These caramel apple blondie cheesecake bars are what happens with apple blondies with a cream cheese filling decide to become one glorious dessert. Creamy cheesecake filling, fresh apples, gooey butterscotch chips, nuts and a caramel drizzle – every layer is better than the last. They’re the fall apple dessert you’ll be begged to make again and again.

caramel apple cheesecake bars pinterest pin

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Must Make Fall Dessert – Apple Blondie Bars with Cream Cheese

There are a lot of apple cheesecake bar recipes out there, but I wanted something EASY! I didn’t want to bake multiple layers separately, make a separate crust, or have a syrupy, overly-sweet apple layer.

My apple bars with fresh apple chunks balances perfectly with the cream cheese, and the butterscotch chips give an extra boost of caramel sweetness. To round out the caramel apple flavor, drizzle slightly warmed caramel ice cream sauce all over the top.

Since they are made in a 9X13-inch baking pan the are one of my favorite brownies and bars recipes to bring to pot lucks, chili cook-offs, and game day gatherings. You may want to go ahead and print off recipe copies, because you will be asked!

These are excellent, my husband loves them. I know because he stood in the kitchen and peeled and diced all the apples. They also make the house smell so good on a cold winter night. Great recipe♥️

—Judy

Let’s Make This Together!

Apple blondie layer

First whisk together the sugar, eggs, and oil. Stir in the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. You will have a very thick dough, almost like cookie dough.

Now it’s time to add all the goodness – butterscotch chips, chopped nuts (or not), and loads of fresh peeled and diced apples.

Take out 2 cups of the apple bar dough and set it aside. That will be crumbled over top. Press the rest into a 9X13-inch baking dish.

the apple blondie dough in a large glass bowl with butterscotch chips, apples and nuts.
Do your best to work in the diced apples and butterscotch chips with a spoon or you can work it in with your hands if the dough is too thick.

Cream cheese filling

In a separate bowl beat together the cheesecake filling – softened cream cheese, egg sugar, and vanilla until it’s smooth and creamy.

cream cheese filling being spread on the apple bars.
The cream cheese filling will be pourable and able to be spread on top of the bottom layer.

Final layer and bake

Take that reserved blondie dough and crumble it over the top. It’s okay if the cream cheese shows through. Bake for about 50 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the middle doesn’t come out with wet dough. Once they are cooled, finish with the caramel drizzle.

top layer crumbled on top before baking.
Before I pop it in the oven, I like to sprinkle on additional butterscotch chips and nuts on top.
a stack of apple cheesecake bars with caramel dripping over
If you don’t plan on eating the whole batch at once, you can drizzle on the caramel sauce as they are served.

Sometimes I drizzle caramel ice cream topping as they are served or you can leave it off and dust with powdered sugar. Another yummy option is to make the cinnamon glaze from my frosted snickerdoodle bars and spread over the top.

a bite taken out of an apple bar with cheesecake filling and caramel dripping over
The perfect fall dessert bar mash up – apples, butterscotch, and cream cheese. What’s not to love?

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caramel apple cheesecake bars pinterest pin
4.24 stars (38 ratings)

Caramel Apple Blondie Cheesecake Bars

Melissa Erdelac of MamaGourmand headshot in patterned dress.Melissa Erdelac
Yield: 24
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
These caramel apple blondie cheesecake bars are what happens with apple blondies with a cream cheese filling decide to become one glorious dessert. Creamy cheesecake filling, fresh apples, gooey butterscotch chips, nuts and a caramel drizzle – every layer is better than the last. They're the fall apple dessert you'll be begged to make again and again.
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Ingredients
 

Cheesecake filling:

Equipment

Instructions
 

  • Preheat 350ºF. Spray 9X13 pan with cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl whisk together sugar, eggs, and oil. Stir in flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. It will be really thick, similar to cookie dough. 
    2 cups granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, ¾ cup oil, 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Add apples, butterscotch chips, and nuts. Since it is so thick, I ended up using my hands and kind of kneading it in. Don't worry if everything isn't incorporated all the way. It will all bake together when you press it in the pan. Reserve 2 cups and set aside. 
    3 cups (about 2 large or 3 small) Golden Delicious apples, ½ cup chopped nuts, ½ cup butterscotch chips
  • Press remaining dough evenly in 9X13 pan. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl place all cheesecake filling ingredients. Beat until smooth and no lumps remain. Pour over apple dough in pan. Smooth with offset spatula.
    8 ounce cream cheese, 1 egg, ⅓ cup sugar, ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • Dollop the reserved apple dough over the cheesecake filling using a small spoon. It's okay if there the cheesecake filling is still visible.
  • Bake 50-55 minutes if using regular flour, 5 minutes longer if using gluten free. If bars are becoming too brown before they are cooked through, loosely tent foil over the top. Insert knife to make sure apple dough is cooked in middle. Cool 15 minutes, then drizzle with caramel topping, if using.

Notes

Gluten-Free Adaptation
To make gluten free apple bars swap out the flour with a gluten free all-purpose brand. Since gluten free flour doesn’t absorb moisture as readily, I find they usually need 5 minutes longer baking time. 
Storing
Store cooled bars at room temp up to 12 hours, covered with foil. For longer storage, cover, and refrigerate.
Adapted from Taste of Home
Calories: 233kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 21mg, Sodium: 185mg, Potassium: 124mg, Sugar: 24g, Vitamin A: 45IU, Vitamin C: 0.7mg, Calcium: 64mg, Iron: 0.8mg
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