Apple Cheesecake Streusel Bars

Dutch apple pie meets cheesecake bars in a delicious and easy Fall-inspired treat – Apple Cheesecake Streusel Bars.

I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the #FallFlavors recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

Changing leaves, cool weather, pumpkin patches, hot apple cider, and Fall-inspired baked goods are my favorite part of the season.  Apples, pumpkins, and cinnamon are the typical flavors associated with Autumn. I love using pumpkin in recipes and even created #PumpkinWeek to showcase my love of pumpkin-flavored recipes.

Apple Cheesecake Streusel Bars:

I saw this recipe, from The Food Network, and immediately knew it was going on my Fall baking list. I made some adjustments to the original recipe, and it turned out to be a winner with my family and friends. Everyone raved about these apple bars so much that I have them on my Thanksgiving dessert menu this year. While I like the flavors and streusel topping of Dutch apple pies, I am not a big fan of pie crusts. Graham cracker crusts are my favorite, so when this recipe came along, minus the pie crust, I was sold.

Some family members are not fans of cheesecake, but these Apple Cheesecake Streusel Bars won them over. It’s just the right amount of cheesecake filling, spiced apples and streusel topping.

Choosing the right apples:

Granny Smith apples are tart, tangy, and have a firm flesh. They are among the most popular apples to bake with because they can stand up to the heat. If you’d like to add a different variety to the apples, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, or Braeburns are also good choices to add along with the Granny Smith apples.

There is no right or wrong answers when it comes to apples, but I prefer using Granny Smith or a combination of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp in my cooking and baking. My Molasses Apple Pie Parfaits use Granny Smith, and my Harvest Apple Grilled Cheese with bacon, cheddar, and Honeycrisp apples is always a Fall favorite.

Apple Cheesecake Streusel Bars

5 from 3 votes

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Servings 15

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar plus 2 tablespoons, divided
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons apple pie spice

Streusel topping:

• 1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
• 1/2 cup butter + 2 tablespoons, softened

Instructions

 

• Heat oven to 350F. Line a 9x13 pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray. Set aside
• In a medium bowl combine flour and brown sugar. Using a pastry blender or knives, cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Press into the bottom of the baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and set aside while preparing the rest of the recipe
• In a medium bowl with a hand blender, or the bowl of your stand mixer, combine cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar on medium until smooth and combined. Add eggs one at a time and beat until combined. Mix in vanilla. Pour cheesecake over crust and prepare apples and streusel.
• Combine diced apples, 2 tablespoons sugar and apple pie spice. Spoon evenly over cheesecake mixture.
• In medium bowl, combine ingredients for streusel topping and cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle topping over apple layer and bake for 30 minutes, or until filling is set. Cool completely before cutting.

Welcome to Flavors of Fall where we celebrate all things associated with fall like squash, apples, pecans, sweaters, football; you get the idea!  Ellen from Family Around the Table and Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures have gathered 24 bloggers who have over 100 recipes they’re sharing this week in celebration of cool weather and sweatshirts.  We hope you find many must make recipes so get your pinning, tweeting, and sharing fingers ready!

Here’s what we made for Monday:

Breakfast
Cinnamon Glazed Donut French Toast by Daily Dish Recipes
Cranberry Pecan Coffee Cake by Family Around the Table
Ginger Pear Muffins by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
Healthy Chocolate Pumpkin Waffles by Tip Garden
Spiced Coffee Toffee Bread by Cheese Curd In Paradise

Savory
Baked Stuffed Acorn Squash with Sausage and Apples by Simple and Savory
Door County Maple Coffee-Crusted Steak by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Fig and Brie Grilled Cheese by The Redhead Baker
Java Beef Flatbread Pizza by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
Pecan Crusted Chicken Cutlets with Pears by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Tuna Pot Pie by Palatable Pastime
Vegan Chili by Red Cottage Chronicles

Dessert
Apple Cheesecake Streusel Bars by Love and Confections
Caramel Apple Cookie Cups by Sweet Beginnings
Caramel Pecan Cookie Sticks by The Freshman Cook
Chocolate Cappuccino Biscotti with Pecans by Blogghetti
Cinnamon Maple Pecan Cookies by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Coffee Granita by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
Irish Apple Cake by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
Pecan Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie by Crumb Top Baking
Pecan Pie Bars by Books n’ Cooks
Pumpkin Bundts with Brown Butter Glaze and Candied Pecans by Our Good Life
Vegan Coffee Layer Cake by The Baking Fairy

Make sure you like Fall Flavors on Facebook and follow the Fall Flavors on Pinterest, too!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Prize 1 – Door County Coffee and Tea Company

Founded in 1993 in Door County, WI, Door County Coffee and Tea Company is a small family owned business. Roasting a variety of flavors for 26 years, one winner will receive three full pot bags of all of their fall flavors. 21 bags in all! Their mission through the years has been to produce high quality, best-tasting coffee using only Specialty Class 1 Arabica coffee beans. Combine that with superior roasting technology and you get a wonderfully even and perfect roast every time and that means the perfect pot of coffee. A $40 value.

Prize 2 – Millican Pecan Tower of Treats Gift Tins

Originally founded as the West Texas Pecan Nursery in the late 1800’s, Millican Pecan is now in 5th generation ownership. Located in San Saba, TX, the family continues the tradition of pecan farming while also branching the business into the online world. The family also enjoys educating people about pecans. One winner will receive The Tower of Treats Gift Tins. The tower includes 3 decorative gift tins stacked on top of each other. The bottom tin includes our 2 lb. Chocolate Pecan Sampler, the middle tin is our Flavored Pecan Sampler and the top tin is a 8 oz. tin of Milk Chocolate Caramillicans (similar to Turtles). An $80 value.

Disclaimer:

Two (2) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. Bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. Winners have 24 hours to respond once notified by email, or they forfeit the prize and an alternate winner will be chosen. The #FallFlavors bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members living in the household cannot enter or win the giveaway.

Entries will be verified. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Open to US Residents only. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter the giveaway. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #FallFlavors posts or entry. Thank you to our sponsors Millican Pecan and Door County Coffee and Tea for providing prizes.