Chef Michael’s Quick, Easy and Delish Dish for the Weekend

By Michael Minorgan for Curtains Up

www.globalgourmets.ca    michael@globalgourmets.ca

 Caramel Apple Cheesecake

It is the time of year when we head out to the orchards and pick apples. We are lucky in Quebec to have so many great orchards just minutes away by car. Cheesecake is always a favourite with me and this one is definitely no exception. If you want to make a slightly lighter version go ahead and use the low fat cream cheese, I guarantee you won’t taste the difference. Keep to a firmer textured apple so it won’t breakdown too much when it is cooked….Enjoy!

Ingrédients

Crust:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

Cheesecake Filling:

3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons, divided

3 large eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Apples:

3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Caramel Sauce :

2 cups icing sugar

2 tbsp corn syrup

2 tbsp butter

1 cup cream 35%

Streusel Topping:

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup quick cooking oats

1/2 c

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender (or 2 forks) until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 9×13 baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 3/4 cup sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over warm crust.

Dissolve icing sugar with a little water and corn syrup over low heat. When it has melted and starts to turn a light brownish color add in the cream and stir well until it is all combined (Save some for serving)

In a sauté pan stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg and some of the caramel sauce. Cook until apples are softened over medium heat. Spoon evenly over the cream cheese mixture. (Save some for serving)

For the streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. I like to really combine it by using my clean hands to thoroughly combine the butter into the mixture.

Sprinkle Streusel topping over apples. Bake 40-45 minutes, or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping and let cool. Serve cold with some of the apple caramel mixture and some caramel sauce drizzled on top . Makes about 16 servings.