Apple cheesecake bars with streusel topping are the perfect treat for any occasion year-round! These little bars are jam-packed with layers of flavor, yet are on the lighter side when it comes to the sugar measurements (compared to other cheesecake recipes). Make sure to cut these into small squares and be prepared for glowing reviews!
This decadent dessert is one of my most requested recipes. Since its creation in 2006, I have received so many rave reviews from family and friends. Over the years I have handed out countless handwritten and typed copies of this; so much so that in 2008, when blogging was an up-and-coming trend, I started one of my own to make this recipe accessible to anyone at any time. “Apple Cheesecake Crumb Bars” landed front and center on my old free blogging platform, but after posting two or three recipes I decided that blogging was a waste of time for a regular person like me, so I didn’t share any more of my creations.
Little did I know that had I continued in this pioneering social media, my world might look a little different right now. The proof that I should have continued was when I saw my apple cheesecake bars on a Food Network show a couple of years later. A subsequent Google search yielded quite a few well-known sites with my sweet recipe from the blog that I had given up on too quickly.
Needless to say, this one is near and dear to my heart… and recipes are not covered by copyright laws
(laughing slash crying)
The back story is important to this post, to convey just how amazing this recipe truly is- for others to experiment with it and feature their own versions in cookbooks and on food television shows should be reason enough for you to give this one a try! So keep scrolling for the printable recipe card below….
I strongly encourage you to watch the tutorial below to visualize how this recipe comes together. The video is only a few minutes long but will make it so much easier to understand than by just going through the direction list below.
In the fall I like to switch over the diced Apple with swirls of pumpkin and cinnamon in the cheesecake or even Apple butter. Follow my Instagram or Facebook pages to see when I post these versions next fall and then come back here for the recipes.
8 INGREDIENT SHOPPING LIST
FLOUR
OATS
GRANULATED SUGAR
CINNAMON
BUTTER
EGGS
CREAM CHEESE
APPLES
I get questions all the time about my pantry canisters– you can find them here on Amazon(affiliate): https://amzn.to/348TtL7 These are my favorite ones because the inner lid seal is truly airtight.
Promise me that you will overlook the total butter measurement in this until you have tried it, and understand that it’s OK to indulge in a gluttonous treat from time to time … keeping in mind that a takeout meal most likely has more than that.
I have served these bars both warm and cold although cold is preferred since it is technically a cheesecake. In my opinion, these bars taste the absolute best the next day; just like lasagna, it needs time to set. They are also amazing as a breakfast bar!
Soak up the rave reviews from your friends and family when you make these! Trust me, they are decadently delicious.
THE VISUAL RECIPE GUIDE
STEP 1: THE SHORTBREAD CRUST
STEP 2: THE FILLING
STEP 2: ASSEMBLE & BAKE
This is my go-to for squeezable caramel sauce!
THE QUICK VIDEO TUTORIAL:
FAVORITE ACCESSORIES/TOOLS USED IN THIS RECIPE
THIS TOOL IS DECADES OLD AND I USE IT FOR EVERY SINGLE PASTRY AND PIE CRUST. MY FAVORITE TOOL FOR PASTRIES THAT MY GRANDMOTHER INTRODUCED ME TO. THE BEST WAY TO INCORPORATE BUTTER INTO FLOUR FOR A PERFECT CRUST EVERY TIME.
THE UPDATED VERSION OF THE CHOP WIZARD IS EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR DICING POTATOES, APPLE ONIONS, ETC. THEY MADE IT SUPER EASY TO CLEAN AND USE. IT’S NOT A DAUNTING LARGE/HARD TO CLEAN ATTACHMENT/DEVICE. THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE KITCHEN GADGET.
KITCHEN AID STAND MIXER
THIS ONE DOESNT NEED AN EXPLANATION…EXCEPT IM NOT SURE HOW I EVER BAKED BEFORE THIS MIXER.
THE PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD
Print
Apple Crumb Cheesecake Bars
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 38
- Total Time: 1 hour 8 minutes + chill
- Yield: 24 1x
- Category: Dessert
Description
Apple cheesecake bars with streusel topping! The perfect sweet treat for holidays, parties and brunch!
Ingredients
Shortbread Crust
1 cup salted butter, softened.
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
Cheesecake Filling
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
2 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided.
3 large Macintosh (or similar) apples, peeled and diced.
1 tsp ground cinnamon, divided.
Streusel Topping
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup salted butter softened.
Instructions
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 13×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, letting excess extend over the sides of the pan.
- Prepare the crust:
- In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar with a mixer at medium speed for 3-5 minutes.
- Incorporate the flour into the mix at low speed until just combined.
- Press mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. (see video tutorial)
- Bake for 8 minutes or until lightly golden. Set aside.
- Prepare the filling
- Peel and dice apples
- In a small bowl, mix apples with cinnamon and sugar. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together cream cheese and sugar at medium speed until smooth and creamy. The sugar should be well incorporated into the cream cheese- this takes a good 5 full minutes (scraping sides of bowl as needed).
- Add in the eggs one at a time, mixing until just combined at low speed. Set aside
- Prepare the streusel topping:
- In a medium bowl, mix together flour, butter, oats, and brown sugar using a fork or pastry cutter. Set aside
- Assemble:
- Pour cream cheese filling evenly over shortbread crust.
- Sprinkle the cinn/sugar-coated apples evenly over the cream cheese filling (don’t mix it in)
- Crumble the streusel over the apples
- Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes or until the center is set.
- Allow to fully cool in the pan
- Using excess parchment as handles, remove from pan, and cut into small bars/squares
- Refrigerate until chilled. (They taste the best if chilled overnight/8 hours+)
- Drizzle with caramel before serving. (optional)
Notes
If using unsalted butter, add 1/4 tsp salt per stick of butter.
Keywords: dessert
