Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake

If you’re looking for a show-stopping dessert that’s perfect for any occasion, look no further than this Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake. With layers of creamy cheesecake, spiced apple filling, and a buttery crumble topping, all drizzled with luscious salted caramel sauce, this dessert is sure to impress. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating this masterpiece.

Ingredients

For the Apple Filling:

• 4 medium apples (588 grams)
• 3 tbsp salted butter
• 1-2 tbsp apple cider (or water if cider isn’t available)
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 and 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/8 tsp allspice
• 1-2 tsp lemon juice, to taste
• 2 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tsp water

For the Crust:

• 3 cups cinnamon graham cracker crumbs (300 grams)
• 1/2 cup + 3 tbsp salted butter, melted (155 grams)

For the Cheesecake:

• 32 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature (full-fat, block style)
• 1 and 1/2 cups granulated sugar (308 grams)
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup full-fat sour cream, at room temperature (240 grams)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves

For the Apple Topping:

• (Repeat Apple Filling ingredients)

Crumble Topping:

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (33 grams)
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned whole rolled oats
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed (55 grams)
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup cold salted butter, cubed (4 tbsp, or 57 grams)

For the Salted Caramel Sauce:

• 1 cup granulated sugar (210 grams)
• 6 tbsp salted butter, cubed (85 grams)
• 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp heavy cream
• A pinch of flaky sea salt

Instructions

Prep:

1. Review the full recipe to ensure all ingredients and kitchen tools are ready. Elements can be prepared over multiple days if needed.

Apple Filling:

1. Peel and slice the apples.
2. Cook all filling ingredients (except the cornstarch mixture) in a pan until apples are tender.
3. Add the cornstarch mixture to thicken if needed. Cool in a bowl.

Crust:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix crust ingredients and press into a springform pan.
3. Bake for 10 minutes. Prepare for water bath baking.

Cheesecake:

1. Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
2. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
3. Add vanilla extract, sour cream, and spices. Mix until combined.
4. Pour half the batter over the crust, add apple filling, then cover with remaining batter.

Water Bath Baking:

1. Bake cheesecake in a water bath setup for 1 hour and 35 minutes to 1 hour and 50 minutes until set but slightly wobbly in the center.
2. Cool in the oven with the door cracked open for 1 hour, then chill for at least 6 hours or overnight.

Crumble Topping:

1. Mix the crumble ingredients and bake the mixture on a lined sheet until golden.
2. Cool completely.

Salted Caramel Sauce:

1. Prepare the caramel sauce as directed and cool before use.

Apple Pie Topping:

1. Repeat the apple filling steps for the topping.

Assemble and Serve:

1. Top the chilled cheesecake with apple topping, crumble, and drizzle with caramel sauce.

Make-Ahead Tips:

• Apple filling/topping and caramel sauce can be made days ahead and stored appropriately.
• Crumble topping can also be made in advance.

Conclusion

This Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake is a rich, flavorful dessert that combines the best of a cheesecake and an apple pie. With its multiple layers and textures, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that showcases your baking skills. Enjoy the process and savor every bite!