Description
Creamy cheesecake meets classic apple crisp in this delightful dessert bar that combines rich cream cheese with spiced autumn apples. Crumbly oat topping and buttery graham crust make each bite a sweet celebration of seasonal comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 Granny Smith apples
- 16 oz (454 g) cream cheese
- 8 oz (227 g) unsalted butter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 1.25 cups light brown sugar
- 0.25 cups granulated sugar
- 2 tbsps granulated sugar
- 0.5 cups rolled oats
- 0.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 oz (85 g) cold unsalted butter
- 0.75 tsp cinnamon
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp whiskey (optional)
Instructions
- Foundation Creation: Whip butter and brown sugar into a light, fluffy mixture, infusing with vanilla for enhanced flavor profile.
- Crust Preparation: Press shortbread mixture evenly into prepared baking pan, creating a uniform base with golden-edged texture when baked.
- Topping Assembly: Pulse flour, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon together, incorporating cold butter until mixture resembles coarse pebbles, then fold in rolled oats and chill quickly.
- Cheesecake Mixture: Blend cream cheese and sugars until completely smooth, gently introducing eggs one at a time, finishing with vanilla and optional whiskey for depth.
- Apple Layer: Toss diced apples with sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated with warm spices.
- Layering and Baking: Pour cheesecake mixture over pre-baked shortbread crust, arrange spiced apple pieces across the surface, and generously distribute chilled crisp topping.
- Finishing Process: Bake until surface turns golden and cheesecake sets with a delicate jiggle, then cool completely at room temperature before refrigerating to set and intensify flavors.
- Serving Preparation: Extract from pan using parchment edges, slice into precise squares with a sharp knife, and store in a sealed container for optimal freshness.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters: Use room temperature butter for smooth, creamy shortbread that blends effortlessly without lumps.
- Chill Topping Technique: Freezing the crisp topping before sprinkling helps maintain a crumbly texture and prevents sinking during baking.
- Apple Selection Strategy: Choose firm, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp that hold their shape and provide balanced flavor contrast.
- Precision Cutting Tip: Wait until bars are completely cooled and chilled for clean, sharp-edged squares that showcase beautiful layered texture.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg