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Katie's Cucina » Recipes » Dessert

Apple Cheesecake Bars

Published: Sep 30, 2020 · Modified: Oct 15, 2023 by Katie · This post may contain affiliate links

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Two images: top of stacked cheesecake bars, bottom of a pan of cheesecake bars.
Top view of a rectangle pan of cheesecake bars with text on image for Pinterest.
Three photos: Top of cheescake bars, bottom of two process shots.
Three photos: top of stacked cheesecake bars, bottom of process of making cheesecake bars.
Three stacked apple cheesecake bars with crumb topping with text on image for Pinterest.
Three apple streusel cheesecake bars stacked on top of each other with text on image for Pinterest.

This decadent fall Apple Cheesecake Bars dessert can be made year round thanks to a few packaged items paired with fresh whipped cream cheese. This dessert recipe comes together in under an hour.

Three cheesecake bars filled with apple sitting on a piece of parchment paper.

Over the past ten years of blogging, I’ve learned that not all recipes have to be made from scratch! Sometimes you can use the help of a few boxed/canned ingredients to make the perfect dessert. This recipe for Apple Cheesecake Bars are one of them.

These cheesecake bars are a semi-homemade dessert that will have your friends and family coming back for more. Most importantly, begging you to divulge your secrets and share the recipe. They are definitely a cross between an apple pie and a new york style cheesecake but made in half the time of either dishes.

Jump to:
  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Ingredients
  • Directions
  • FAQs
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Apple Recipes
  • Apple Cheesecake Bars

Why This Recipe Works

Perfect Combination of Flavors: Apple Cheesecake Bars combine the rich, creamy goodness of cheesecake with the sweet and slightly tart taste of apples. This fusion of flavors creates a harmonious and indulgent dessert that appeals to a wide range of tastes. The creamy cheesecake layer complements the soft, cinnamon-spiced apples, making it a delightful treat for those who love a mix of textures and flavors.

Versatility: Apple Cheesecake Bars are versatile and can be enjoyed in various settings. They make an excellent addition to your dessert table at a special occasion or holiday gathering, but they are also suitable for a casual family dessert or a sweet treat for a cozy evening at home. They can be customized with different toppings or drizzles to suit your preferences, making them adaptable to different tastes.

Ease of Preparation: These bars are relatively easy to make compared to traditional cheesecakes, making them accessible to both novice and experienced bakers. The bar format simplifies the serving process, eliminating the need for a springform pan and the risk of cracking that can occur with traditional cheesecakes. Additionally, the combination of cheesecake and apple layers ensures that you get the best of both worlds without the complexity of making two separate desserts.

Apple Cheesecake Bars offer a delightful blend of flavors, versatility in their application, and an easier preparation process compared to traditional cheesecakes, making them a fantastic dessert option that most people would enjoy making and sharing with others.

Ingredients

Ingredients: Oatmeal cookie mix, cream cheese, flour, sugar, butter, egg, cinnamon, apple pie filling.
  • Oatmeal Cookie Mix – I keep it simple and just use a pouch from the grocery store as the base of the cookie bars! I prefer Betty Crocker brand.
  • Butter – Unsalted is best for this recipe, but I’ve also used salted too.
  • Cream Cheese – Make sure you let the cream cheese sit out at room temperature for 1-2 hours so it softens in time for baking.
  • Egg – Just like the cream cheese you will need the egg to sit out at room temperature. This prevents it from curdling in the room temperature cream cheese.
  • All-Purpose Flour – This is to thicken the cream cheese mixture.
  • Vanilla Extract – This will flavor the cream cheese base.
  • Granulated Sugar – I add a little sugar to the cream cheese base. However, this is a very sweet bar to begin with and if you don’t want it as sweet you can reduce the sugar in half.
  • Apple Pie Filling – One can of apple pie filling is all you will need. Take the time to spread it evenly throughout the bars!
  • Spices – I like to use mainly cinnamon with a pinch of nutmeg, but you can also use apple pie spice if you have it on hand.

Directions

Three process photos of making crust using a pastry blender.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray bottom and sides of 13×9 pan with cooking spray. Place cookie mix in large bowl. With pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until mixture is crumbly and coarse. Reserve 1-½ cups crumb mixture; press remaining crumbs in bottom of pan. Bake for 10 minutes. 

Two process photos of a KitchenAid Stand Mixer fitted with a paddle attachment creaming whipped cream.

While the crumbs are baking; in a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, flour, vanilla and egg with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. 

Four process shots of layering cheesecake bars in a metal pan.

Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over partially baked crust. Then pour pie filling over the cream cheese mixture, making sure to smooth out the filling so that it evenly covers the cheesecake mixture. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg, then sprinkle reserve crumbs over the top of the apple pie filling (covering all the filling). 

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes longer or until light golden brown. Cool for another 30 minutes then refrigerate to chill for about 2 hours. Cut the bars to desired size. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days. 

FAQs

Top view of a pan of cheesecake bars with a streusel topping in a metal pan with parchment paper.
How do you know when a cheesecake bar is done?

It can be tricky to tell if cheesecake is done or not. For these bars after the cooking time is up I’ll simply give the baking tray a little shake to see if they jiggle a lot. The cheesecake bars should only jiggle a little. The center will firm up during the cooling time. Make sure you do not use a knife to check the doneness.

Should cheesecake be jiggly in the middle?

Yes, the middle should be jiggly but not firm. The middle will begin to firm up during the cooling process. This is one of the reasons why it’s very important that the cheesecake has time to rest and chill so that it can set.

Is it OK to eat undercooked cheesecake?

You can eat it; however, I would be concerned that if the egg is not fully cooked you could get sick with salmonella poisoning.

Can you add caramel to these cheesecake bars?

Yes, if you wish to make these caramel apple cheesecake bars you can add a drizzle of caramel sauce on top once the bars are cooled and cut!

Tips & Tricks

Top view of three cut cheesecake bars with crumble topping sitting on parchment paper.

Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks I’ve found helpful when making this recipe.

  • Room temperature – Make sure the cream cheese and egg is at room temperature before creaming.
  • Sugar – These bars are already very sweet. If you want to decrease the sugar in the cream cheese mixture by ¼ cup it works.
  • Caramel – If you love caramel you can make these caramel apple cheesecake bars by pouring caramel on top before serving!
  • Nuts – If you like nuts you can add chopped pecans on top of the streusel topping before baking.

Apple Recipes

Side view of three apple cheescake bars stacked on top of each other with a pan in the background.

Here are a few of my favorite apple recipes from breakfast, dessert, and even drinks!

  • Two triangel turnovers on a white plate with a powder sugar sifter resting next to it.
    Puff Pastry Apple Turnovers
  • Two milkshakes in glasses with red and white striped straws.
    Apple Pie Milkshakes
  • Close up Apple Dump Cake topped with vanilla ice cream, pecans, and caramel drizzle.
    Apple Dump Cake
  • Glass plate filled with an apple pie with powdered sugar.
    Apple Pie with Streusel Topping

If you make these apple cheesecake bars recipe, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!

Don’t forget to FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram, and subscribe to my email list!

Three cheesecake bars with apples stacked on a piece of white partchment paper.

Apple Cheesecake Bars

This decadent fall Apple Cheesecake Bars dessert can be made year round thanks to a few packaged items paired with fresh whipped cream cheese. This dessert recipe comes together in under an hour.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Diet: Low Salt
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes
Refrigeration Time: 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 3 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 244kcal
Author: Katie

Equipment

  • KitchenAid Stand Mixer
  • Stove Top
  • Measuring Spoons
  • 1 Silicone Spatula
  • 1 Rectangular Baking Dish

Ingredients

  • 1 pouch Betty Crocker Oatmeal Cookie Mix
  • 1 stick Cold Unsalted Butter
  • 16 ounces Packages of Cream cheese soften at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons All-purpose flour
  • ½ cup Granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 1 Egg
  • 21 ouces Can of Apple Pie Filling
  • ½ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • dash Nutmeg

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray bottom and sides of 13×9 pan with cooking spray.
  • Place cookie mix in large bowl. With pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until mixture is crumbly and coarse. Reserve 1-½ cups crumb mixture; press remaining crumbs in bottom of pan. Bake for 10 minutes. 
  • While the crumbs are baking; in a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, flour, vanilla and egg with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. 
  • Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over partially baked crust. Then pour pie filling over the cream cheese mixture, making sure to smooth out the filling so that it evenly covers the cheesecake mixture. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg, then sprinkle reserve crumbs over the top of the apple pie filling (covering all the filling). 
  • Bake for 35 to 40 minutes longer or until light golden brown. Cool for another 30 minutes then refrigerate to chill for about 2 hours. Cut the bars to desired size. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days. 

Notes

  • Room temperature – Make sure that the cream cheese and egg is at room temperature before mixing.
  • Cool – Let the cheesecake cool completely before cutting into the bars.
  • Fruit – You can use any variety of canned fruit in jelly for this recipe!
  • Nuts – If you like nuts you can add in chopped pecans in the streusel topping before baking.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5c | Calories: 244kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 107mg | Potassium: 61mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 585IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @KatieJasiewicz or tag #katiescucina!
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About Katie

Katie is a busy mom of 2 children who loves to feed her family delicious meals that don't take hours to cook! She started her blog 15 years ago as a way to help others get cooking in the kitchen.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Janice

    November 27, 2024 at 3:17 pm

    does putting it in the refrigerator make it harden for bars?

    Reply
    • Katie

      November 29, 2024 at 1:57 pm

      Hi Janice, cheesecake is always best served chilled and/or at room temperature. The refrigeration time helps it set more and also chills it so it’s more palatable to taste.

  2. Lynn Kershaw-Smith

    October 06, 2017 at 9:57 am

    This looks delicious, however I want to bake from scratch – no packaged cookie mixes or canned fruit filling. Has anyone made those changes to this recipe?

    Reply
    • Katie

      October 07, 2017 at 10:12 pm

      Hi Lynn, I’ve never tried making from scratch, although would love to work on trying to recreate the recipe from scratch!

  3. Donna

    September 09, 2012 at 2:15 pm

    Tried this today with cherry rather than apple – my hubby’s fave! Excellent! Thank you.

    Reply
    • Katie

      September 10, 2012 at 12:04 am

      Donna, I LOVE this recipe. It is so easy to make and you can always change it up just like you did!

  4. Anonymous

    December 30, 2011 at 7:35 pm

    This sounds gteat, just finished one simular with out cheese. Spread apple ove base then a mixture of two egg sugar and cream and sprinkle with crumble. I will try this one today. Thanks Olly

    Reply
  5. Amy

    October 09, 2011 at 9:39 pm

    Sounds fantastic!

    Reply
  6. Russell at Chasing Delicious

    October 08, 2011 at 2:09 pm

    Yum. These bars look scrumptious! I love all things cheesecake and all things apple so I'd say this is a win win.

    Reply
  7. Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos

    October 07, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    These look delicious!

    Reply
  8. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com

    October 07, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    My fav desserts are: cheesecakes & apple streusel. Did you read my mind before making this drool-worthy dessert? 😀

    Reply
  9. Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray

    October 06, 2011 at 4:25 pm

    Found your blog through your guest post at Aggie's Kitchen. You have a new follower! 🙂

    Reply
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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I'm Katie Jasiewicz: home cook, food blogger, and recipe developer. A busy mom of two children who loves to feed her family delicious meals that don’t take hours to cook! My mission is to create easy-to-make modern comfort food for the busy family. (more)

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