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Best Caramel Cheesecake Bars – Buttery Crust & Sweet Apple Layers

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Rich cheesecake layered over buttery shortbread and spiced apples, topped with oat streusel and drizzled with caramel. A handheld version of fall’s favorite desserts.

Ingredients

Scale

Shortbread Crust:

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

  • ⅓ cup packed brown sugar

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

  • ¼ tsp salt

Cheesecake Layer:

  • 16 oz cream cheese, softened

  • ½ cup granulated sugar

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • 1 egg

  • ¼ cup sour cream

Apple Layer:

  • 2 medium apples, peeled and diced

  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

  • ¼ cup brown sugar

  • 1 tsp cinnamon

  • ⅛ tsp nutmeg

Streusel Topping:

  • ½ cup old-fashioned oats

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour

  • ⅓ cup brown sugar

  • ½ tsp cinnamon

  • ¼ cup cold butter, cubed

Caramel Drizzle:

  • ½ cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13″ pan with parchment.

  • Mix flour, brown sugar, and salt for crust. Cut in butter until crumbly. Press into pan and bake 15 minutes.

  • Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar, vanilla, egg, and sour cream. Spread over warm crust.

  • Toss apples with lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Layer over cheesecake.

  • Mix streusel ingredients and sprinkle on top.

  • Bake 40–45 minutes until set. Cool completely, then refrigerate at least 3 hours.

  • Slice and drizzle with caramel before serving.

Notes

  • Bars slice best when chilled.

  • Add nuts to the streusel for crunch.

  • Freeze bars individually for long-term storage.

Find it online: https://thefoodaunt.com/best-caramel-cheesecake-bars-buttery-crust-sweet-apple-layers/