Creole Cream Cheesecake With Caramel Apple Topping Recipes

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, pecans, butter and brown sugar. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-in. pie plate; set aside., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in extracts. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust., Bake at 325° for 45-50 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Refrigerate overnight., For topping, in a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add apples and lemon juice. Cook and stir for 5-7 minutes or until apples are tender. Add brown sugar and cinnamon; cook 2-3 minutes longer or until brown sugar is dissolved. Cool slightly. Serve with cheesecake.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Reserve 3/4 cup of apple pie filling and set aside.
• Spoon remaining pie filling into crust. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth then add eggs and mix well. Pour over apple filling in crust.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 minutes, or until center is set. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature.
• Mix reserved apple filling and caramel topping in a small saucepan. Heat for about 1 minute. Arrange apple slices around outside edge of cheesecake. Spread caramel sauce evenly over. Decorate with pecan halves around edge. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. Chill until ready to serve.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom and side of 9-inch springform pan with shortening or cooking spray.
• In medium bowl, mix flour, pecans, 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Cut in butter, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until blended. Press dough on bottom and 1/2 inch up side of pan. Bake 12 minutes or until set. Cool 15 minutes.
• In medium bowl, beat all filling ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth; spread filling over cooled crust. In another bowl, toss apples with 1/4 cup sugar, the cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Arrange apples in circular design over filling. Brush apples with 2 tablespoons of the caramel topping.
• Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F. Bake 1 hour longer. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, about 1 hour. Refrigerate at least 4 hours.
• Just before serving, run small metal spatula around edge of pan; carefully remove side of pan. Drizzle each piece of cheesecake with 1 tablespoon remaining caramel topping. Cover and refrigerate any remaining cheesecake.