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Cream Cheese Apple Bars with Pecan Streusel

These Cream Cheese Apple Bars with Pecan Streusel are the quintessential fall dessert to fall in love with.  So heartwarming and a little decadent...they are simply divine.  You can serve them warm, but we love them chilled with a little warmed caramel sauce drizzled over the top. Heavenly. 

Prep Time
40 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Additional Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 25 mins
Servings: 12 people
Calories: 752 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

For the Pecan Shortbread Crust
  • 1 cup pecans chopped
  • ½ cup brown sugar light or dark
  • 1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks, room temperature
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoon butter softened, for greasing the dish
For the Cream Cheese Filling
  • 2 8 oz. packages cream cheese softened, room temperature
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Apple Filling
  • 3 large Granny Smith apples peeled, cored and chopped
  • 3 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon allspice
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest
  • ½ teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Pecan-Oatmeal Streusel
  • 1 cup brown sugar light or brown
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats
  • ½ cup Toffee bits we use Heath bar bits
  • ½ cup pecans chopped
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter softened, room temp
  • 1 cup caramel sauce, warmed purchased or homemade, optional

Instructions

Make the Pecan Shortbread Crust
    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. In a food processor, pulse together the pecans and the sugar for 30 seconds.
  3. In a mixer, on medium speed, beat the butter, vanilla, and pecan/sugar mixture until creamed and fluffy, about 2 minutes.  Mix in the flour and salt until just combined.
  4. Press the shortbread into the bottom of a 9"x13" baking dish that has been well-greased with butter, shortening, or cooking spray.  Use a fork to puncture the crust all over.
  5. Bake for 15 minutes until lightly browned.  Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. 
Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling
  1. In a medium bowl, mix (stand mixer our hand-held mixer) beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
  2. One at a time, add the eggs, beating well after each addition.
  3. Add the lemon zest and lemon juice along with the vanilla and beat until combined.  
  4. Spread the filling over the cooled shortbread. 
Prepare the Apple Filling
  1. In a separate bowl, stir together the apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla.
  2. Spread the apple mixture over the cream cheese mixture. 
Prepare the Pecan-Oatmeal Streusel
  1. In a medium bowl, stir together brown sugar, flour, oats, toffee bits, pecans, and salt.  Carefully fold in the butter with a fork, until incorporated. The mixture will be a bit crumbly. 
  2. Sprinkle the streusel over the apples. 
Finish Off the Bars
  1. Bake until set, about 30 minutes.  Let cool for 30 minutes on a rack.
  2. Serve warm, or cover and chill in the refrigerator.  Serve with warm caramel sauce, if desired. 

Notes

  • See the video near the top of the blog post for visual guidance. If you liked the video, please subscribe to our YouTube channel. 
  • Remember to set your butter and cream cheese out at least 2 hours before you start preparing the bars. 
  • The bars can easily be cut after the dish has completely cooled. You can serve them warm out of the oven, but the cream cheese filling will ooze a bit.
  • The bars will keep covered in the fridge for up to 7 days. They can be frozen for several months. 

Nutrition Information

Calories 752kcal (38%) Carbohydrates 89g (30%) Protein 7g (14%) Fat 32g (49%) Saturated Fat 9g (45%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g Monounsaturated Fat 7g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 118mg (39%) Sodium 248mg (10%) Potassium 237mg (7%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 55g (110%) Vitamin A 1085IU (22%) Vitamin C 3mg (3%) Calcium 63mg (6%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 752

% Daily Value*

Calories 752kcal 38%
Carbohydrates 89g 30%
Protein 7g 14%
Fat 32g 49%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g 24%
Monounsaturated Fat 7g 35%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 118mg 39%
Sodium 248mg 10%
Potassium 237mg 5%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 55g 110%
Vitamin A 1085IU 22%
Vitamin C 3mg 3%
Calcium 63mg 6%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.