This caramel apple cheesecake pie has so many layers to like: it begins with a crisp and buttery graham cracker crust, adopted by a creamy brown sugar cheesecake filling, candy cinnamon-spiced apples, do-it-yourself salted caramel, and completed with a streusel topping. It’s like apple crisp meets cheesecake, and also you’ll be very glad that they did!
I all the time love a great dessert mash-up, particularly when it includes cheesecake. Have you ever seen this pecan pie cheesecake or these coconut cheesecake brownies earlier than?
At this time we’re speaking all issues apple. This recipe is as if I began making an apple crisp or salted caramel apple pie, then threw in a cheesecake. It’s very layered, textured, wealthy, and undoubtedly tasty. Throughout testing and pictures, my crew and I made about 8 of those pies… and neighbors had been actually leaving notes on our doorways to convey them extra. (Sure, that actually occurred!)
Why You’ll Love This Caramel Apple Cheesecake Pie
- A “folks pleaser” dessert—satisfies the cheesecake lovers and apple pie lovers
- No water bathtub or pastry pie crust wanted
- An impressive use of dessert’s favourite condiment, do-it-yourself salted caramel
- Tons of texture in each chunk
- It’s a variety of steps and layers, however every is kind of easy to make
- A fantastic make-ahead recipe as a result of it wants time to sit back
4 Layers to Love
It is a texture lover’s pie, for certain. Crispy, crumbly, creamy… oh my!
- Graham Cracker Crust: A traditional crumb crust will get further crispy from an extended bake time, similar to on this s’mores brownie pie.
- Cheesecake Filling: Easy, velvety, creamy, and frivolously tangy cheesecake pie filling gives an ideal distinction to the textures within the layers above and beneath.
- Caramel Apples: Tart apples get the candy remedy right here. Tossed in cinnamon & brown sugar, then drizzled with salted caramel… is there a greater approach to get your apple a day? They bake lengthy sufficient to melt however nonetheless keep their texture, very similar to an apple pie.
- Streusel Topping: This crumbly topping is a scaled-down model of what we use on these salted caramel apple pie bars. I lowered the amount down as a result of, in testing, I discovered that an excessive amount of streusel topping created a mushy layer on this pie.
Pie Testing (& Retesting)
My crew and I examined many various variations to determine the very BEST approach to make caramel apple cheesecake pie. Some exams:
- We tried pre-cooking the apples earlier than including them to the pie, however not solely was it an additional step (and an additional pan to scrub), it made the apple layer a bit too tender and moist.
- Then we tried layering the caramel and apples immediately on prime of the crust, however the caramel adhered to the crust, making it almost not possible to chop.
- We tried it with out the streusel topping. Foolish mistake. Our strategically chosen panel of style testers (i.e., neighbors who occurred to be dwelling—LOL) overwhelmingly most well-liked the variations with the streusel topping to the variations with out.
All this recipe testing led to in the present day’s really scrumptious dessert—are you prepared for it?
Begin With a Graham Cracker Crust:
The recipe begins with this graham cracker crust. It’s simply 3 easy components: graham crackers, granulated sugar, and melted butter. In the event you’ve had bother with graham cracker crust previously, or if it’s not simple to get graham crackers the place you might be, learn this Learn how to Make a Graham Cracker Crust publish for steerage and substitution options.
Bake the crust by itself for 10 minutes, so it could possibly set its form earlier than filling the pie. It’s superb if the crust continues to be a tad heat once you add the filling (so it adheres properly to the bottom).
Seize These Substances for Filling & Topping:
- Cream Cheese: Use 1.5 8-ounce blocks (12 ounces/340g whole) of full-fat cream cheese. Be sure you’re shopping for the blocks of cream cheese and never the tubs of cream cheese unfold.
- Brown Sugar: We’re utilizing brown sugar within the cheesecake filling, like we do on this pecan pie cheesecake. Brown sugar additionally goes within the caramel apple and streusel layers.
- Bitter Cream: Makes for a clean and velvety texture, and offers it that frivolously tangy taste all of us love in cheesecakes.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract provides taste, particularly do-it-yourself vanilla extract!
- Egg: The egg gives construction on this baked cheesecake pie.
- Apples: I like to make use of a mixture of tart & candy apples in baking, like 1 Granny Smith and 1 Honeycrisp or different candy selection. Peel and slice them actually skinny, then chop the slices into bite-size items. In case your apples are too thick, they received’t soften sufficient when the pie bakes.
- Lemon Juice: I often embrace lemon juice in a cheesecake filling, however on this pie, let’s add it to the apples. Tossing the chopped apples in lemon juice helps stop browning, however we additionally wish to give them a head begin on softening earlier than we layer them within the pie.
- Cinnamon: Apple’s favourite spice!
- Selfmade Salted Caramel: Have you ever ever made this liquid gold earlier than? This recipe for salted caramel is surprisingly easy. Use some within the filling after which as a lot as you need when serving the completed pie. If you’d like common caramel (and never salted), cut back the salt within the caramel recipe right down to 1/2 teaspoon.
- Oats: Use old style entire rolled oats. In the event you don’t need oats within the streusel topping, strive halving the crumble topping used on this apple crumble pie and use that as an alternative.
- Flour: Just a bit bit within the streusel topping, for construction.
- Butter: Lower chilly, cubed butter into the dry streusel components, till you’ve got a crumbly topping. You additionally use butter within the crust. (And within the do-it-yourself caramel!)
Once more, there are a variety of layers. Go sluggish, and browse by the recipe and watch the video tutorial earlier than you start. I categorize this as an intermediate baking recipe.
Let’s Assemble the Caramel Apple Cheesecake Pie
Within the printable recipe beneath, I encourage you to start out with the crust, then transfer on to the toppings earlier than you make the cheesecake filling. Make the streusel first, after which chill it within the fridge or freezer as you’re employed on the opposite layers. The colder the streusel, the higher it would maintain form within the oven. A pastry cutter makes this step simple, or you’ll be able to strive slicing within the butter utilizing 2 forks:
After your streusel is within the fridge, peel, slice, and chop the apples. Combine them with slightly brown sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. You may see the apples after I layer them onto the filling beneath.
The cheesecake filling is a snap. It’s a barely lowered model of this cheesecake pie filling. I lowered the quantities as a result of we’re topping it with so many layers.
Unfold the filling into the marginally heat pre-baked crust, after which prime with the apple layer, a pair Tablespoons of salted caramel, after which the chilly streusel topping.
Right here is the pie earlier than & after baking:
The caramel apple cheesecake pie wants about 45 minutes within the oven. Across the 30 or 35-minute mark, I loosely tent it with aluminum foil to stop the highest and crust from over-browning. The pie filling could appear slightly wobbly when it’s performed, however it would end organising because it cools and chills.
Cooling, Chilling, & Serving
Cool the pie at room temperature for about an hour, after which switch to the fridge to sit back for a minimum of 2 hours and as much as 2 days.
Because you used only some Tablespoons of the caramel sauce within the pie, you’ll have a lot leftover for serving. Apart from this pie, the salted caramel is unbelievable on ice cream, pancakes, oatmeal, and a lot extra—discover 50 methods to eat salted caramel right here. I really like gifting jars of it across the holidays!
Completely price the entire prepwork!
Even Extra Apple Desserts
Description
This recipe makes use of ready do-it-yourself salted caramel within the filling, and for garnish on the completed pie. You may make the caramel forward of time and retailer it within the fridge for as much as 1 month. I encourage you to make the crust first, after which put together the toppings earlier than you make the filling. So many layers to like on this caramel apple cheesecake pie!
Crust
Streusel Topping
Apple Layer
Cheesecake Filling
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Have your components prepared and salted caramel ready.
- Make the crust: In the event you’re beginning out with full graham crackers, use a meals processor or blender to grind them into high quality crumbs. Stir the graham cracker crumbs and granulated sugar collectively in a medium bowl, after which stir within the melted butter. The combination can be thick, coarse, and sandy. Attempt to smash/break up any massive chunks. Pour the combination into an ungreased 9-inch pie dish. With medium strain utilizing your hand, pat the crumbs down into the underside and up the perimeters to make a compact crust. Don’t pack down with heavy pressure as a result of that makes the crust too arduous. Merely pat down till the combination is now not crumby/crumbly. Ideas: You should utilize a small flat-bottomed measuring cup to assist press down the underside crust and clean out the floor, however don’t pack down too arduous. And run a spoon across the backside “nook” the place the sting and backside meet to assist make a rounded crust—this helps stop the crust from falling aside. For extra shaping method suggestions, see the graham cracker crust recipe web page.
- Bake the crust for 10 minutes. Proceed with the following steps because the crust bakes.
- Make the streusel topping: Whisk the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour collectively in a medium bowl. Lower within the chilled butter with a pastry cutter or 2 forks (and even together with your fingers) till the combination resembles coarse crumbs. Place the bowl of streusel within the fridge to sit back when you proceed with the following step.
- Put together the apples: Combine the thinly sliced & chopped apples, brown sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon collectively in a medium bowl. Put aside. (The caramel can be layered on prime of them once you assemble the pie.)
- Make the filling: Utilizing a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and brown sugar collectively on medium-high velocity in a big bowl till the combination is clean and creamy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the perimeters and up the underside of the bowl with a rubber spatula as wanted. Add the bitter cream and vanilla extract, after which beat till absolutely mixed and really clean. Scrape down the perimeters and up the underside of the bowl with a rubber spatula as wanted to mix—you don’t need any massive lumps. Add the egg and beat on medium velocity simply till mixed. In the event you nonetheless see some lumps at this level, change to a whisk and whisk by hand simply till you break up the massive lumps. Some small lumps are OK.
- Assemble the layers: Unfold the cheesecake filling into the crust. The crust can nonetheless be heat at this level. A small offset spatula makes spreading simple. Spoon apples in an excellent layer on prime of the cheesecake filling. Drizzle salted caramel over the apples. Sprinkle chilly streusel evenly on prime.
- Decrease the oven temperature to 325°F (163°C) and bake the pie for 45 minutes, or till the middle is nearly set (it would nonetheless be a bit wobbly within the heart—that’s OK). To forestall burning the crust edges, tent your entire pie with aluminum foil or use a pie crust defend for the final 10–quarter-hour of baking.
- Set the pie on a wire rack and funky for 1 hour at room temperature. Then place it within the fridge and chill for a minimum of 2 hours and as much as 2 days earlier than serving. The pie will proceed to arrange because it cools and chills. (Cowl if chilling it for longer than a number of hours.) The topping softens the longer it sits.
- To serve, drizzle chilled pie with extra salted caramel. Salted caramel solidifies because it cools, so heat it again as much as drizzle it. For neat slices, use a clear sharp knife, and wipe the knife clear between every slice. Tip: The primary slice is rarely fairly! A lot simpler to slice after that first piece is out.
- Cowl and retailer leftover pie within the fridge or freezer for as much as 5 days.
Notes
- Make Forward & Freezing Directions: This caramel apple cheesecake pie may be made as much as 2 days prematurely. Retailer lined within the fridge till able to serve. It’s greatest if the crust continues to be a bit heat once you pour within the filling, so I don’t suggest pre-baking the crust prematurely. You may freeze the baked, cooled, and chilled pie. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than serving. Notice that the streusel topping turns into very tender after freezing and thawing.
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Meals Processor for graham crackers, Pastry Cutter, Pie Dish, Electrical Mixer (Stand Mixer or Handheld), Small Offset Spatula
- Oats: Complete oats are greatest, however you need to use fast oats if wanted. The crumble topping will simply be slightly extra powdery. Use a 1:1 swap from entire oats to fast oats. For an oat-less topping, strive halving the crumble recipe used on this apple crumble pie.
- Apples: For depth of taste, it’s greatest to bake with a mixture of candy and tart apples. I often use 1 small Honeycrisp apple and 1 small Granny Smith apple.
- Salted Caramel: In the event you favor common caramel and never salted, cut back salt within the caramel recipe right down to 1/2 teaspoon.
- Room Temperature Substances: Convey all chilly components to room temperature earlier than starting. Room temperature components mix shortly and evenly, so that you received’t threat over-mixing. Additionally, beating chilly components collectively will lead to a chunky cheesecake filling, hardly the best way you wish to start!
- Non-US Readers: If graham crackers usually are not obtainable the place you reside, use 200g floor digestive biscuit crumbs (about 2 cups; 13–14 biscuits), 1/3 cup (67g) granulated sugar, and 6 Tablespoons (85g) melted butter. Pre-bake the crust for a bit longer, about 12–14 minutes. And from what I perceive, spreadable cream cheese bought in a bathtub in international locations exterior of the US is slightly completely different from the spreadable cream cheese within the US. It’s thicker, sturdier, and extra strong and ought to be OK to make this pie. I’ve no expertise with it, however that is what I’ve heard from different non-US readers. In the event you strive it, tell us the way it seems!
Key phrases: caramel apple cheesecake pie
Learn how to Be part of the November Sally’s Baking Problem
Make the caramel apple cheesecake pie. In the event you aren’t into this recipe, right here is the alternate baking problem recipe:
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- Chocolate Chess Pie
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