Easy Cheesecake Baked Apples | 4 Simple Ingredients (+Video)

Make tender baked apples topped with a tangy, lightly sweetened cheesecake filling for a simple, elevated dessert with no processed sugar that’s ready in 30 minutes – it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

Do you ever have a hard time figuring out what to bring to parties? Man, I sure do.

I love to bring desserts and Black Bean Brownies are my go-to for church functions, outdoor BBQs, and pretty much any party we go to. (If it’s the holiday season, I bring Maple Pecan Blondies!)

One time I switched things up and brought these cheesecake baked apples and everyone LOVED them!

WHAT ARE BAKED APPLES?

Simply put, baked apples are apples that have been baked so that they’re soft, juicy, and tender but still firm enough to hold together.

I know that might sound weird, but that’s it!

In this whole baked apples recipe, we’re adding cream cheese that we’ve lightly sweetened and flavored, so that the filling tastes like cheesecake.

Baked apples + cheesecake = the best of both worlds!

CHEESECAKE BAKED APPLES RECIPE

You’d think that the chocolate desserts would be the first to go, but these cheesecake baked apples disappeared faster than everything else.

Plus, SO MANY PEOPLE asked me for the recipe… that’s how you know you have a winner!

Here’s why you should give this easy baked apple recipe a try:

• Just 4 ingredients.
• Ready in 30 minutes.
• Quick, easy, and healthy!
• Crowd-pleaser!
• It’s nearly all fruit!
• Gluten-free!
• No processed sugar! Just natural sugars, and minimally sweetened.
• It can easily be doubled or tripled for large parties.

These cheesecake baked apples are so good, and so healthy, that I had no issues whatsoever when my daughter asked if she could have them for breakfast. And once you see the ingredients, I think you’ll agree!

CHEESECAKE BAKED APPLE RECIPE INGREDIENTS

I don’t know if an ingredient list can get any shorter than this:

• Apples. Use any apple varieties you have – Gala, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady are all great options.
• Cream Cheese. Since this baked apples recipe only uses 4 oz of cream cheese, add Chicken Jalapeño Popper Casserole to your dinner plans this week to use the remaining 4 oz. Or simply make a double batch of baked apples!
• Maple Syrup. Honey works as a sweetener too, although it has a more pronounced flavor.
• Vanilla Extract. We’re adding vanilla extract for depth of flavor. You can also add cinnamon or try one of the other flavor variations below.

HOW TO MAKE BAKED APPLES

Follow these simple instructions to learn how to make baked apples with cheesecake filling!

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 375F.

Step 2. Wash and dry your baking apples. Cut them with a sharp paring knife in half through the center of the apple horizontally. There’s no need to peel the apples.

Step 3. Use a small cookie scoop (I have this one) or a melon baller to scoop out just the very center of the apple where the seeds and core are.

Step 4. In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, vanilla (or cinnamon), and maple syrup (or honey) and mix them well.

Step 5. Using the cookie scoop again, scoop about 1 Tablespoon of the cheesecake mixture into the center of each apple, where you had just scooped out the seeds and core.

Step 6. Place the apples, cream cheese side up, in a 9”x9” glass baking dish. Pour 2 Tablespoons of water into the bottom of the dish.

Step 7. Bake the apples for 30 minutes, until the apples are tender when poked with a fork. Allow to cool just slightly and serve warm!

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. They’re tasty cold as well, or you can reheat them in the microwave or oven.

MORE BAKED APPLE RECIPES

My kids like the vanilla version of the baked apple recipe, which uses maple syrup and vanilla extract, as written in the recipe.

Or you can try these variations of baked apple recipes for even more yummy goodness.

• Cinnamon Honey. Use 1 Tablespoon of honey plus ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon in the filling along with the cream cheese for delicious cinnamon baked apples.
• Almond Spiced. Use almond extract instead of vanilla extract and add ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the filling along with maple syrup and cream cheese.
• Baked Pears. Use halved pears instead of apples. Or make this Slow Cooker Poached Pear Recipe.
• Topped Baked Apples. Add raisins or chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to the finished baked apples for extra texture.
• Savory Ham and Cheddar. If you’re not a cheesecake fan, make savory baked apples instead! Prepare your apples and brush the tops with 1 Tablespoon of melted butter, then add 2 oz. of chopped ham and ¼ cup of shredded cheddar cheese. It sounds like an odd combination, but I promise it works!

If you’re looking for more of an apple crisp recipe, try this Slab Apple Pie! It’s perfect with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream!

HEALTHY BAKED APPLES RECIPES FAQS

MORE YUMMY WAYS TO BAKE WITH APPLES

And don’t forget to save your peels and cores for Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar!

WATCH HOW TO MAKE BAKED APPLE CHEESECAKES