Description
Caramel apple cheesecake combines creamy cheesecake layers with sweet autumn apples and rich caramel drizzle. Rich flavors blend perfectly to create a luxurious dessert you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 24 oz (680 g) cream cheese (softened)
- 3 large eggs (room temperature)
- 3 medium apples (peeled, cored, and thinly sliced)
- 2 cups (240 g) graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter (melted)
- ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream
- ½ cup (120 ml) caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tbsps (25 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tbsps (25 g) brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
Instructions
- Crust Preparation: Pulverize graham crackers into fine, uniform crumbs, then blend with melted butter and sugar until the mixture becomes cohesive and moldable.
- Crust Setting: Press the crumb mixture into a springform pan, creating a compact, even base layer, then bake until edges turn golden and the surface feels firm.
- Apple Caramelization: Dice apples into uniform cubes and sauté in a skillet with cinnamon, transforming them into a rich, golden-brown delicacy that intensifies their natural sweetness.
- Filling Development: Whip cream cheese until velvety smooth, then gradually integrate eggs, vanilla, and sugar, blending until the mixture achieves a silky, luxurious consistency.
- Layering Technique: Distribute the caramelized apple pieces evenly across the cooled crust, then gently cascade the cream cheese mixture over the top, ensuring complete coverage.
- Baking Process: Position the cheesecake in a preheated oven and bake until the center displays a subtle wobble, signaling the perfect consistency and doneness.
- Cooling and Refinement: Allow the cheesecake to cool at room temperature, then transfer to the refrigerator, enabling it to set completely and develop a rich, complex flavor profile.
Notes
- Prevent Crust Crumbling: Use melted butter generously and press crumb mixture firmly to create a solid, compact base that won’t fall apart when slicing.
- Manage Apple Moisture: Pat apple pieces dry after caramelizing to prevent excess liquid from making the cheesecake soggy, ensuring a perfect texture.
- Control Baking Temperature: Use a water bath or lower oven temperature to prevent surface cracking and achieve a smooth, creamy cheesecake consistency.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Let cheesecake rest overnight in the refrigerator, allowing flavors to meld and develop a richer, more complex taste profile.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 392
- Sugar: 31 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg