Paula Deen's Caramel Apple Cheesecake

There is no question about it. I LOVE the majority of Paula's recipes. This one promises to be a great one! YUM!!







Caramel Apple Cheesecake

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons, divided
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Streusel topping, recipe follows
• 1/2 cup caramel topping

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly.
3. Press evenly into a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil.
4. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
5. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth.
6. Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Stir to combine.
7. Pour over warm crust.
8. In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
9. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle evenly with Streusel topping.
10. Bake 30 minutes, or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping.

Streusel Topping:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients.

Yield: approximately 3 cups

Recipe courtesy of Foodnetwork.com