Caramel Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars – crunchy oat crust and topping, creamy cheesecake filling, juicy apple – cinnamon filling, all drizzled with caramel on top, make a perfect fall dessert.
3big Applespeeled, cored and diced (Granny smith, Gala or Golden delicious)
¼cupLight brown sugar
⅛cupAll purpose flour
1teaspoonGround cinnamon
FOR SERVING
¼cupCaramel sauce
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 F and line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Then spray it with a non-stick spray and set aside.
TO MAKE THE CRUST AND THE TOPPING - Mix oats, flour, light brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and melted butter in a medium bowl, stirring until it’s combined. The mixture will be crumbly. Put half of the mixture in a lined 8x8 baking pan, spread evenly and press. Set the other half of the mixture aside.
TO MAKE THE CHEESECAKE FILLING - In a large bowl beat cream cheese and sugar with an electric mixer, using medium speed, until smooth. Then, add an egg, vanilla, salt and flour and beat some more until it’s combined. Do not overbeat. Place it over the crust and spread evenly.
TO MAKE THE APPLE FILLING - Start by combining apples, cinnamon, flour and sugar in a medium bowl. Fold until the apples are coated. Sprinkle the apples over the cheesecake layer and and finally sprinkle the remaining half of the oat mixture.
Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the cheesecake layer is set and the topping gets light golden brown.
The dessert should be cooled at room temperature, then transferred to the fridge for at least 4 hours, possibly overnight.
Drizzle the cake with caramel sauce before serving.
Notes
Make sure that all ingredients are at room temperature. Cream cheese and eggs have to be out of the fridge for a minimum half an hour before using, possibly even an hour.
Use rolled oats, not quick oats in order to get a perfectly crunchy crust and topping.
Cut the cheesecake in dice when it's completely cooled in the fridge.
How to store Caramel Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars? Cool the dessert at room temperature, then cover it and keep refrigerated for 3-5 days.
Can Caramel Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars be frozen? Yes, they can be frozen for no longer than 3 months. In that case, cool the dessert completely at room temperature, then transfer it to the fridge for minimum 4h, cut in dice and place in a freezer container, with a piece of parchment paper between, so that the pieces of cheesecake wouldn’t get stuck.
Leave it in the fridge to defrost and then drizzle with caramel sauce.