Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars (Print Version)

Cream cheese, apple, and spiced oat layers combine for a comforting dessert bar in every bite.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Crust

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Cheesecake Layer

05 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
06 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
07 - 1 large egg
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Apple Filling

09 - 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
10 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
11 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
12 - 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
13 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice

→ Crisp Topping

14 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
15 - 1/3 cup rolled oats
16 - 1/3 cup brown sugar
17 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
18 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring some overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, salt, and melted butter until a crumbly dough develops. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
03 - Using a bowl and electric mixer or whisk, beat cream cheese and granulated sugar until smooth. Add in the egg and vanilla extract; blend until just combined. Pour and spread evenly over the baked crust.
04 - In a separate bowl, toss diced apples with brown sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice to evenly coat. Distribute the apple mixture over the cheesecake layer.
05 - In another bowl, combine all-purpose flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add cold, cubed butter and work into the dry mixture using fingers or a pastry blender until coarse crumbs form. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apple layer.
06 - Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the topping turns golden brown and the center is set. Cool completely in the pan, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting into bars.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Easy to slice and share great for parties
  • Comforting mix of creamy and crunchy textures
  • Takes less than an hour and a half from start to finish
  • Simple ingredients you can find at any store
02 -
  • Wonderful balance of gooey and crispy textures
  • Stores beautifully in the fridge up to four days
  • Great way to use apples that are starting to go soft
03 -
  • Baking the crust for ten minutes first prevents soggy bottoms
  • Always chill the bars before slicing to get the cleanest lines
  • If you want even more crunch add an extra handful of oats to the topping sprinkle lightly so the cheesecake still shines

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