These Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Bars are a great treat for breakfast or dessert. The easy crescent roll dessert with apple cheesecake filling and crunchy cinnamon and sugar will make you feel warm and cozy.
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Apple desserts are one of my favorite things to make in the fall. Apples can be added into so many things like apple cinnamon rolls or an apple brownie.
This fall I decided to add apple pie filling to an easy crescent dessert. Crescent rolls are so versatile! They are great made from the can, filled with meat and cheese, or used as a crust in cheesecake bars.
Why You Will Love A Danish Cheesecake
If you have ever had a sopapilla dessert, you will enjoy this crescent roll cheesecake. It takes that same cinnamon pastry and adds an apple cheesecake center.
- Made with 6 ingredients.
- Easy to make with only 15 minutes of prep!
- Layered with apple pie filling and cream cheese.
- Cinnamon sugar gives it a sweet crunchy texture.
- Perfect cheesecake danish for breakfast this fall.
Plus, the cream cheese squares are so delicious that no one will ever guess how easy they are to make!
Key Ingredients
Some of the best desserts take popular store bought ingredients and create a semi-homemade masterpiece. This apple danish recipe is all about keeping it simple with 4 primary ingredients.
- Crescent Rolls - You will need two cans of refrigerated rolls. I love using Pillsbury crescent rolls in this apple dessert.
- Cream Cheese Filling - A block of cream cheese, sugar, and an egg creates a simple cheesecake center.
- Apple Pie Filling - One can of pie filling or 1 ½ cups of homemade apple pie filling adds a fall flavor.
- Cinnamon Sugar - A mix of cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top gives this sopapilla cheesecake a nice crunch and flavor.
BruCrew Tip: Add a simple sugar glaze to give the finished apple danish recipe a pretty look.
How to Make an Apple Crescent Roll Dessert
Even if you don't consider yourself a baker, you will find this recipe for crescent rolls and apples so simple to make.
Make the Filling
- Place the cream cheese and sugar in a small bowl and beat until smooth.
- Add the egg and mix until creamy.
- Open the can of pie filling and pour it into a bowl. Use a knife to cut the apple slices into small bite sized pieces.
Assemble the Crescent Roll Cheesecake
- Open one can of crescent roll dough and spread it in the bottom of the baking dish. Press the seams together.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly on the rolls and top it with the apple chunks.
- Open the second can of crescent rolls, press together the seams, and place it on top of the filling.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, then bake in a preheated oven until golden brown. Remove and let cool.
- Drizzle with a glaze and then devour!
Storage Recommendations
Keep the apple crescent rolls in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
Tips and Tricks
- Set out your cream cheese out at least 30 minutes before you want to start baking so it can soften. This will allow it to be creamy and not lumpy.
- If you forget to set the cream cheese out ahead of time, you can unwrap it and microwave it for 20-30 seconds to soften it.
- Open the second can of crescent rolls on a piece of parchment paper. Press together the seams, turn dough over and place on the filling, then peel off the paper.
- Try this crescent roll dessert with strawberry pie filling or cherry pie filling for a different flavor.
- You can also add fresh fruit to the filling like these blackberry cream cheese bars.
- Skip the sugar glaze and drizzle the apple bars with caramel ice cream topping before serving.
Recipe FAQ's
I do not recommend freezing them. The texture of the crescent rolls will be soft and potentially soggy when they thaw.
Store any leftover apple sopapilla cheesecake bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Real apples would need to be softened in a skillet before adding them to the center of the cheesecake bars.
More Apple Recipes
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Recipe
Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Bars
Creamy cheesecake and apple pie filling make this Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cheesecake Danish a great start to any day.
Ingredients
- 1 - 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 - 8 ounce cans refrigerated crescent rolls
- 1 - 21 ounce can Lucky Leaf Apple Pie Filling
- 3-4 tablespoons cinnamon sugar
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 5 teaspoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick baking spray.
- Beat the cream cheese and ¼ cup sugar until creamy. Add the egg and beat again.
- Open one can of crescent rolls and press the sheet of dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Spread the cheesecake filling on top of the dough.
- Open the can of pie filling and cut the apples into small chunks. Spoon the apples over the top of the cheesecake filling.
- Open the remaining can of rolls and place the sheet of dough on the top of the mixture. Gently squeeze or press together any seams.
- Evenly sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top of the dough. Bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove and let cool one hour on a cooling rack. Refrigerate until chilled all the way.
- Stir together the powdered sugar and milk. Drizzle over the top of the chilled danish. Let set before serving.
Notes
- Set out your cream cheese out at least 30 minutes before you want to start baking so it can soften. This will allow it to be creamy and not lumpy.
- If you forget to set the cream cheese out ahead of time, you can unwrap it and microwave it for 20-30 seconds to soften it.
- Open the second can of crescent rolls on a piece of parchment paper. Press together the seams, turn dough over and place on the filling, then peel off the paper.
- Try this crescent roll dessert with strawberry pie filling or cherry pie filling for a different flavor.
- You can also add fresh fruit to the filling like these blackberry cream cheese bars.
- Skip the sugar glaze and drizzle the bars with caramel ice cream topping before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 137Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 114mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 1gSugar: 11gProtein: 2g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for apple cinnamon cream cheese bars was first published November 2016. It has been updated and republished November 2022.
*This recipe was sponsored by Lucky Leaf. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. Thank you for letting me share products and brands we use and love. See my disclosure policy for more information.*
sue | theviewfromgreatisland
These are brilliant, there are so many flavors and textures going on ~ I've got my hot cup of coffee ready!
Gina @Running to the Kitchen
OMG! These look absolutely perfect!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction
I'd love to have a piece of this danish with my morning coffee!
Marye
You had me at "cheesecake"! These look fantastic!
Catherine
I can never turn down danish...especially when its homemade! This looks marvelous, Jocelyn. xo, Catherine
Heather Kinnaird
you have no idea how badly I wish this was my breakfast today, I;m a sucker for a great cheese danish
shelly (cookies and cups)
Do not even get me started on the gray hair situation!
Instead I'll drown my sorrows in these gorgeous bars!!
aimee @shugarysweets
Great minds think alike!! I love these danishes 🙂
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet
Loving these bars! Perfect fall treat!
Maureen Blackburn
Definately a winner!!!! (The new recipe, and you)
Wendy
It's hard to believe that you could ever run out of delicious ideas, Jocelyn! This danish idea is certainly a winner. Keep the apple ideas coming! 🙂 As for gray hairs and aging; in ten years you will look back and marvel that you were ever the young age you are today. Life is a matter of perspective. 🙂
Elaine
Oh it's o.k. with your color hair you will hardly see it and I'm sure that it won't impair your baking skills in any way....BTW I am dying to try these!
Nicole
Oh my goodness gracious! These look AWESOME!