Spiced Apple Cheesecake Recipes

Steps:

• Butter and line the base of a 23cm loose-bottomed cake tin. Whizz the biscuits to a rough crumb in a food processor, or put them in a sandwich bag and crush with a rolling pin. Tip the crumbs into a bowl with the melted butter, stem ginger and spices, and stir well. Press the mixture into the tin, pushing up the sides a little (putting your hand in a food bag makes this easier). Leave the base to set for 30 mins in the fridge.
• For the cheese layer, whisk all the ingredients together until smooth, then pour over the base. Chill in the fridge overnight.
• The next day, make the topping. Mix the cinnamon, ginger and mixed spice in a large bowl. Cut each apple into 12 wedges, then toss the wedges in the spice mixture. Heat the sugar and 4 tbsp water in a saucepan and bubble to a caramel. As soon as the sugar becomes a dark caramel, take off the heat and carefully toss through the apples. Pour in the brandy, and the whole lot will bubble and seize. Return the pan to the heat and simmer gently to re-dissolve the caramel and cook the apples in the syrup. Remove from the heat and set the apples aside to cool in the syrup.
• Ease the cheesecake out of the tin. Spoon the apples over the top with a slotted spoon. Serve the sticky brandy syrup on the side as a sauce.

Steps:

• For the crust: Place the cookies and brown sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Process until finely ground, about 1 minute. With the processor running, slowly pour in the butter. Process the mixture until it is the texture of coarse sand, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to an 8-inch springform pan. Using a measuring cup, press the crust into the bottom and about 2 1/2 inches up the sides of the springform pan. Press firmly to pack and make an evenly thick crust. Place in the freezer for 20 minutes.
• For the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until softened and smooth, about a minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the granulated sugar; beat to combine. Add the sour cream, confectioners' sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest and apple pie spice. Beat to combine until very smooth, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
• In a medium bowl, beat the heavy cream and vanilla extract with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 4 minutes. Add a third of the whipped cream to the cream cheese mixture and gently fold in with a rubber spatula until completely combined. (Scoop the mixture from the bottom of the bowl and fold over the top to combine the mixture, without letting all of the air out of the whipped cream). Add the remaining two-thirds of the whipped cream and continue to gently fold until completely combined.
• Remove the crust from the freezer and add the filling. Gently push into an even layer and smooth the top with the back of a spoon. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 12 hours or up to overnight.
• Loosen the cheesecake from the springform pan by running a knife along the edge, then opening the clasp. Slice and drizzle with the caramel sauce to serve.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Combine cookie crumbs, butter and 2 Tbsp. sugar; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake 10 min.
• Beat cream cheese, vanilla, 2 tsp. apple pie spice and 1 cup of the remaining sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add 3/4 cup apple juice concentrate; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each until just blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 5 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours.
• Meanwhile, bring remaining sugar and apple juice concentrate to boil in saucepan; simmer on medium-low heat 10 to 12 min. or until thickened, stirring frequently. Add whipping cream and remaining apple pie spice; cook and stir 2 to 3 min. or until thickened. Cool completely, then refrigerate until ready to use.
• Pour chilled sauce over cheesecake just before serving; top with apple chips.

Steps:

• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add apples, 1 pinch cinnamon, 1 pinch nutmeg, and 1 pinch cloves; cover and steam until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Mix graham cracker crumbs, butter, and 3 tablespoons white sugar together in a bowl; press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Beat cream cheese, 1 cup white sugar, 2 tablespoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon cloves together in a bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed just until blended.
• Arrange a layer of apples onto the graham cracker crust, leaving a few for garnish. Pour cream cheese mixture over apples. Place pan in a larger baking dish and pour water onto the baking dish to create a water bath.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the center is almost set, about 55 minutes. Cool on counter for 20 minutes before refrigerating until completely chilled, about 4 hours. Garnish with remaining steamed apples and drizzle caramel syrup over the top.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, combine cookie crumbs, graham cracker crumbs and 1/4 cup sugar; mix well. Stir in butter. Reserve 2 tablespoons crumb mixture for garnish. Press remaining crumb mixture in bottom and 2 inches up sides of ungreased 9-inch springform pan.
• Bake at 350°F. for 10 minutes. Cool 10 minutes. Wrap outside of pan, bottom and sides, with heavy-duty foil.
• Meanwhile, in small saucepan, bring apple juice concentrate and mulling spices to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil 10 minutes. Place dried apples in medium bowl. Strain apple juice mixture over apples; discard spices. Cool 15 minutes or until lukewarm, stirring occasionally.
• Beat cream cheese in large bowl at medium speed until creamy. Beat in 3/4 cup sugar and cornstarch until smooth. Reduce speed to low; beat in eggs one at a time, beating just until combined and scraping down sides of bowl after each addition. Beat in lukewarm apple mixture. Pour into crust-lined pan.
• Bake at 350°F. for 50 to 55 minutes or until sides of cheesecake are set and puffed, top is golden brown and center still moves slightly when pan is tapped.
• Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine topping ingredients; blend well.
• Remove cheesecake from oven. Gently spread sour cream topping over cheesecake. Return to oven; bake an additional 5 minutes. Center will still move slightly when pan is tapped. Turn off oven; let cheesecake stand in oven with door slightly ajar for 10 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven. Cool in pan on wire rack for 1 hour.
• Sprinkle reserved 2 tablespoons of crumb mixture over top of cheesecake. Cover; refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight before serving.
• To serve, remove sides of pan. Cut cheesecake into wedges.