Apple Cream Cheese Bars with Oatmeal Crumble

Apple Cream Cheese Bars

Apple Cream Cheese Bars are layered dessert bars made with sweetened apples and a cream cheese filling, finished with an oatmeal crumble that bakes right onto the top.

If you like the idea of a dessert that sits somewhere between a cheesecake and an apple crisp, this is exactly that kind of bar.

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The crumble does double duty as the base and the topping, so the texture runs from buttery and crisp at the edges to creamy in the middle.

The caramel drizzle is completely optional. Served plain, these bars are a sweet apple dessert or an easy treat with coffee. Add caramel just before serving and the flavor leans toward caramel apple pie, which makes them a nice upgrade for a holiday table or a potluck. Either way, they are sure to be a crowd favorite.

The recipe comes from Amanda Rettke at iambaker, where the original apple cream cheese bars are published. If you enjoy the apple and cheesecake combination, Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bread is another way to bring those same flavors to the table.

What Kind of Apple is Best for These Bars?

Granny Smith apples are the best choice here because they stay firm during baking, do not turn to mush, and hold their shape inside the layers. That firmness matters more than it might seem. A soft apple releases extra moisture as it bakes, and that moisture can loosen the crust and thin out the cream cheese filling.

If you want a slightly sweeter bar, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Pink Lady apples all work well and still hold their shape during baking. Whichever apple you choose, peel, core, and slice it thinly so the slices soften evenly and layer neatly over the crust.

How to Freeze

These bars freeze well, which makes them a practical dessert to keep on hand. Let them cool completely after baking, then place them in an airtight container that is safe for the freezer. Properly stored, they keep for up to three months. Label and date the container so you know what is inside and when it went in.

Thaw the bars in the refrigerator before serving rather than on the counter. A slow thaw keeps the cream cheese layer smooth and helps the crumble stay crisp instead of turning soggy from condensation. If you plan to add caramel, wait until the bars are thawed and ready to serve, then drizzle it over the top.

A note on portions: the recipe makes 12 servings, so cut the bars before freezing if you are saving leftovers. Individual squares stack well with a sheet of parchment between the layers, and they thaw faster than a whole slab.

How to Store

Because of the cream cheese layer, these bars belong in the refrigerator. Keep them covered and they stay fresh for up to 5 days. A tight cover matters, both to keep the crumble from drying out and to keep the bars from picking up other flavors in the fridge.

If you are making them ahead of time, bake and chill the bars, then cover the dish and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.

Bring them out shortly before serving so the cream cheese layer softens slightly, and add the optional caramel at the last minute. Another crumble bar in the same family, Apricot Coconut Crumble Bars, follows the same covered and chilled approach.

Ingredients

This recipe has three parts: a crust that doubles as the topping, a cream cheese mixture, and a sweetened apple mixture.

The crust is built from 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, and 1½ cups (3 sticks / 340 g) melted unsalted butter.

Two cups of that crumb mixture are set aside for the topping before the rest is pressed into the pan.

The cream cheese mixture calls for 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese at room temperature, ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2 large eggs at room temperature. Room temperature ingredients matter here. Cold cream cheese stays lumpy, and cold eggs can make the filling look curdled even when it bakes up fine.

The apple mixture uses 4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced, tossed with 2 tablespoons all purpose flour, 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. The flour and sugar coat the slices and help thicken the juices they release in the oven. Caramel topping is listed for garnish and is optional.

• Crust and topping: 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 at room temperature, ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 large eggs at room temperature
• Apple mixture: 4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced, 2 tablespoons all purpose flour, 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• For garnish: caramel topping, optional

You will also need a 9×13 inch baking dish, nonstick cooking spray, a large bowl or two, and a hand mixer for the cream cheese filling. A pastry cutter or your fingertips make quick work of the crumb mixture, though a sturdy spoon works too.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set the dish aside while you build the crust.

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda.
2. Pour the melted butter over the dry mixture and mix until crumbly.
3. Measure out 2 cups of the mixture and set it aside for the topping.
4. Pour the remaining mixture into the prepared baking dish and press it firmly into the bottom of the pan.
5. Bake the crust for 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
6. In a large bowl, add the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Mix with a hand mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
7. With the mixer on low, add the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated, then set the filling aside.
8. In a large bowl, combine the apples, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
9. Arrange the apple mixture evenly on top of the cooked crust.
10. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the top of the apples.
11. Crumble the reserved oat mixture over the top, then bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown.
12. Let the bars come to room temperature before placing them in the refrigerator to chill.
13. Drizzle with caramel topping when you are ready to serve, if desired.

A few things to watch. Press the crust firmly, because a loosely packed base crumbles when you cut it. Spread the cream cheese mixture gently over the apples so you do not drag the apple layer up into the filling.

When you crumble the reserved topping, leave it in uneven pieces, since those larger clumps are what give the finished bars their crisp top.

Bake until the topping is golden brown and the center is set rather than jiggly. The bars firm up considerably as they cool, so resist cutting into them warm.

Let the bars come to room temperature before chilling them. Cutting a warm bar gives you a soft, messy square instead of a clean one.

Chilling also makes clean squares easier, which matters if you are serving them to guests or packing them for a lunchbox. Serve the bars cold or slightly cool.

They hold up well on a dessert platter, and they travel nicely to a potluck or a bake sale when kept in a covered container.

If you want the caramel apple pie flavor, drizzle the caramel just before serving so the topping stays glossy instead of sinking into the crumble.

Recipe details

The recipe is straightforward once the layers are in place, but it does need time to cool and chill before you cut it.

Plan on extra hands off time beyond the printed numbers. The bars need to cool to room temperature and then chill in the refrigerator before slicing, so a morning bake is an easy way to have dessert ready for the evening.

If you are feeding a larger group, the bars cut neatly into smaller squares without any change to the method.

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Apple Cream Cheese Bars

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Apple Cream Cheese Bars Apple Cream Cheese Bars are layered dessert bars made with sweetened apples and a cream cheese filling, finished with an oatmeal crumble that bakes right onto the top. If you like the idea of a dessert that sits somewhere between a cheesecake and an apple crisp, this is exactly that kind of bar.

• Total Time: 95 min
• Yield: 12 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Crust
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup quick-cooking oats
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1½ cups unsalted butter, melted

Cream Cheese Mixture
2 packages cream cheese, room temperature
½ cup 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

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Instructions

1-Preheat oven to 350°F: Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
2-In a large bowl, combine flour, brown: In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda.
3-Pour melted butter over the mixture and: Pour melted butter over the mixture and mix together until crumbly.
4-Measure out 2 cups of the mixture,: Measure out 2 cups of the mixture, and set aside to reserve for topping.
5-Pour the remaining mixture into the prepared: Pour the remaining mixture into the prepared baking dish. Press firmly to the bottom of the pan.
6-Bake 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown: Bake 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
7-In a large bowl, add cream cheese,: In a large bowl, add cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Mix with a hand mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
8-With the mixer on low, add the: With the mixer on low, add the eggs, one at a time, until fully incorporated into the mixture. Set aside.
9-In a large bowl, combine apples, flour,: In a large bowl, combine apples, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
10-Arrange the apple mixture evenly on top: Arrange the apple mixture evenly on top of the cooked crust.
11-Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over the: Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over the top of the apples.
12-Crumble the reserved oat mixture over the: Crumble the reserved oat mixture over the top. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until golden brown.
13-Let come to room temperature before placing: Let come to room temperature before placing in the refrigerator to chill.
14-Drizzle with caramel topping when you are: Drizzle with caramel topping when you are ready to serve (optional).

Last Step:

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• Prep Time: 30 min
• Method: bake

Nutrition

• Calories: 756