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Byte Sized Nutrition

Greek Yogurt Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars

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Happy November!! Today I’m bringing you these Greek Yogurt Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars as part of a BGB Virtual Friendsgiving Celebration. Bloggers Gonna Blog (BGB) is a community made up of healthy lifestyle and food bloggers from all across the globe. I’ve “met” some incredibly talented, passionate and inspirational bloggers through this community and today many of us are coming together to celebrate the beginning of November and the start of the holiday season. And the best part? You’re invited! So pull up a seat at the table because this is one Friendsgiving feast you’re not going to want to miss! **Be sure to check out all of the links to other bloggers’ mouth-watering dishes at the bottom of this post.**

 

*This post was originally published on November 1, 2016. Photos were updated November 6, 2017.

 

If you know me at all, then you know that I have a major sweet tooth. I’m the girl that will leave part of her dinner untouched, and yet jump at the first mention of dessert. I like to think that I have a second stomach and it’s reserved exclusively for dessert.

That being said, It should come as no surprise that I was a fan of baking long before I was a fan of cooking. In fact, it wasn’t until a few years ago that I finally began to experiment with dishes that DIDN’T revolve around sugar. These days, I tend to spend more time cooking than baking (probably a good thing considering cupcakes are probably not the most nutritious dinner option), but you’d better believe I still take advantage of any opportunity to bake up some sweet treats.

 

Greek Yogurt Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars are a must-make dessert this holiday season! Rich, creamy caramel apple cheesecake topped with cinnamon-spiced apples and sandwiched between two layers of buttery oat crisp! | www.bytesizednutrition.com

 

So when I first heard about the BGB Friendsgiving, I knew this was the perfect opportunity to go back to my baking roots. The only problem was, I couldn’t decide what on earth I wanted to make (after all, when you’re in the presence of so many incredible food bloggers, you’ve got to bring your A game). Soo I did the only logical thing and I made two desserts – but combined them into one dish and called it a day. Boom. Problem solved.

Maybe being indecisive isn’t such a bad thing after all…

 

Greek Yogurt Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars are a must-make dessert this holiday season! Rich, creamy caramel apple cheesecake topped with cinnamon-spiced apples and sandwiched between two layers of buttery oat crisp! | www.bytesizednutrition.com

 

Now, if you came here looking for a “healthy” dessert, this is probably not it. This recipe is not low calorie, low fat, or low sugar – labels that our society today has come to view as “healthy”. Sure, you’ll find Greek yogurt, whole grains, fruit and nuts (all quite nutritious ingredients); but you’ll also find butter, sugar, and *gasp* gluten (although it can be made gluten-free if it really needs to be). This is a dessert, after all.

And today I’m here to tell you to eat the dessert.

Greek Yogurt Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars are a must-make dessert this holiday season! Rich, creamy caramel apple cheesecake topped with cinnamon-spiced apples and sandwiched between two layers of buttery oat crisp! | www.bytesizednutrition.com

No, that is not a typo. This dietitian is telling you to eat dessert.

By now, you know that I’m all about proving that wholesome and nutritious plant-based foods can, in fact be delicious. But you know what else can be delicious? A nice, rich, decadent dessert. And that’s okay.

To me, “healthy eating” should never be about restrictions. It should be about feeding our bodies foods that make us feel good, both physically and mentally. And some days, that might mean a big kale and quinoa salad. Other days, it might mean Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars. And that’s okay.

What’s not okay is depriving yourself entirely of those foods that bring you joy and ultimately add to your overall mental health. Over the years, I’ve witnessed too many people struggle with unhealthy relationships with food. Usually, it starts all too innocently, either as a way to shed a few extra pounds or simply improve one’s health status. But these efforts can quickly spiral into unhealthy lifestyle patterns fueled by restrictive diets and “fear foods”. And if there’s one thing that food should never be, it is feared.

 

Greek Yogurt Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars are a must-make dessert this holiday season!
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Our society has become obsessed with utilizing restrictive diets as a means to achievable weight loss or health goals. But these diets do not work and here is why… Depriving yourself of foods that you love typically ends in one of two ways: tossing in the towel and binging on previously “off-limit” foods (which often leads to feelings of guilt and thus fuels an unhealthy cycle of “yo-yo” dieting) or disordered eating. And let me be clear.. neither of these are “healthy” by any means.

So as the holidays approach, I want to take a moment to remind you that it’s okay to eat a slice of grandma’s famous pumpkin pie. Or to go back for a second serving of stuffing. After all, the holidays are a time to enjoy good food in the presence of good company. 

 

Greek Yogurt Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars are a must-make dessert this holiday season! Rich, creamy caramel apple cheesecake topped with cinnamon-spiced apples and sandwiched between two layers of buttery oat crisp! | www.bytesizednutrition.com

 

 

So although these Greek Yogurt Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars may not meet society’s definition of “healthy”, they are certainly “healthy” in their own right. These bars serve as a reminder that all foods can fit into a healthy lifestyle with balance and moderation.

Because sometimes the only thing that’s worse for your health than eating dessert (or whatever your “guilty pleasure” may be) is NOT eating dessert.

 

 

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Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars

Rich caramel apple Greek yogurt cheesecake is topped with a layer of cinnamon-spiced apples and sandwiched between two layers of buttery oat crisp. A crowd-pleasing dessert to bring to holiday gatherings!
Course Dessert
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 16 bars

Ingredients

For the crust/topping

  • 1 1/4 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
  • 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 10 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1/4 cup crushed walnuts, reserved

For the cheesecake

  • 8 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 cup caramel apple Greek yogurt*
  • 2 eggs, whisked
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • pinch of salt

For the apples

  • 2 large apples (I used Golden Delicious and Jonagold)
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat an 8x8" baking dish with cooking spray and line with parchment paper, allowing the paper to go up the sides of the dish. Set aside.

For the crust/topping

  • Combine first 5 ingredients (flour through salt) together in a large mixing bowl and stir. Add melted butter and stir until thoroughly combined.
  • Divide the mixture in half. Press one half of the mixture into the prepared baking dish to create a crust.
  • Bake the crust for 11-13 minutes, until lightly browned. Set aside to cool for at least 10 minutes while you prepare your cheesecake filling.

For the cheesecake

  • In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and yogurt with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Add eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt and continue to mix on low speed until combined.

For the apples

  • In a small bowl, gently toss apples with cinnamon and nutmeg until evenly coated.

To assemble

  • Spread cheesecake in an even layer over par-baked crust and top evenly with chopped apples.
  • Mix chopped walnuts into remaining "crust" mixture and crumble over apples.
  • Bake for 40-45 minutes, until top is golden and cheesecake is set. Refrigerate cheesecake for at least 4 hours prior to slicing.

Notes

* At the time that this was written, both Chobani and Trader Joe's carried the Caramel Apple seasonal autumn flavor. However, if this flavor is unavailable, substitute plain full fat Greek yogurt and add 3 tbsp of packed brown sugar to cheesecake mixture. Increase cinnamon from 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp.
To make this recipe gluten free, substitute oat flour for whole wheat pastry flour and use certified gluten free oats.
Recipe adapted from Texan Erin

 

Greek Yogurt Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars are a must-make dessert this holiday season! Rich, creamy caramel apple cheesecake topped with cinnamon-spiced apples and sandwiched between two layers of buttery oat crisp! | www.bytesizednutrition.com

 


Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Kara

      Thank you, Farrah! Apple crisp has always been one of my all-time favorite desserts, but the addition of cheesecake just takes it to the next level! Happy Friendsgiving!<3

  2. Emily

    LOVE this reminder. Healthy eating is all about balance, and I love a balance of everything. These seriously look SO SO GOOD! Pinning to make later. <3 This Friendsgiving is so fun!

    • Kara

      Thanks, Emily! I hope you make them – they are seriously soo amazing. Can’t wait to check out your recipe! Happy friendsgiving!<3

    • Kara

      Thanks Ellen! Pie is not typically one of my go-to desserts of choice either, but add some crumble on top and it’s a whole different story!

    • Kara

      ABSOLUTELY. And I agree.. I can never finish an entire slice of cheesecake but these bars were the perfect amount!

  15. Kelly @ Eat the Gains

    I love not only this recipe, but this post. Amen to eating a dessert once in awhile and not caring what is in it. I used to be way too hard on myself for eating sweets or whatever, but have really been practicing balance lately and it is so refreshing. Also, can I borrow some of your baking skills? Mine are nonexistent haha.

    • Kara

      Haha baking can definitely be intimidating.. I’m always terrified to stray even the slightest bit from a recipe because I always feel like it’s going to screw the whole thing up. But so glad you’ve been more lenient with your sweets lately.. it’s all about balance! Happy friendsgiving!

  20. Allie @ Miss Allie's Kitchen

    First of all i love these bars (and YOU). I’m so glad you made this mash up. But I am also SO with you on the eating dessert philosophy. I can’t tell you how much i hear people “cutting out” things in their diet and they can’t even tell you why. Makes me crazy! So, go you!

    • Kara

      Haha yesss depriving yourself entirely of certain foods never ends well! And thank you – hope you give them a try!! <3

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