serving.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 17
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg