This cheesecake is topped with a spiced brown-sugar caramel with a hint of cayenne. It’s a great make-ahead dessert and perfect for the Thanksgiving table. If desired, you can toast the cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cayenne first when making the caramel.
Apple Streusel Cheesecake with Spiced Caramel
Serves: 8 to 10 / Preparation time: 30 minutes / Total time: 1 hour, 40 minutes, plus cooling time
SPICED CARAMEL
1 cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup heavy whipping cream
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch ground cardamom
Pinch cayenne
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
CRUST
¼ cup sugar
¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup ginger snap cookie crumbs
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
FILLING
2 packages (8 ounces each) reduced-fat block cream cheese, softened
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 eggs, at room temperature
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
APPLE STREUSEL TOPPING
⅓ cup light brown sugar
⅓ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup rolled oats
¼ cup chopped, roasted almonds, pecans or walnuts¼ teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into chunks, softened
2 large tart apples, peeled, cored and chopped into ½-inch dice
For the spiced caramel: Combine brown sugar, cream, salt and spices in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce to low, cover and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat, add butter and stir until melted. Allow to cool, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. (Caramel will keep for up to a week in refrigerator).
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
To prepare crust: In a food processor, combine all crust ingredients, pulsing until dough comes together. Line the bottom of a 9-inch spring-form pan with parchment. Press dough into the bottom of the pan, prick with a fork in several places and bake for 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare filling. Using an electric mixer, in a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition while mixing on low speed until just blended. Add applesauce and beat to combine.
In a separate bowl, prepare streusel. Combine brown sugar, flour, rolled oats, almonds and salt; stir to blend. Add butter and, using your fingertips, rub butter into flour mixture until it forms clumps.
Pour cream cheese mixture over prepared crust; sprinkle evenly with chopped apple. Top with the streusel mixture. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until just set. Allow to cool to room temperature, cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours (cake will keep for up to 2 days, covered and refrigerated). Cut the cake into wedges and drizzle with a spoonful of the spiced caramel.
Adapted from Food and Drink magazine, Autumn 2013.Tested by Susan Selasky for the Free Press Test Kitchen.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Apple Cheesecake with Spiced Caramel is a Thanksgiving showstopper
Reporting by Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
