Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars are a delicious combination of buttery cake mix crust, creamy cheesecake, sweet cinnamon-spiced apples, a crumbly golden topping, and a generous drizzle of gooey caramel!

Big fan of all the sweet, gooey caramel apple flavors in these bars? Be sure to check out my other caramel apple desserts like Caramel Apple Dip, Caramel Apple Grapes, and Caramel Apple Cookie Cups for even more delicious ways to enjoy this favorite fall flavor!

Why you’ll love this recipe:

If you love caramel apples, creamy cheesecake, and buttery crumble toppings, you are going to LOVE these Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars! They have all the delicious flavors of fall packed into one irresistible dessert. With a buttery cake mix crust, a smooth and creamy cheesecake layer, sweet cinnamon apples, and a delicious caramel crumble topping, every bite is absolutely heavenly!

What makes these Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars even better is how incredibly easy they are to make. The crust starts with a simple boxed cake mix and melted butter, creating a sweet, buttery, crumbly base that also doubles as the topping. No making a crust from scratch or measuring out a bunch of baking ingredients! A simple cheesecake layer goes over the crust, followed by chopped apples tossed in brown sugar, caramel dip, and cinnamon. The remaining cake mix crumble is sprinkled over the top before baking.

And here’s another little shortcut I love: using store-bought caramel apple dip! There’s no need to spend time making homemade caramel when you can use a container of ready-to-use caramel dip. It adds that delicious sweet caramel flavor to the apples and makes the recipe even easier. Once baked and cooled, simply cut the bars into squares and drizzle with even more caramel dip before serving!

These easy Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars are perfect for fall baking, Thanksgiving, holiday parties, potlucks, or anytime you’re craving a delicious homemade dessert. They’re easy to prepare, beautiful when sliced, and always a crowd favorite!

Ingredients you’ll need:

Vanilla cake mix- white or yellow cake mix can also be used
butter- melted
Cream cheese- softened
Sweetened condensed milk
Vanilla extract
Apples
Brown sugar
Caramel dip- divided
Cinnamon
All-purpose flour

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars are loaded with sweet apples, warm cinnamon, creamy cheesecake, and a buttery crumble topping finished with a drizzle of caramel!

The combination of flavors and textures is what makes these bars so special. The buttery crust is slightly crumbly, the cheesecake is rich and creamy with just a little tanginess, and the apples become tender and sweet with warm cinnamon and brown sugar flavors. The caramel adds a delicious gooey sweetness that ties everything together. It’s like enjoying a caramel apple, apple crumble, and cheesecake all in one bite!

The cake mix crust has a sweet, buttery flavor with a soft, crumbly texture. It provides the perfect base for the smooth and creamy cheesecake layer, which adds a little tanginess to balance the sweetness of everything else.

The chopped apples are coated in brown sugar, caramel dip, and cinnamon, giving them a delicious warm apple pie flavor with an extra touch of caramel sweetness. As everything bakes together, the apples become tender and the caramel creates a sweet, gooey layer.

Then there’s that buttery crumble topping! It adds a little crunch and texture to the soft cheesecake and tender apples. Finish everything with an extra drizzle of caramel dip, and you have one seriously delicious dessert!

They’re sweet, creamy, buttery, and full of cinnamon apple flavor. If you love caramel apples and cheesecake, you’re going to love these!

How to make the best Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the dry cake mix and melted butter. Mix until you have dry, crumbly cake crumbs.
Press roughly 2/3 of the mixture into the bottom of your prepared baking pan, then set it aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with the sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and vanilla extract.
Mix with an electric mixer until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Pour the cheesecake mixture over your cake mix crust, spread into an even layer, then set it aside.
In another medium sized mixing bowl, combine the chopped apples, brown sugar, 1/4 cup caramel dip, cinnamon, and flour then mix to fully coat the apples.
Evenly spoon the apple mixture over the cheesecake filling and top with the remaining crust mixture.
Bake for 35 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
Let cool completely, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Once chilled, slice into squares and drizzle the remaining caramel dip on top of each one!

One of my favorite things about this recipe is the cake mix shortcut! Instead of making a traditional crust from scratch, boxed cake mix and melted butter create a delicious sweet and buttery crumb mixture. It’s quick, easy, and requires just a couple of ingredients.

Even better, the same mixture is used for both the bottom crust and the crumble topping. Simply reserve some of the mixture before pressing the rest into your baking pan. It’s such an easy way to get that delicious buttery crumble without having to make a separate topping!

I also love using store-bought caramel apple dip for this recipe because it makes everything so much easier. There’s no need to make homemade caramel sauce or spend extra time melting caramels on the stove.

Just use your favorite ready-to-use caramel dip to coat the chopped apples along with the brown sugar and cinnamon. It adds that classic caramel apple flavor and makes the apple topping extra delicious.

And don’t forget to save some for serving! A generous drizzle of caramel over the cooled cheesecake bars makes them look beautiful and adds even more caramel flavor.

It’s a simple shortcut that saves time and makes these easy caramel apple dessert bars even more irresistible!

FAQ:

Can I use a different flavor of cake mix?

Yellow cake mix is my favorite because it creates a sweet, buttery crust that pairs perfectly with the apples and cheesecake. White cake mix should also work well.

Can I use store-bought caramel sauce instead of caramel dip?

Yes! A thick caramel sauce can be used if you don’t have caramel apple dip. Just keep in mind that some sauces are thinner than caramel dip, so choose one that will coat the apples without making the topping too runny.

Do I have to peel the apples?

I recommend peeling the apples for the best texture, but you can leave the skins on if you prefer.

How do I know when the cheesecake bars are done?

The edges should look set, the crumble topping should be lightly golden, and the center should have just a slight jiggle. The cheesecake will continue to firm up as it cools.

Do caramel apple cheesecake bars need to be refrigerated?

Yes! Because they contain cream cheese and eggs, they should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Can I make these the night before serving?

Absolutely! These bars are actually better when made ahead because chilling allows the cheesecake layer to firm up. Just add the caramel drizzle before serving.

If you’re looking for an easy fall dessert that everyone will love, these Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars need to be on your baking list!

With a buttery cake mix crust, creamy cheesecake filling, sweet cinnamon apples, and a delicious caramel crumble topping, they have everything you could want in a fall dessert. And because we’re using boxed cake mix and store-bought caramel dip, they’re so simple to make!

I love that you get all the delicious flavors of a homemade caramel apple dessert without all the extra work. They’re easy to prepare, beautiful when sliced into squares, and perfect for sharing with family and friends.

Whether you’re making them for Thanksgiving, a fall party, a potluck, or just because you’re craving something sweet, these caramel apple cheesecake bars are sure to become a favorite.

My top tips:

LINE YOUR PAN: Before you start this recipe, line your baking pan with parchment paper and leave a little overhang on the sides. This makes it much easier to lift the bars out once they’re chilled and helps you get clean, even slices without the layers sticking to the pan.
CAKE MIX CRUST: The cake mix and melted butter create a delicious sweet, buttery crumble without having to make a crust from scratch. Just remember to set some of the mixture aside for the topping before pressing the rest into your pan!
APPLES: Granny Smith apples are a great choice because their tartness balances the sweetness of the caramel and cheesecake. Honeycrisp apples are another delicious option. Whichever variety you choose, I recommend peeling and chopping the apples into small, bite-sized pieces for the best texture.
SOFTENED CREAM CHEESE: Softened cream cheese is key in this recipe! It’s super important to make sure your cream cheese is fully softened so that it incorporates into the other ingredients easily and ensures your cheesecake filling will be super smooth rather than lumpy.
ELECTRIC MIXER: I do recommend bringing out your electric mixer to mix this cheesecake filling because it makes combining the ingredients a breeze and whips a lot of air into the ingredients making them extra light and fluffy.
CHILLING: Let the baked bars cool completely before cutting for clean slices. I like serving these chilled for a firmer cheesecake texture.
CARAMEL DIP: Using store-bought caramel dip adds so much convenience to this recipe! I do recommend warming the caramel dip slightly in the microwave to make it more suitable for drizzling.
DRIZZLING: I find it helpful to transfer the caramel dip into a Ziploc bag before cutting off one end and drizzling. This makes the caramel drizzle more evenly and keeps things mess free.
STORING: Because these bars have a cream cheese cheesecake layer, they need to be stored in the refrigerator. Once completely cooled, place the bars in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3–5 days. For the best presentation, wait to drizzle the extra caramel over the bars until just before serving.

Looking for more fall treats? Check these out!

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