If you know me, you know I'm a cupcake kind of gal. Perhaps the biggest testament to this is from the mouths of babes.
My little nephew had the hardest time saying my name when he was learning to talk. So, instead of struggling with the 3-syllable, Angela, I was dubbed "Auntie Cupcake". I was so sad when he actually learned to say my name correctly.
But I digress. I want to step out of my comfort zone. I've made dozens of different flavors of cupcakes. Many different cakes. Lots of cookies. But I want to expand my horizons to include pies, cheesecakes, candy, etc. And in walks this pie...
Cinnamon graham cracker crust, homemade caramel, brown sugar & cinnamon apples, a cheesecake layer(I actually subbed mascarpone for the cream cheese), whipped cream frosting & more caramel.
Oh yeah, baby. I got this! Lots of elements, but they all came together with ease. Each portion took less than 20 minutes. The only hard thing was waiting for it to cool in the fridge.
I took this to our early Thanksgiving celebration last night & I really think it was the star of the meal. My only regret was that I only made one. After a big fat meal we all went down for a late night jacuz session. There were two slices when we left, but not so much as a crumb on our return. Bummers!
The cream cheese layer is thin on this. I stuck with the original recipe, but if you were inclined to double that layer, I think that would work, too.
Hope you all have a wonderful, fun, family, and food-filled Thanksgiving!
Ingredients:
For the crust: 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs 3 tbsp. sugar ½ tsp. cinnamon 5 1/3 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted ½-¾ cup caramel 1 cup chopped pecans
For the apple filling:
5 tbsp. unsalted butter ½ cup light brown sugar, tightly packed ¼ tsp. salt 1 tsp. cinnamon 5-6 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
For the cheesecake:
8 oz. cream cheese (I subbed mascarpone) ¼ cup sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 large egg 1 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
For the topping:
¾ cup heavy cream 3-4 tbsp. confectioners’ sugar ¼-½ cup caramel Chopped pecans
Directions:
To make the crust, preheat the oven to 375° F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch round springform pan with parchment paper. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon and melted butter. Toss with a fork until all the crumbs are moistened and the ingredients are evenly mixed. Transfer the mixture to the prepared springform pan and press the crumbs in an even layer over the pan bottom and about half to two-thirds of the way up the sides of the pan. Bake for 6-8 minutes, until golden in color. Let cool for about 10 minutes. Pour a layer of caramel into the bottom of the crust and sprinkle evenly with the chopped pecans. Refrigerate the crust while you prepare the filling.
To make the apple filling, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Mix in the brown sugar, salt and cinnamon and cook for 1 minute, until bubbling. Mix in the apple slices and toss well to coat. Cook over medium to medium-high heat until tender and most of the liquid has been reduced, about 15-20 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes and pour into the prepared pie shell. Set aside.
Reduce the heat of the oven to 350° F. To make the cheesecake layer, combine the cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Mix in the vanilla, egg and lemon juice until fully incorporated and smooth, 1-2 minutes. Spread the cheesecake filling into an even layer over the top of the cooked apples in the crust. Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, transfer to a wire rack and let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
To serve, carefully remove the sides of the springform pan. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the heavy cream and confectioners’ sugar on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form (being careful not to overbeat.) Spread gently over the top of the chilled cheesecake layer. Top with dollops of caramel sauce and swirl with a knife to create a marbled effect. Sprinkle with a handful of chopped pecans if desired. Slice with a long, thin knife to serve.
Source: adapted from Ezra Pound Cake, originally from Mimi Hodges, the winner of Good Morning, America’s “Pie of Emeril’s Eye” Contest, 2000
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