This Caramel Apple Crisp Cheesecake combines everything I love about fall desserts in one beautiful cheesecake. It starts with a buttery cookie crust, followed by a creamy caramel cheesecake filling, cinnamon-spiced apples, and a crisp oat crumble topping. Everything is finished with a generous drizzle of homemade salted caramel sauce.

The combination of creamy cheesecake, tender apples, crunchy crumble, and rich caramel makes this one of my favorite fall cheesecake recipes. Each layer brings something different, but they all work beautifully together.

This cheesecake does take a little more time to prepare than a simple cheesecake, but most of the components are easy to make. Once everything is assembled, the oven does most of the work.

I especially love serving this caramel apple cheesecake during the fall and holiday season. It’s a beautiful dessert for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special family gathering when you want something a little more impressive than a traditional apple dessert.

What Is Caramel Apple Crisp Cheesecake?

Caramel Apple Crisp Cheesecake is a combination of creamy baked cheesecake and classic apple crisp. Instead of choosing between the two desserts, you get both in every slice.

The cheesecake has a buttery cookie crust and a smooth caramel-flavored cream cheese filling. Before baking, it is topped with cinnamon-spiced apples and an oat crumble made with brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and butter.

Once baked and chilled, the cheesecake is finished with salted caramel sauce, adding another layer of rich caramel flavor.

The result is a creamy, crunchy, fruity, and buttery dessert with all the cozy flavors of fall.

Why You’ll Love This Caramel Apple Cheesecake

• The best of two desserts – creamy cheesecake meets classic apple crisp.
• Full of fall flavors – apples, cinnamon, caramel, and brown sugar make the perfect combination.
• Creamy and crunchy – the smooth cheesecake contrasts beautifully with the crisp oat topping.
• Perfect for Thanksgiving – an impressive dessert for a holiday table.
• Make-ahead friendly – the cheesecake needs to chill overnight, so it can be prepared ahead of time.
• Homemade salted caramel – the caramel sauce is used both in the cheesecake and as a topping.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This cheesecake has several components, but each one is simple to prepare. For the best results, have your cream cheese and eggs at room temperature before starting.

For the Salted Caramel Sauce

• Sugar – creates the rich caramel base.
• Water – helps the sugar dissolve evenly as the caramel starts cooking.
• Heavy whipping cream – gives the caramel sauce a smooth, creamy texture.
• Unsalted butter – adds richness and helps create a silky sauce.
• Vanilla extract – enhances the caramel flavor.
• Salt – balances the sweetness and turns the caramel into a delicious salted caramel sauce.

For the Cookie Crust

• Digestive biscuits – create a buttery, slightly crisp base for the cheesecake. You can also use graham crackers.
• Sugar – adds a little extra sweetness to the crust.
• Unsalted butter – binds the crumbs together and helps the crust set.

For the Caramel Cheesecake Filling

• Cream cheese – use full-fat cream cheese for the creamiest and richest cheesecake. Make sure it is at room temperature.
• Sugar – sweetens the cheesecake filling.
• Flour – helps give the cheesecake structure and keeps the filling stable as it bakes.
• Salt – balances the sweetness.
• Cinnamon – adds warm spice that pairs beautifully with the apples and caramel.
• Eggs – provide structure and help the cheesecake set while keeping it creamy.
• Vanilla extract – adds a subtle vanilla flavor.
• Lemon zest – adds a little freshness and balances the richness of the cheesecake.
• Sour cream – adds moisture and a slight tang, making the cheesecake extra creamy.
• Salted caramel sauce – gives the cheesecake its rich caramel flavor.

For the Apple Topping

• Apples – use firm apples that hold their shape during baking. Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Gala are all good choices.
• Lemon juice – adds brightness and helps balance the sweetness.
• Sugar – lightly sweetens the apples.
• Cinnamon – gives the apples their classic warm, spiced flavor.
• Nutmeg – adds another layer of warm spice.

For the Crisp Topping

Unsalted butter – creates a rich, golden, crisp topping.

Rolled oats – give the topping its classic crisp, slightly chewy texture.

Brown sugar – adds sweetness and a deeper caramel-like flavor.

All-purpose flour – helps bind the crumble together.

Cinnamon – complements the apples and caramel.

How to make Caramel Apple Crisp Cheesecake

For this recipe you must first prepare the salted caramel sauce to have time to cool. Then continue with preparing the crust, the crisp topping and only then prepare the apples and finish with the caramel cream cheese filling.

Prepare the salted caramel sauce

First prepare the salted caramel sauce, start by placing the sugar and water in a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Allow the mixture to cook without stirring until the sugar dissolves and turns into a caramel color.

Remove the pan from the heat and carefully pour in the cream. Expect some bubbling to occur.

Stir constantly with a wooden spoon for about 1 minute until the mixture becomes smooth. Take the pan off the heat and add the vanilla extract, butter, and salt. Stir well until everything is smooth. Transfer the sauce into a bowl and set it aside to cool while you work on the cake.

Prepare the cookie crust

For the cookie crust, preheat your oven to 350F (180C) and line an 8-inch (20cm) springform pan with parchment paper. Put the crackers or digestive biscuits into a food processor and pulse until they turn into crumbs. Add sugar and melted butter to the crumbs, mixing until they are evenly moistened.

Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan using the back of a spoon. Bake it for 10-13 minutes and then let it cool completely.

Reduce the oven temperature to 300F (150C).

Prepare the crisp topping and spiced apples

In a medium bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and cinnamon for the crisp topping. Whisk them together, and then incorporate the melted butter until the mixture becomes crumbly. Set the topping aside for now.

For the apples, place the diced apples into a medium bowl and add lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir well to coat the apples, and set them aside until the cream cheese filling is ready.

Prepare the caramel cream cheese filling

For the caramel cream cheese filling, in a large bowl, mix the cream cheese until it becomes smooth. Add sugar, salt, flour, cinnamon, and salt, and mix until everything is combined. Add the eggs one at a time, incorporating each one fully. Then add vanilla extract, lemon zest, caramel sauce, and sour cream. Mix everything together until well combined, being careful not to overmix and incorporate too much air into the batter.

Pour the caramel cream cheese mixture over the prepared crust. Gently spread the diced apples on top, and then sprinkle the oat topping over the apples.

How to bake the caramel apple crisp cheesecake

Bake the cheesecake for 1 hour. Afterward, turn off the heat and leave the cheesecake in the oven for an additional hour.

Remove the cheesecake from the oven and run a sharp knife around the inside edge of the pan. Allow it to cool completely at room temperature, and then cover and refrigerate it overnight.

When you’re ready to serve, you can add more caramel sauce on top if desired.

Treat yourself and your loved ones to this heavenly cheesecake and enjoy the delightful flavors and cozy comforts of fall. If you do, make sure to share the photos with me on Instagram. Would love to see how it turns out for you. 

Tips for Making the Best Caramel Apple Cheesecake

• Use full-fat cream cheese. It gives the cheesecake a richer and creamier texture.
• Bring the cream cheese and eggs to room temperature. This helps create a smooth filling.
• Don’t overmix the filling. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
• Use firm apples. Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Gala all work well in this recipe.
• Don’t precook the apples. They soften naturally while the cheesecake bakes.
• Make the caramel first. It needs time to cool before being added to the filling.
• Let the cheesecake cool slowly. Leaving it in the turned-off oven for an hour helps it finish cooking gently.
• Chill overnight. This is important for the cheesecake to fully set and makes slicing much easier.

What Are the Best Apples for Apple Cheesecake?

You can use several varieties of apples for this cheesecake. Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Gala are all good choices.

For a more tart contrast to the sweet caramel cheesecake, I particularly like Granny Smith apples. For a sweeter, milder flavor, Honeycrisp or Gala work beautifully.

Do You Need a Water Bath for This Cheesecake?

No. This caramel apple cheesecake is baked without a water bath.

The cheesecake is baked at a relatively low temperature and then left in the turned-off oven for an additional hour. This gentle cooling helps the cheesecake set properly.

Can I Use Greek Yogurt Instead of Sour Cream?

Yes. Plain Greek yogurt can be used instead of sour cream in the cheesecake filling.

Can I Make This Cheesecake Gluten-Free?

Yes. It’s fairly easy to adapt this recipe for a gluten-free diet.

Use gluten-free cookies for the crust, replace the flour in the cheesecake filling with cornstarch, and use almond flour in the crisp topping instead of all-purpose flour.

Can I Use Dulce de Leche Instead of Homemade Caramel?

Yes. If you don’t want to make homemade salted caramel sauce, dulce de leche can be used in the cheesecake filling. Keep in mind that dulce de leche will give you a slightly different flavor and consistency than salted caramel.

How Long Does Caramel Apple Cheesecake Need to Chill?

This cheesecake should be refrigerated overnight after it has cooled completely.

The overnight chilling time allows the cheesecake to fully set and gives the flavors time to develop. It also makes the cheesecake much easier to slice cleanly.

How to Store Caramel Apple Cheesecake

Store the cheesecake covered in the refrigerator.

Because it contains cream cheese, sour cream, and eggs, it should remain refrigerated until you’re ready to serve it.

Can You Make Caramel Apple Cheesecake Ahead of Time?

Yes, and this is actually one of the reasons I love serving it for holidays.

The cheesecake needs to chill overnight anyway, so you can prepare it the day before serving. Keep it refrigerated and add the final drizzle of caramel sauce shortly before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different type of apple?

Yes. You don’t have to use just one variety. A combination of sweet and tart apples can give the topping even more flavor, as long as the apples are firm enough to hold their shape during baking.

Can I use store-bought caramel sauce?

Yes. Homemade salted caramel gives the best flavor, but you can use a good-quality store-bought caramel sauce if you want to save time. If using regular caramel sauce, you can add a small pinch of salt to taste.

Can I use a different size springform pan?

Yes, but the baking time will need to be adjusted. A smaller pan will produce a taller cheesecake and may require more baking time, while a larger pan will result in a thinner cheesecake and may bake more quickly.

How long does caramel apple cheesecake last?

Keep the cheesecake covered and refrigerated and enjoy it within about 4–5 days for the best quality.

Can I freeze caramel apple cheesecake?

Yes. For best results, freeze the cheesecake without the final caramel drizzle. Wrap it well, freeze until firm, then thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Add fresh caramel sauce before serving.

Other fall desserts you may like to try

Delight in the irresistible flavors of this Pecan Upside Down Cake. This delectable dessert features a caramelized pecan topping atop a moist and fluffy cake. Indulge in the perfect balance of sweetness and nutty goodness.

This Almond Apple Tart is one of the easiest apple tarts you can ever prepare, vert comforting and totally delightful. The tart consists of a pate sablee crust coated with apricot jam and filled with thinly sliced apples and almond flakes. Serve while still a bit warm with salted caramel sauce, whipped cream or ice cream.

This  German Apple Streusel Cake – Apfelkuchen mit Streusel is one of the best fall desserts. It consists of a soft crust with a tender and juicy apple and cinnamon filling and a crispy buttery crumble on top with toasted flaked almonds.

This Pecan Caramel Mousse Cake is an elegant, delightful cake that is perfect for fall days and especially for Thanksgiving table. The cake consists of two layers of vanilla sponge cake with caramel pecan topping and with a smooth custard salted caramel mousse filling.

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