Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 cup cold salted butter, cubed
- 16 oz full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup white sugar (for cheesecake layer)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups apples (Granny Smith & Honeycrisp mix), peeled and sliced
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce (thick)
- Optional: pinch of flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Mix flour, 1/2 cup white sugar, and cold cubed butter until crumbly. Press evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 10 minutes.
- Beat softened cream cheese with 1/2 cup white sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing just until combined, then stir in vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, toss apple slices with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice until coated.
- Pour cheesecake mixture over the crust and spread evenly. Arrange apple slices on top, slightly overlapping.
- Sprinkle remaining crumble mixture over apples without packing it down.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes, until edges are set but center still has a slight wobble.
- Cool for 1 hour at room temperature, then refrigerate at least 2 hours before slicing.
- Before serving, drizzle caramel sauce over the bars. Optionally, sprinkle flaky sea salt for a sweet-salty finish.
Notes
For the best flavor and texture, chill bars before cutting, use firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, and avoid overmixing the cheesecake layer.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 65mg