This past weekend, we celebrated our Annual Family Day. It’s a tradition we started right after my Hubby and I got married. We kept at it every year, making a big dinner and doing activities. It’s always the first Sunday of October. Now that we have three children, it feels like we are a big family and everyone can participate which makes for a lot of fun! Pumpkins are carved, Thanksgiving and Halloween decorations are hung and placed and a big dinner is served. It is a kick off to the holiday season. It let’s us focus on our family and doing things together. We tend to get distracted by meetings and get-togethers for Thanksgiving or Christmas so this holiday is just for us. Just being together with our kids. Being a family.
Let’s put pumpkin aside for a moment and focus on the other fall fruit that gets a lot of love this time of year. Apples. Especially when paired with caramel. They were meant to be together and that is an obvious fact.
I had an idea for this cheesecake for months now and I knew it would be perfect for our Family Day! Cinnamon cheesecake topped with apple slices sauteed in caramel sauce. Heaven for a dessert lover!
Ingredients
- !for the caramel apples:
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 medium apples (I like to mix them: 2 Gala apples 2 Granny Smith apples), washed, cored, sliced
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves or nutmeg
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- !for the crust:
- 1 and 1/2 cup finely crushed graham crackers
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- !for the filling:
- 3 pkg 8-ounce each of cream cheese softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 Tbsp milk
- 3 well-beaten eggs
Instructions
- !to make the caramel apples:
- Melt butter in cast iron skillet.
- Add apple slices.
- Sprinkle the apple slices with cinnamon and cloves.
- cook until soft but not mushy.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together brown sugar and cream.
- Pour over apples.
- Bring to bubbly over medium heat, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat. Spoon out the apple slices onto a bowl or plate. Cool to room temperature.
- Pace the skillet with caramel sauce back on the heat and cook until thickens, about 2 more minutes.
- Remove from the heat and let cool for 15 minutes. Pour into a heat-proof jar. Cool to room temperature.
- !to make the cheesecake:
- Wrap a 8" or 9" springform pan in aluminum foil and set in a roasting pan.
- Boil 2 cups of water. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- !to make the crust:
- Place graham crackers in food processor and process until finely crushed.
- Add sugar and melted butter and process on low until all comes together.
- Press the crust into a 9" springform pan.
- Bake for 7 minutes in preheated oven.
- Set aside.
- !to make the filling:
- Place cream cheese in food processor and process on low. Process for 15 seconds. Increase the speed to high and process for 5 seconds until smooth.
- Add sugar and process on low until combined.
- Add flour, yogurt, vanilla, spices and milk and process on low until smooth.
- Add eggs and process on low until completely incorporated.
- Pour the batter over baked crust. Tap the roasting pan on the counter few times (gentlto release any air bubbles from the batter.
- Place the pan with the springform pan in the oven. Pour enough water into the roasting pan to come at least 1 inch up the sides of the springform pan but not over the foil.
- Bake 1 hour and 20 minutes. Replace water after first 50 minutes of baking.
- When the times is up, turn of the oven leaving the cheesecake inside for one hour. Leave the oven door slightly ajar.
- Cool the cheesecake completely on the counter.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- When chilled completely, spoon the skillet caramel sauce over the cheesecake and spread evenly. Top with apple slices arranging them in a pattern. Sprinkle with a dahs of ground cloves.
- Slice and serve.
- Refrigerate any leftovers in a closed container, for up to 3 days.
Recipe Notes
Note: the total time does not include the chilling of the cheesecake.
Thanks done share recipes to : www.crunchycreamysweet.com/caramel-apple-cheesecake-recipe-card/