Thursday, October 13, 2011

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Pie

My husband and I are going to glean apples this week to make another year's supply of free apple juice. But before we start apple saucing, apple buttering, and apple juicing, I had to put some of the already-picked apples to a more decadent use.


Behold the Caramel Apple Cheesecake Pie.

This dessert is apple pie, caramel apples, and cheesecake all in one bite!

It's extraordinarily rich, so a small piece will go a long way. It took a fair amount of effort to make, but there are (less tasty) shortcuts you can take. It's a great way to start off the Fall apple season!

To take some shortcuts, you could use a pre-made graham cracker crust, jarred caramel sauce, and already whipped cream... but I wouldn't recommend it, as the slightly more laborious effort is well worth it.


Caramel Apple Cheesecake Pie
Printable Version

Ingredients:
For the crust:
1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
3 tbsp. sugar
½ tsp. cinnamon
5 1/3 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
½-¾ cup caramel (from Annie's Eats)
1 cup chopped pecans

For the apple filling:
5 tbsp. unsalted butter
½ cup light brown sugar, tightly packed
¼ tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
5-6 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced

For the cheesecake:
8 oz. cream cheese
¼ cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice

For the topping:
¾ cup heavy cream
3-4 tbsp. confectioners’ sugar
¼-½ cup caramel
Chopped pecans (or walnuts)

Directions:

To make the crust, preheat the oven to 375° F.  Line the bottom of a 9-inch round springform pan with parchment paper.  In a medium mixing bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon and melted butter.  Toss with a fork until all the crumbs are moistened and the ingredients are evenly mixed.  Transfer the mixture to the prepared springform pan and press the crumbs in an even layer over the pan bottom and about half to two-thirds of the way up the sides of the pan.  Bake for 6-8 minutes, until golden in color.  Let cool for about 10 minutes.  Pour a layer of caramel into the bottom of the crust and sprinkle evenly with the chopped pecans.  Refrigerate the crust while you prepare the filling.


To make the apple filling, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.  Mix in the brown sugar, salt and cinnamon and cook for 1 minute, until bubbling.  Mix in the apple slices and toss well to coat.  Cook over medium to medium-high heat until tender and most of the liquid has been reduced, about 15-20 minutes.  Let cool for a few minutes and pour into the prepared pie shell.  Set aside.

Reduce the heat of the oven to 350° F.


To make the cheesecake layer, combine the cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute.   Mix in the vanilla, egg and lemon juice until fully incorporated and smooth, 1-2 minutes.  Spread the cheesecake filling into an even layer over the top of the cooked apples in the crust.  Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.  Remove from the oven, transfer to a wire rack and let cool to room temperature.  Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

To serve, carefully remove the sides of the springform pan.  In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the heavy cream and confectioners’ sugar on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form.  Spread gently over the top of the chilled cheesecake layer.  Top with dollops of caramel sauce and swirl with a knife to create a marbled effect.  Sprinkle with a handful of chopped nuts, if desired.  Slice with a long, thin knife to serve.



Recipe Source: from Annie's Eats originally from Mimi Hodges, the winner of Good Morning, America’s “Pie of Emeril’s Eye” Contest, 2000

16 comments:

  1. Wow!  That looks decadently yummy!

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  2. Oh.my.goodness! Why don't you live closer so I can eat your food??

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  3. Why don't you live closer so you can eat my food while we play Settlers of Catan!? It's a cruel, cruel fate, Lindsey :).

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  4. Wow! I just died and went to heaven! That is the most amazing looking dessert. I am so going to pull this one off when my mother in law comes in a couple of weeks so she thinks I can cook.lol 

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  5. Amazing desserts given to mothers-in-law = awesome :). Let me know how it goes if you do it!

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  6. Drat!  I'll bet Lindsey is going to try her had at this and I can't have it on this diet. Argh...just 7 more weeks!

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  7. Not even a bite?? :) 7 weeks, eh? December 5th you need to make this :).

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  8. I made this a year ago for my best friend's fourtieth birthday party-it was a HIT! Thanks for the reminder to make it again! Fall is here!

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  9. Glad to be of service, Jennie! I will boldly proclaim caramel apple cheesecake pie wherever I can ;).

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  10. Ok! I am jumping in and making this today. I will take pictures and link up to my blog with this so you can see how it turns out..I have to say I'm shaking of fear .lol...I did make a pumpkin pie for back up just in case this totally bombs!!!

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  11. Oh, I hope it works for you! It's probably too late to tell you this, but if I were to make it again I'd probably use store-bought caramel syrup. Can't wait to see it on your blog :).

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  12. The caramel was the least of my worries...I messed up and in a stupor I grabbed wax paper instead of  parchment paper and well it got stuck to the end. It was still DELICIOUS but not blog worthy.lol  I will definitely be keeping the recipe though :) Thanks for sharing!

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  13. Oh no! Sadness!! Glad it tasted good, at least :) (and glad you had that backup dessert!).

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  14. lol..I'm such a putz.lol but you live you learn..will try it again for Christmas,hopefully with better results :)
     

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