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This Caramel Apple Cheesecake recipe is the perfect apple dessert for Thanksgiving! It’s full of cinnamon, apples, homemade caramel sauce and is absolutely delicious!
This cheesecake is made with my easy salted caramel sauce recipe. It’s so good!
Easy Caramel Apple Cheesecake
This cheesecake is thick, creamy and full of everything you could want in an apple cheesecake. It’s made with:
– A graham cracker crust that’s filled in the bottom with sliced apples tossed in cinnamon and caramel sauce
– A cheesecake filling made with brown sugar, cinnamon and applesauce for some amazing flavor
– A topping that’s not only delicious because it’s made with cinnamon-sugar covered apple slices, but also pretty
It’s packed full and you’ll never need another Caramel Apple Cheesecake recipe!
How to Make Caramel Apple Cheesecake
This cheesecake begins with my classic graham cracker crust recipe. It’s easy to put together and pre-bakes in the oven for about 8 minutes.
From there, you’ll add a layer of thinly sliced apples that have been tossed in some ground cinnamon, and pour an amazing, easy-to-make homemade caramel sauce over the top. A few tablespoons of flour is stirred into the caramel sauce first, which helps keep it from kind of disappearing into the cheesecake while it bakes.
The apples are topped with the cheesecake filling. To make the filling, you’ll begin by combining the cream cheese, brown sugar and flour. Be sure to always stir on a low speed so that you don’t incorporate too much air into the filling. Air is the enemy of a crack-free cheesecake. Big bubbles can come to the surface and pop, leaving you with cracks.
Next, you’ll add some sour cream, applesauce, vanilla and cinnamon. All of them contribute to the great flavor of this cheesecake. The applesauce and cinnamon are where it’s really at though. As simple as it may seem, adding applesauce takes the flavor of this cheesecake to a whole new level. So good!
Finally, you’ll add your eggs and then it’s time to add the filling to the pan and add your topping.
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Topping
To top this cheesecake, I made a bit of an apple rose out of sliced apples. You want to use very thinly sliced apples for this part. It makes them much easier to shape and mold, not to mention that it keeps all those apples on the top of the cheesecake from getting too heavy.
While it may seem a little strange when you’re adding the apples on top, the cheesecake will hold them all. Just start from the outside and work your way in to the center.
All that said, you could totally avoid doing that design on top. As an alternative, you could just chop up the apples and sprinkle them over the top and bake it that way. You could even bake it without the apples on top, and instead cook them on the stove and add them before serving it. Totally up to you! Lot’s of great options that all result in the same great-tasting cheesecake!
How to Bake this Cheesecake in a Water Bath
As with most of my cheesecakes, this one does use a water bath. The moisture it adds to the baking process helps to keep the cheesecake from over-browning, falling in the center when it cools, and cracking. It’s definitely worth the extra few steps.
And if you tend to have trouble with your water bath leaking, check out my tutorial for how I avoid a leaking water bath.
An Amazing Thanksgiving Dessert Idea
This Caramel Apple Cheesecake will make you fall in love! The combination of flavors and textures is heavenly and exactly what you want in a fall treat! Thick, creamy, with a little crunch from the apples!
This cheesecake is perfect for sharing at work, with friends, or for Thanksgiving. However you share it (or keep it all for yourself), I hope you enjoy it!
More great apple dessert recipes:
Caramel Apple Blondie Cheesecake
Easy Caramel Apple Cheesecake
Caramel Apple Cookie Cups
Apple Crumb Cheesecake Pie
Cinnamon Apple Layer Cake
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Blondie Trifle
Apple Crisp
Apple Streusel Cheesecake Bars
Apple Cheesecake Napoleons
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Recipe
- Prep Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 55 minutes
- Yield: 12-14 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Caramel Apple Cheesecake recipe is the perfect apple dessert for Thanksgiving! It’s full of cinnamon, apples, homemade caramel sauce and is absolutely delicious!
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 1/4 cups (302g) graham cracker crumbs (about 17 full sheet graham crackers)
- 5 tbsp (65g) sugar
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 10 tbsp (140g) unsalted butter, melted
Apple Filling Layer
- 1 1/2 medium sized apples (about 260g), thinly sliced
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce, from above
- 3 tbsp all purpose flour
Cheesecake Filling
- 24 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (144g) loosely packed brown sugar
- 3 tbsp (24g) all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (115g) sour cream
- 1/2 cup (130g) applesauce
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3 large eggs
Apple Topping
- 1–2 medium sized apples, thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
1. Prepare the caramel sauce according to the recipe and allow to cool to at least room temperature. You can prepare the caramel sauce several days ahead, if you like.
CRUST
2. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Line a 9-inch (23cm) springform pan with parchment paper in the bottom and grease the sides.
3. Combine the crust ingredients in a small bowl. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the springform pan.
4. Bake the crust for 8-10 minutes, then set aside to cool.
5. Cover the outsides of the pan with aluminum foil so that water from the water bath cannot get in (see how I prepare my pan for a water bath). Set prepared pan aside.
CHEESECAKE
6. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F (148°C).
7. Toss the apples for the apple filling layer with the ground cinnamon and add to the bottom of the crust.
8. Add the flour to the caramel sauce (which was prepared in step 1), then pour the caramel sauce evenly over the apples. Set pan aside.
9. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, brown sugar and flour on low speed until well completely combined and smooth. Be sure to use low speed to reduce the amount of air added to the batter, which can cause cracks. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
10. Add the sour cream, applesauce, vanilla extract and ground cinnamon and mix on low speed until well combined.
11. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing slowly to combine after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to make sure everything is well combined.
12. Pour the cheesecake batter into the crust, over the top of the apples.
13. Use the thinly sliced apples for the topping to create the “rose” pattern on top of the cheesecake filling. Start from the outside edge, slightly overlapping each apple as you add it, and work your way around to make a full circle. Continue creating circles until you reach the center of the cheesecake.
14. Combine the sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle it evenly over the apples.
15. Place the springform pan inside another larger pan, trying not to jostle it around too much. Fill the outside pan with enough warm water to go about halfway up the sides of the springform pan. The water should not go above the top edge of the aluminum foil on the springform pan.
16. Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes. The edges should be well set, but the center couple of inches will still be jiggly because of the caramel sauce in the filling.
17. Turn off the oven and leave the door closed for 30 minutes. The cheesecake will continue to cook, but slowly begin to cool as well.
18. Crack the door of the oven for 30 minutes to allow the cheesecake to continue to cool slowly. This process helps prevent cracking.
19. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and water bath wrapping and refrigerate until firm, 5-6 hours or overnight.
20. Remove the cheesecake from the springform pan and place on a serving dish. I used some remaining caramel sauce to brush over the top of the apples and give it a shine. Cover cheesecake and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
This is the caramel sauce I would recommend. I haven’t tried using store-bought caramel sauce, but it’s much thinner than the homemade version. I’m not sure how well it’d hold up.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 484
- Sugar: 33 g
- Sodium: 526.6 mg
- Fat: 29.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 50.1 g
- Protein: 7.1 g
- Cholesterol: 113.7 mg
Would you recommend a specific type of apple, like Granny Smith, or would any type of apple work?
I would say granny smith, if you prefer something a little more tart to offset the sweetness. That’s probably the most common. But honeycrisp is also a good one.
Can I substitute more apple sauce for the sour cream? I don’t like sour cream. Thank you!
It may change the texture of the cheesecake a little too much. If you really want to replace it, I’d use heavy cream. You just may need a little more bake time.
Hi! I have a friend who wants this for their birthday, but somehow I have to bake it in mini cheesecakes. I was planning to use 150ml or 2/3c ramekins in a water bath, just like creme brulee, and then freeze them. I know the time is way shorter. Do you know what the peak temperaturein the oven should be for the center? Thanks so much!
Cheesecakes should bake to 150 degrees F. I hope you enjoy it!
Love the recipe. But the center didn’t set
I’m sorry to hear it. It sounds like it needed a little more baking time. Maybe check out my post on how to tell when your cheesecake is done baking.
I want to try recipe it sounds delicious. But I have a question, in step 8 do I mix the flour into all the Carmel or just the Carmel that goes over apples at the bottom of pan? And why do you add the flour?
So half a cup of the caramel sauce made at the beginning is poured over the apples and the flour is added to that half a cup. It helps the caramel sauce not just dissolve into the cheesecake filling.
Would it still cook the same if I don’t put the apples on top? I am just planning on diving and cooking in a pot and then sprinkling on top.
It may not take quite as long to bake. I’d probably check it at 1 hour and 15 minutes and see if it needs more time.
This recipe sounds amazing – I’m going to make it for Thanksgiving this year! What kind of apples do you use?
If you prefer a more tart apple, I’d recommend granny smith. For something on the sweeter side, I like honeycrisp. I hope you enjoy it!
Can I freeze this before baking or after?
I would freeze it after baking, not before. And freeze it without any toppings on it.
I made the Cheesecake for this Thursday. When I take out of the spring form pan the gram cracker crust is real compact and moist. Do pat dry gram cracker to outside of your cake to give it that nice finished look? I can’t wait it try it.
It should be fine. You don’t need to pat it dry.
Do you use a mandolin to slice the apples? If so, do you mandolin in quarters or halves? Thank you so much!
I don’t. I just use a knife.
Is a week b4 eating too long in advance?
I would say so. Two days is probably the most is recommend.
I love this recipe! Was a total hit at family dinner
To save time I used a premise graham cracker crust should I still give it a water bath?
I made this recipe and it was a beautiful cake, I followed the directions exactly as written, however, the inside of the cake was very gooey. Too soft. Almost like it was undercooked, but I baked it as directed. What can I do next time? The flavor was awesome and the outer part of the cheesecake was perfect-the inner part, not so much….
Yeah it really just sounds like what you said, that it was a little under baked. All ovens can vary a little bit so you may just want to add another 10 minutes or so.
I love this recipe and so does everyone in my family but it’s my 3rd time making it and it always comes out really mushy and doesn’t really look like a slice of cheese cake if that makes sense, any tips ?
It sounds like it just needs to be baked a little longer.
This cheesecake was a big hit! My family all loved this recipe. It sounded different so I wanted to try it. Great flavors and perfect for the fall. Thanks for your cheesecake tips too! I’m looking at trying your peach cheesecake with bourbon (or might try it with Captain Morgan’s Pumpkin Spiced rum?). So many recipes to try as they all look amazing. Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed it! I’m a big fan of that peach cheesecake. I do recommend the bourbon or a more simple rum, as opposed to the spiced. I too love me some Captain, but I tried it once and found the spice of it to take away from the other flavors just a bit.
Thanks so much for your advice on the spiced rum. I really appreciate it. I will go with bourbon. My husband is looking forward to trying it. Thanks again!
THIS WAS AMAZING PERFECT IT CAME OUT! THE TIPS FOR THE NO CRACKS WAS GREAT AND TASTED SUPURB! I WILL BE FOLLOWING MORE OF YOUR RECIPES. THANK YOU!
Another awesome recipe but 2 questions. The center of mine wasn’t completely done after the time so how much longer should I bake it to make sure it’s done? Would another 15 minutes be too much.
Also, how do you cut it without totally destroying the top of the cake? The apples got pushed into the cake or to the side which didn’t allow for the most beautiful presentation.
Other than that, the cake was awesome just like every cheesecake you’ve introduced to your fans. Thank you!
It’s hard to say for sure how much more time without seeing it. When you check the cheesecake before turning off the oven, the inner couple of inches should look almost done, but be a little jiggly.
As for cutting, I’m not sure there’s a great option other than to gently move a few apples over as you cut.
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the cheesecakes!
I also had trouble cutting – looked beautiful when done. When to cut and apples slide right into cheesecake with the cutting knife. What if we baked cheesecake fully, without apples on top. Chilled it overnight, then as you suggested cook apples on stovetop. You could cut the cheesecake, then assemble apples on top of cut whole cheesecake so when you served a slice, some apples with come with? OR maybe cut cheesecake, assemble apples, then scissor slice thru apples on top of cheesecake so the slices served would come out clean looking like your picture?? Anyone have further thoughts on that?
To have cleaner looking slices, I use a serrated knife and sawing like motion. But if you’d like to try cooked apples on top, you definitely can. You could cook slices, like in this Caramel Apple Blondie Cheese, or use chopped apples, like on this Easy Caramel Apple Cheesecake. I hope that helps!
Can this be made ahead and frozen?
I haven’t specifically tried freezing this cheesecake, but generally they freeze well.
Did you use Sweetened or Unsweetened applesauce.
unsweetened
I have caramel compound; can I use that for the bottom layer of the apples, if I choose to layer it?
I’m not really familiar with caramel compound. If it’s like a sauce and you add the flour to it, I imagine it would be ok.
Did you peel your apples?
I did.
I stayed up baking this last night and went to cut it today and it’s not even close to being done 🙁 usually I am very good at making cheesecakes, but this one is still gooey for sure and I even baked it for a half hour longer and let it sit in the oven for 45 min before cracking the door. Was suppose to be dessert for turkey day, but I guess not! I have no idea what went wrong (yes it was water bathed). ….it’s beautiful but not cooked
Can this be done without a water bath?
I didn’t try it without one, but typically when baking without a water bath, the cheesecake browns around the edges, cracks and falls in the center when it’s cooling. If that stuff isn’t important to you, then it may totally be fine.
It looks so yummy! I would definitely try it. Thanks for sharing.
Hi! Can’t wait to try this, sounds amazing! Can you please tell me how many grams in the 1/2 cup caramel? Thank you!!!
Could this be made without the apples on top since there are apples on top of the crust? I would like more of the cheesecake flavor to come through instead of the apple.
Yes, you can. You can either leave them off entirely or cook them separately on the stove and add them to the top of the baked cheesecake. It won’t really change anything about how you long you bake it.
What kind of apple do you recommend?
I’d recommend Granny Smith apples. Honeycrisp would also be a good one. It can also be nice to use a couple different kinds of apples sometimes and get a little variety of flavor.
Hi
What kind of apples did you use in this recipe.
I’d recommend Granny Smith apples. Honeycrisp would also be a good one. It can also be nice to use a couple different kinds of apples sometimes and get a little variety of flavor.