Apple Cheesecake Danish Bars

These Apple Cheesecake Danish Bars bring together everything you love about a bakery-style treat: a flaky pastry base, a smooth and creamy cheesecake layer, warmly spiced apples, and a buttery streusel topping. Perfect for holidays, gatherings, or an indulgent everyday dessert, they strike a delicious balance of textures and flavors.

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Apple Cheesecake Danish Bars

Ingredients

For the Pastry Base

Ingredient	Quantity
All-purpose flour	1½ cups
Unsalted butter, cold and cubed	½ cup
Granulated sugar	¼ cup
Salt	¼ teaspoon
Ice water	¼ cup

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For the Cheesecake Layer

Ingredient	Quantity
Cream cheese, softened	8 ounces
Granulated sugar	½ cup
Egg	1
Vanilla extract	1 teaspoon

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For the Apple Filling

Ingredient	Quantity
Apples, peeled and diced	2 cups
Granulated sugar	¼ cup
Ground cinnamon	½ teaspoon
Ground nutmeg	¼ teaspoon
Water	¼ cup

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For the Streusel Topping

Ingredient	Quantity
All-purpose flour	½ cup
Granulated sugar	½ cup
Unsalted butter, cold and cubed	¼ cup

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How to Make Apple Cheesecake Danish Bars

Step 1: Make the Pastry

In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add the ice water, mixing just until the dough comes together. Shape into a rectangle, wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare the Cheesecake Layer

Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar, egg, and vanilla, and continue mixing until creamy and well combined.

Step 3: Cook the Apple Filling

In a saucepan, combine the apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and water. Cook over medium heat until the apples are tender and the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and let cool.

Step 4: Assemble the Bars

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Roll out the chilled dough slightly larger than the pan and press it evenly into the bottom.

Step 5: Layer the Filling

Spread the cheesecake mixture evenly over the pastry base. Spoon the cooled apple filling over the cheesecake layer.

Step 6: Add the Streusel

In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and butter for the streusel topping. Crumble evenly over the apple layer.

Step 7: Bake

Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until the top is golden and the center is set.

Step 8: Cool & Serve

Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan, then refrigerate until fully chilled. Slice into squares or bars and serve.