Caramel Apple Cheesecake
Caramel Apple Cheesecake gives you the taste of a freshly dipped caramel apple without the mess! With Fall upon us and leaves changing to glorious colors, it just seems like the right time to serve this sweet and delicious cheesecake. I also have a traditional Cheesecake Recipe you may enjoy.
Caramel Apple Cheesecake
As a kid, I absolutely loved Caramel Apple Pops! I would go through quite a few of these suckers if they were available to me. I still love them as an adult, but sometimes growing up means not sucking on a sucker all day. Apples dipped in lots of gooey caramel is another favorite treat, but they can be a bit cumbersome to eat and leave a sticky mess! Caramel Apple Cheesecake satisfies my taste for both Caramel Apple Pops and Caramel Apples but is much more refined. The fact that I love cheesecake, too, means that this recipe is right up my alley!
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Recipe
Caramel Apple Cheesecake is really quite simple, and the ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store. There are three main parts to this recipe: the crust, the cheesecake filling, and the topping. I am going to start with the crust. Be sure to preheat your oven to 350°F before you start preparing the cheesecake.
How to Get the Perfect Crust
When mixing together the ingredients (with a fork) I like to make sure every single graham cracker crumb is coated in butter. The butter acts as the binding agent, so when you see cheesecake recipes that have piles of graham crackers left on the plate, it is usually because they were not coated with butter.
What is a Springform Pan?
Press the graham cracker mixture into a 7-inch springform pan. A springform pan is the right choice for cheesecake because it has removable sides. You won’t have to mess up your dessert by trying to get the cheesecake out of the pan! If you do not have a springform pan, I recommend using a disposable pan that you can cut off after your cheesecake is done. A second option would be to line a pan with parchment paper, leaving plenty of paper hanging over the side.
Please note, if you use a size other than a 7-inch springform pan, the cooking time may need to be adjusted. You will know when the cheesecake is done when it is set and not jiggly in the middle.
Do I Have to Use Room Temperature Cream Cheese?
Yup. This is one of the most important steps in making sure you have no lumps in your cheesecake. Try these methods:
Removing the cream cheese from the refrigerator and allowing it to come to room temperature. Four hours should be plenty.Heat cream cheese in a microwave. If you have to heat your cream cheese in a microwave be sure to whisk it smooth (or pop it into a food processor) before using not only to ensure there aren’t lumps but that there are no “hot spots” throughout.Food processor. This is a phenomenal way of ensuring smooth cheesecake. You can add. it to the food processor directly from the refrigerator.Let cream cheese, still in the package, sit in warm water for 10-15 minutes.
How to Make Caramel Sauce
The sauce has 2 ingredients; caramels and evaporated milk. I have also used half & half, heavy whipping cream, and whole milk in place of the evaporated milk and found them to work just as well.