Get ready for the ultimate fall dessert: Apple Pie Cheesecake! Imagine a heavenly combination of spiced, creamy cheesecake nestled on a cinnamon graham cracker crust, topped with apple pie filling, salted caramel sauce, and a delightful crunchy crumb topping. It’s a treat you won’t want to miss out on this season!
This dessert is a surefire hit for Thanksgiving. It’s not just delicious; it’s a showstopper that will dazzle everyone at the table.
Why You’ll Love This Apple Pie Cheesecake:
- It’s dripping in salted caramel sauce because, let’s be honest, you can never have too much of it!
- The creamy texture is simply out of this world. Each bite melts in your mouth, thanks to a careful mixing method that incorporates cream cheese and sour cream to perfection.
- Bursting with warm fall spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, this cheesecake is a dream come true for apple enthusiasts!
Apple Pie Cheesecake
Ingredients
For the Salted Caramel Sauce:
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup heavy cream at room temperature
- ¼-1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cinnamon Graham Cracker Crust:
- 16 graham crackers 240 g, full sheets
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
For the Spiced Cheesecake:
- 32 oz cream cheese 907 g, softened at room temperature
- 1 ¼ cups granulated white sugar 250 g
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch 16 g
- ⅓ cup sour cream 82 g, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- 3 eggs at room temperature
- -2 egg yolks at room temperature
For the Apple Pie Topping:
- 2 ½ cups peeled cored, and diced apple pieces (375 g), about 2-3 apples
- ¼ cup salted caramel sauce 70 g, from above
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
For the Streusel Topping:
- 1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter 21 g, cold
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar 41 g
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 24 g
- Pinch of salt
For the Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting:
- ½ cup unsalted butter 112 g, softened
- 4 oz cream cheese 113 g, cold
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar 195 g
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
For the Salted Caramel Sauce:
- Heat granulated white sugar in a large saucepan over medium-low heat until it melts and turns golden.
- Quickly stir in softened butter until incorporated, then add room temperature heavy cream, salt, and vanilla.
- Simmer for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened, then let cool before using.
For the Cinnamon Graham Cracker Crust:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and wrap the bottom and edges of a 9-inch springform pan with foil.
- Pulse graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground, then mix with melted butter, sugar, and cinnamon.
- Press onto the bottom and up the sides of the pan, bake for 10 minutes, and let cool.
For the Spiced Cheesecake:
- Mix cream cheese, sugar, and cornstarch until smooth, then add sour cream, vanilla, spices, eggs, and egg yolks.
- Pour into the prepared pan, place in a roasting pan with boiling water, and bake for 1 hour.
- Let cool completely, then refrigerate for at least 8 hours.
For the Apple Pie Topping:
- Cook apple pieces, caramel sauce, and spices until tender, then let cool.
For the Streusel Topping:
- Mix butter, brown sugar, flour, and salt until clumps form, then bake until golden and crispy.
For the Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Whip butter until fluffy, add cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth, then mix in cinnamon until fluffy.
Assembling the Cheesecake:
- Remove cheesecake from the pan, pour caramel sauce, spoon apple topping, sprinkle streusel, and pipe frosting around the edges.
- Serve and enjoy!