Caramel apples have become the staple treat of the fall season thanks to their sweet and juicy taste, but since apples are available year-round at the grocery store, we don’t have to wait! These delectable goodies combined with savory cream cheese create a Caramel Apple Cheesecake.
Just start with the crust. Then, make the filling and bake as instructed. Finally, use the caramelized apples on top for a beautiful touch! Try one of Dwight Penney’s other recipes, Ganache Fudge Brownies, for another taste of his confectionary talents.
What is the History of Caramelized Apples?
Caramel apples are one of those things that seem like they’ve just been around forever. But the first person to think of candy-coating an apple was Willam Kolb, a candymaker from New Jersey. He saw apples and thought “What if this was dipped in cinnamon candy?” Then, apples and caramel naturally followed. In the 1950s, Dan Walker, a Kraft Foods employee, discovered the joyful combination of apple and caramel with leftovers from the Halloween excess. As any baker knows, boredom and leftovers sometimes results in ingenuity. From there, caramelizing apples has taken off as a baking technique. This recipe is a great starting point if you’re looking to start making your own sweet treats!
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Caramel Apple Cheesecake
Description
A sweet and decadent treat.
Ingredients
For the apple spice graham cracker:
- 1 tbsp apple spice
- 3 cups graham cracker crumbs
- ¼ stick melted butter
- 1 cup sugar
For the filling:
- 2 lbs cream cheese
- ½ lb sugar
- 4 whole eggs
- 1 lb sour cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the caramelized apples:
- 4 apples
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp clove
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 3 oz butter
Instructions
For the apple spice graham cracker:
- 1 tbsp apple spice
- 3 cups graham cracker crumbs
- ¼ stick melted butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 lbs cream cheese
- ½ lb sugar
- 4 whole eggs
- 1 lb sour cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 apples
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp clove
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 3 oz butter
For the apple graham crust:
- Mix all ingredients together to a wet sand consistency.
- Bake in 9-inch greased spring form pan or cake pan for 8 minutes.
For the filling:
- Mix cream cheese and sugar until smooth, add eggs one at a time until incorporated.
- Add sour cream and vanilla extract.
- Add caramelized apples.
- Pour over graham crust.
- Bake at 320 degrees for 45-50 minutes until done in a water bath.
For the caramelized apples:
- Peel and medium-size dice apples.
- Melt butter in pan and sauté apples.
- Add brown sugar and spices and cook until bubbly and apples are soft.
- Let cool.
Photography by Adam Milliron
Styling by Ana Kelly
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