Caramel Apple Cheesecake

Caramel Apple Cheesecake is a beautiful dessert to help celebrate the beauty of fall.

Making a cheesecake was never necessarily an item on my bucket list.  It’s just one of those things to which I never gave a lot of thought, although I’ve never been known to turn down a slice when offered. 

I guess it’s a good thing that this was not on my bucket list, because it leaves room for other things but if it had been on the list it would have gotten crossed off quite handily this past weekend.

About this recipe

Two summers ago, with the help of a friend, I discovered a tree full of honey crisps on our property.  It was loaded.  I had big, juicy and sweet apples coming out of my ears.  Honestly, it was hard to find enough people to give them to and they were completely out of this world in taste.

Then, last year we had all sorts of crazy weather going on.   80 degree days, in March, followed by a couple of freezes, followed by a drought of unprecedented severity.  And not one.  Single.  Apple.

It was an epic letdown for me.  Of course their were apples to be bought, at a King’s ransom, but they just weren’t the same as the non-pesticide home grown ones off our own tree.

Thankfully, this year there was a respite.  Our apples are back, perhaps not quite as nice as a couple of years ago – somewhat smaller and more pock marks I think, but they are back and they are wonderful in taste.

The Saturday that I made this was a beautiful weather day.  It was also the day that Appleton, Wisconsin celebrated Octoberfest – an event that drew a crowd of 100,000 very happy beer-drinking Cheeseheads only about 6 miles from our front door.  Happily, we opted to hang around our small ranch home just outside of  town.   Scott put together a delicious rendition of gulumpki using a head of cabbage the size of a medicine ball – and the boys and I picked apples.

This caramel apple cheesecake was a great treat to put together.  The ingredients are few and the process is fun – slightly more involved than a typical dessert but certainly nowhere beyond the capability of someone with even the most basic culinary skills – as best evidenced by my own experience making it.  Very importantly, everyone loved it.  Did it turn out perfect?  Perhaps not, I probably could have left it in the oven another 5 minutes to give it just a bit more firmness, but give me a break – this was my first cheesecake, ever!   If it’s true that practice makes perfect, this apple-pickin’ dad and cheesecake maker is up for the challenge.

Other delicious desserts

• Death by Chocolate Cheesecake
• Chocolate Banana Bread

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Caramel Apple Cheesecake

4.88 from 8 votes

inspired by Taste of Home

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 25 minutes mins

Total: 35 minutes mins

Yield: 8 servings

By: Dan from Platter Talk

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1-1/2 cups cinnamon graham cracker crumbs, about 8 whole crackers
• ▢ 3/4 cup sugar, divided
• ▢ 1/4 cup butter, melted
• ▢ 1 package, 14 ounces caramels
• ▢ 2/3 cup evaporated milk
• ▢ 1/2 cup chopped pecans, divided
• ▢ 2 packages, 8 ounces each cream cheese, softened
• ▢ 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
• ▢ 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• ▢ 1-1/2 cups chopped peeled apples
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon ground Cinnamon

Instructions 

• Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan.
• In a small bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar and butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of prepared pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
• In a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, cook and stir caramels and milk until melted and smooth. Pour 1 cup over crust; sprinkle with 1/4 cup pecans. Set remaining caramel mixture aside.
• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, 1 tablespoon flour and remaining sugar until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Combine the apples, cinnamon and remaining flour; fold into cream cheese mixture. Pour into crust.
• Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. Bake for 40 minutes. Reheat reserved caramel mixture if necessary; gently spoon over cheesecake. Sprinkle with a few thin slices of apple.
• Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until center is just set. Remove pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan.Yield: 12 servings.

Nutrition

Calories: 548kcal, Carbohydrates: 52g, Protein: 11g, Fat: 34g, Saturated Fat: 16g, Cholesterol: 125mg, Sodium: 308mg, Potassium: 267mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 26g, Vitamin A: 1049IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 134mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

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