Description
These Caramel Apple Blondie Cheesecake Bars are a dreamy combination of chewy cinnamon-spiced blondies, creamy cheesecake, and sweet caramel drizzle. With diced apples, crunchy nuts, and butterscotch chips baked into the layers, this dessert is perfect for fall gatherings or a comforting sweet treat any time of year!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Blondie Bars:
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour, such as Cup4Cup)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 cups Golden Delicious apples, peeled and diced (about 2 large or 3 small apples)
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)
- 1/2 cup butterscotch chips
For the Cheesecake Filling:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Topping:
- Caramel ice cream topping for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs, and vegetable oil until smooth. Gradually stir in the flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon to create a thick dough.
- Fold in the diced apples, butterscotch chips, and chopped nuts. Reserve 2 cups of the dough for topping and press the remaining dough evenly into the prepared dish.
- In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, egg, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Spread this mixture evenly over the blondie base using an offset spatula.
- Dollop the reserved blondie dough over the cheesecake layer, leaving some areas uncovered for a marbled look.
- Bake for 50-55 minutes, tenting with foil if the top browns too quickly. Test doneness by inserting a knife into the center; it should come out clean.
- Cool for 15 minutes, then drizzle with caramel topping. Chill in the refrigerator for clean slices, if desired.
Notes
- For a gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend like Cup4Cup and bake 5 minutes longer.
- Replace nuts with additional butterscotch chips or chocolate chips for a nut-free version.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 190mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: Caramel apple blondie cheesecake bars, apple blondie bars, caramel cheesecake bars