Name: Apple Butter Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients: 3 cups graham cracker crumbs; 3/4 (12 tablespoons) salted butter, melted; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 24 ounces cream cheese, (softened); 3/4 cup granulated sugar; 1/4 cup sour cream, (room temperature); 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon ginger; 1/4 teaspoon allspice; 1/8 teaspoon cloves; 3 eggs, (room temperature); 3/4 cup apple butter ((9.5 ounce jar))

Cheesecake is my favorite dessert! And last year, I tried apple butter for the first time. (I know, took me long enough, I have no idea why I’d never had it before!). So it seemed fitting this fall to make apple butter cheesecake bars!

These bars are rich, creamy and filled with an apple-y cinnamon flavor! Everything you want in a fall dessert! They’d be perfect for Thanksgiving. A little something different to go with all the pies. And cheesecake needs to be made ahead, so it’s a perfect make the day before and get it out of the way dessert for your menu.

I used store bought apple butter for this. I haven’t branched out yet into trying to make my own apple butter. But you can certainly make your own for this, and I’m sure it’d be even better! I added a few spices into the cheesecake filling, just to give it more of that apple pie flavor. But I went pretty light with the spices, I didn’t want to take away from the apple butter flavor.

pan of cheesecake bars cut into squares with a middle piece flipped onto its side

top view of apple butter cheesecake bar leaning against other bars

apple butter cheesecake bars cut into squares with one flipped onto its side

side view of cheesecake bars with graham cracker crusts

cheesecake bars cut into squares on parchment paper with butter next to it

5 from 2 votes

Apple Butter Cheesecake Bars

Creamy cheesecake swirled with apple butter on a cinnamon graham cracker crust.

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crust

3 cups graham cracker crumbs
3/4 (12 tablespoons) salted butter, melted
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Cheesecake Filling

24 ounces cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup sour cream, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon cloves
3 eggs, room temperature
3/4 cup apple butter (9.5 ounce jar)

Instructions

Graham Cracker Crust

Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Thoroughly mix together 3 cups graham cracker crumbs, 3/4 (12 tablespoons) melted salted butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon.
Press into an even layer in the bottom of a greased 9×13 pan.
Bake at 350 for 8 minutes.
Remove from oven and set aside.
Reduce oven temp to 325ºF.

Cheesecake Filling

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the 24 ounces cream cheese, at medium-low speed to break up and soften it slightly, about 1 minute.
Add the 3/4 cup granulated sugar and beat at medium speed until combined, about 1 minute.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Add the 1/4 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, 1/4 teaspoon allspice and 1/8 teaspoon cloves. Beat until combined.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Add 3 eggs, beating until thoroughly combined, but do not over beat.

Assembly / Baking

Pour cheesecake filling over baked crust.
Drop 3/4 cup apple butter by spoonfuls onto top of cheesecake batter.
Swirl apple butter into cheesecake filling with a butter knife.
Bake at 325ºF for 35-40 min, until edges are set and middle is just barely jiggly.
Cool cheesecake to room temperature.
Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate 6-8 hours or overnight.
Cut into bars and serve.
Store any leftover bars in airtight container in refrigerator.

cheesecake bars cut into squares with the corner piece pulled away

Be sure to follow our Food & Recipe Pinterest Board for more inspiration!

-Manda

2 comments

MaurineSunday, October 12, 2025 - 7:19 pm

Made this yesterday and finally broke into this afternoon. It’s even better than I imagined!!! So creamy. Simple to make and absolutely delightful to eat. Can’t wait to try more of your recipes!ReplyCancel
AbbieTuesday, October 14, 2025 - 10:36 pm

OMG! So rich, creamy. Yum! I used homemade apple butter, so good! ReplyCancel