Apple Cream Cheese Bars are dessert bars full of sweetened apples and a cream cheese layer, topped and baked with oatmeal crumble. It is a cross between a cheesecake and apple crisp that will sure to be a crowd favorite. Try my Apple Crisp for another apple dessert favorite!
Apple Cream Cheese Bars
These Apple Cream Cheese Bars are delicious with or without the caramel drizzle. If you want more of the caramel apple pie flavor, add some caramel to the top. Or, just enjoy them as-is for a sweet apple dessert or treat.
What Kind of Apple is Best for These Bars?
I used Granny Smith apples for the recipe because they remain firm when baking. They won’t turn to mush and they tend to retain their shape when baked.
A few other options you could try would be Honeycrisp apples, Braeburn, or Pink Lady apples.
How to Freeze
To freeze these bars, allow them to cool completely after baking. Then store them in an airtight freezer-safe container. If stored properly, these will last up to three months. Be sure to label and date your container. Allow the bars to thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
How to Store
Once you taste the sweet and creamy layers of these bars, they will not last long! However, if you make them ahead of time, they will last in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 5 days.
More Apple Desserts
Apple Cream Cheese Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (400 g) packed brown sugar
- 1 cup (80 g) quick-cooking oats
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1½ cups (3 sticks / 340 g) unsalted butter, melted
Cream Cheese Mixture
- 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
Apple Mixture
- 4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Caramel topping, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
Crust
- In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda.
- Pour melted butter over the mixture and mix together until crumbly.
- Measure out 2 cups of the mixture, and set aside to reserve for topping.
- Pour the remaining mixture into the prepared baking dish. Press firmly to the bottom of the pan.
- Bake 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Cream Cheese Mixture
- In a large bowl, add cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Mix with a hand mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
- With the mixer on low, add the eggs, one at a time, until fully incorporated into the mixture. Set aside.
Apple Mixture
- In a large bowl, combine apples, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
Assembly
- Arrange the apple mixture evenly on top of the cooked crust.
- Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over the top of the apples.
- Crumble the reserved oat mixture over the top. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Let come to room temperature before placing in the refrigerator to chill.
- Drizzle with caramel topping when you are ready to serve (optional).
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
Perfect recipe! I love the way it was separated, so I could make the next layer as needed. Family really loved it. If you find yourself with cream cheese, no one is using, and app,es no one is eating , this is a sure way to avoid wasting food.
I am making this recipe, again (2nd time in 2 weeks) double batch this time. Everyone loved it and asked for the recipe. I didn’t have eggs so used light vanilla yogurt and pure maple syrup instead of vanilla. I used the apples from my apple tree. This recipe is amazing
Love that those adaptations worked, Val! Thank you for letting me know!
This was soooo good! Definitely a keeper recipe! I really liked how it was separated out by layer. Easy recipe to follow.
Just delicious! The aroma while the bars were baking made it very hard to wait for them to cool enough to eat! My family said these were some of the best bars they ever ate. Definitely a winner.
Can you freeze these?
I made this and loved it but the bottom crust was too hard , any suggestions ?
Can you possibly not pre cook it ? Thank you
These are very good. My husband couldn’t stop at just one bar. Not too sweet as some other recipes are. Just the right balance of flavors. Thank you !!
I’d love to make these but I can’t have oats. Is there a substitute? Thanks!