Baked Apples for SRC

Apples filled with dried fruit, chopped walnuts, brown sugar and cinnamon, cooked all together to make the perfect Fall time snack or dessert. Cooked in the microwave always for a quick and delicious treat anytime of the day. 

Cool air with beautiful Fall colors in the trees has gently settled into South-Western NH.  With this change in weather I have found myself quickly becoming more drawn to all the flavors that I associate with the Fall such as pumpkins and apples.  Pies, cakes and bars have been rolling out of my oven at lightening speed.  I blame most of it on the vast amount of gorgeous apples that this Fall season has provided. The apples that are dropping off of the trees this year are big, beautiful and tasty.   The unlimited supply of apples has given me the extra push to produce as many baked confections that I can find which calls for apples.  

Baked Apples is a recipe that fell quickly into my "all things baked with apples" category.  Thus, as I was browsing through Lori's Culinary Creations, my Secret Recipe Club assignment for this month,  I quickly picked Lori's recipe for Baked Apples.  Believe it or not it was my very first time making a recipe for baked apples.  I am delighted to say that my first try at baked apples was perfect!  I love the recipe I discovered from Lori!  It was simple, quick and delicious.  

  

Lori's recipe calls for Jonagold or Braeburn apples - I had Cortland apples on hand so I used them knowing that Cortlands bake up nicely and I wasn't disappointed.  I then filled each 1/2 of prepared apple with a mixture of brown sugar, cinnamon, chopped nuts and some dried fruit and then covered the apples securely with plastic wrap and popped the pan in to the microwave.  I wasn't quite sure how the baked apples would come out due to being "baked" in the microwave.  I had nothing to fear.  4 minutes cooked in microwave and the filled apples came out to perfection.  They were a tender texture and the filling melted beautifully into the apples.  

 I have no doubt that all of Lori's recipes on Lori's Kitchen Creations are just as good as this recipe for Baked Apples.  I was amazed and quite impressed with the variety and amount of recipes she has showcased on the her blog.  I am looking forward to baking up a batch of Pineapple Cornbread - I love all things made with cornmeal.  I also want to make a HUGE batch of her Creamy Cilantro Ranch Dressing - I am a die hard lover of cilantro. 

     Baked Apples 

(recipe from Lori's Kitchen Creations)

Ingredients:

2 large apples - Jonagold, Braeburn or Cortland, cored and cut in 1/2

2 TBSP dried cranberries

2 TBSP raisins

2 TBSP chopped walnuts

2 TBSP brown sugar, lightly packed

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1-2 TBSP butter

Directions:

In a small bowl combine all together dried fruit, nuts, brown sugar and cinnamon.  Lightly spray a microwave proof baking dish that will contain your apples.  Place apples inside baking dish cut side up.  

Fill with mixture and then evenly dot each filled apple with butter.  Cover dish securely with plastic wrap on all sides except one allowing for one corner to vent.  

Cook in microwave for 4 minutes.  Allow to cool for 2 minutes before serving.  A scoop of ice cream is lovely on top of each baked apple if you wish! 

Enjoy! 

                            Happy Baked Apple Making!

An InLinkz Link-up

Gingerbread Baked Apple Pancake (SRC)

I never have to be asked twice what I want for breakfast.  It's always pancakes.  Pancakes with real maple syrup.  And really, any kind of pancake is fine by me.  They can be fluffy buttermilk pancakes, pancakes loaded with berries or even pancakes that are flavored with a touch of cinnamon and sprinkled with toasted walnuts are all just lovely.  How about putting apples in pancakes?! Heck yes! How about adding some special spices and a few tablespoons of molasses to make the pancake a gingerbread flavored pancake?  OMG yes!  Let's do it. 

A Gingerbread Baked Apple Pancake is the actual name.  One big, beautiful and delicious pancake that screams FALL TIME.  First there is a layer of sweet and gently spiced apples and then a perfect pancake batter that has a touch of molasses stirred into it which is poured over the apples.  Just before this pancake is popped into the oven a sprinkling of sugar and spice goes over the top.  Delicious!  Within about 10 minutes you have a beautiful masterpiece of a pancake coming out of the oven.  I suggest having warm maple syrup to  drizzle on top of the servings along with a dash of powdered sugar.  

Kate of Kitchen Trial and Error is the lovely creator of this recipe.  I "met" her through my Secret Recipe Club assignment for this month of September. What an absolute gem Kate is!!! A beautiful mother of 2 children and is a fellow New Englander as she lives in NY state. 

I have found myself wanting to make EVERYTHING on her blog.  All of her recipes speak to my taste buds in such a delicious way!  The variety of recipes that are found on Kitchen Trial and Error is astonishing.  If you like caramel sauce than you should definitely try your hand at Kate's recipe for Caramel Pear Butter - I know I want to! I also want to make her Coffee Blondies (I LOVE anything coffee flavored!) along with the recipe for Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Drumsticks with Tangy Apple Slaw (this recipe sounds divine to me!).  

Make a point to whip up this lovely baked pancake - it's delicious and it feeds a family of 4 quite easily.  Fall is biting at our heels  - embrace it with this recipe by your side. 



Gingerbread Baked Apple Pancake 
                    ( recipe from Kitchen Trial and Error )

Ingredients:
2-3 large applesn - peeled, cored and sliced
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves 
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
3 eggs
3/4 cup pancake mix
6 Tbsp milk
2 Tbsp molasses

Directions  
 Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.  Butter a pie dish and set aside.

In a medium bowl combine sugar and all the spices.  Divide this mixture in 1/2 into 2 bowls. Set aside one bowl.  In the second bowl toss in prepared apples and coat well with sugar/spice mixture. Pour apple mixture into pie plate and cover with plastic wrap.  Place pie plate with apples in microwave and cook for 5 minutes.  Carefully peel off plastic wrap.

Mix up pancake batter in a large bowl - combine eggs, pancake mix, milk and molasses.  Stir together until smooth.  Pour batter over cooked apples and bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes.  Cool for a couple minutes and then serve with warm maple syrup and a dash of powdered sugar.  Enjoy!!

An InLinkz Link-up

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Apple Pear Pie with A Crumble Topping for PIE DAY!

Hip! Hip! Hooray! Today is Pi(e) Day!!! All things PIE are celebrated today as the date 3.14 marks the beginning of a very famous number called "Pi" (3.141592653).  Bakers every where rejoice as this day of "Pi" gives us all the freedom to create, master and enjoy the delicious existence of PIE.  A group of such bakers (including myself) have gotten together to gather a collection of a variety of recipes which feature and honor PIE for all of you out there that also LOVE and ADORE pie just like we do! A HUGE bundle of gratitude goes out to Terry of Love and Confections for organizing this fantastic group of bakers to come together with all things PIE for this fabulous holiday of all holidays. You are fantastic Terry for orchestrating all of us! Please be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post to see the list of links to all the delicious pies our group has baked up for this very special, special day.

  I choose to bake an Apple Pear Pie with Crumble Topping.  Apples and pears make up the filling along with just enough sugar to sweeten the fruit along with sprinkling of cinnamon and then topped with a tender crumble of butter, sugar and flour. A master piece of a pie.

This particular pie was developed from a vision of mine for the perfect pie.  I wanted it to have a delicate and flaky crust which was then filled with sweet yet slightly tart fruits of apples and pears and then crowned with a lovely tender and crumbly topping.  After combining 3 different recipes together I was able to create my dream of a pie.  Life is good.  Or even better, "life is Pie-LICIOUS"! :-) 

I used Ina Garten's Perfect Pie Crust recipe for my pie crust (which is flaky, delicious and fool proof) and then I used the two recipes below to complete my lovely pie of all pies. I was quite delighted with the end result.

Apple Pear Pie with Crumble Topping

Filling Ingredients - 
(slightly adapted from Taste of Home)
3-4 large baking apples - peeled, cored and sliced
3 large ripe pears - peeled, cored and sliced
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp cinnamon

Crumble Topping Ingredients - 
(slightly adapted from Bourbon and Boots)
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, cut into cubes

Prepare a single pie crust using a recipe of your choice or even a store-brought crust is fine too.   Line a pie plate with said crust and place in refrigerator while you prepare the filling and topping.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a large bowl combine all of the filling ingredients - gently toss together to incorporate fully. Set filling mixture aside as you prepare the crumble topping. 

In a medium bowl combine flour and sugar.  Using 2 knives or a pastry cutter, cut butter cubes into the flour and sugar until the butter is pea sized and uniform.  

Pour filling mixture into prepared pie shell and then carefully spoon topping over the fruit evenly.  Place pie onto a foil lined cookie sheet and bake for 50-60 minutes or until pie is golden brown and filling is bubbly.  If the pie crust edge looks like it is getting too dark, cover the edge with a piece of tin foil.

Cool pie for at least 2 hours before slicing and serving.  A scoop of vanilla ice cream always goes well with this pie. 

Happy Apple Pear Pie with Crumble Topping Baking!

Welcome to Pi(e) Day hosted by Terri from Love and Confections! Pi Day is celebrated every March 14 by math fans around the world - and also bakers and pastry chefs. Pi is an non-repeating, infinite number represented by the Greek letter π, and used to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Today, March 14, 2015, is an extra special Pi Day, because at 9:26:53 AM it creates the "Pi Moment of the Century". The first ten digits of Pi are 3.141592653 (3/14/15, 9:26 AM and 53 seconds). This exact date and time happens once every hundred years - a once in a lifetime moment for most of us. How cool is that? Today, 20 Food Bloggers have gathered and want to celebrate the fun of Pi by creating their own sweet and savory pies to share with you. Hope you have a delicious day!


Enjoy a slice from the Pi(e) Day Bloggers:

• Apple Pear Pie with Crumble Topping from Baking and Creating with Avril
• Apple Rhubarb Strawberry Pie from Food Lust People Love
• Buffalo Chicken Shepherd's Pie from Healthy. Delicious.
• Chocolate Mousse Pie from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Chocolate Silk Pie from Famished Fish, Finicky Shark
• Coconut-Pistachio Pie from The Spiffy Cookie
• Curried Lamb Potpie from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Fresh Strawberry Pie from Taste Cook Sip
• Hillbilly Apple Pie from My Catholic Kitchen
• Kentucky Derby Pie from Kelli's Kitchen
• Mixed Berry Slab Pie from Making Miracles
• Peach-Blueberry Pie from The Redhead Baker
• Salted Honey Pie from girlichef
• Sicilian Ricotta Pie from Cake Duchess
• S'Mores Brownie Pie from Cheese Curd in Paradise
• Strawberry Daiquiri Pie from Love and Confections
• Thin Mint Pie from Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Top Secret Derby Pie from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• Triple Berry Pot Pie from {i love} my disorganized life
• Vegetable Pot Pie from Sew You Think You Can Cook

The Cake Slice Baker's November Cake ~ Applesauce Spice Cake

 

 Hello and Happy November!!

 

I have recently joined a baking group called The Cake Slice Baker's and I couldn't be more excited!  Not only have I been able to meet a group of lovely bakers but they are also extremely talented and oh so, very friendly.  For the next year the Cake Slice Baker's will be baking from a cookbook called, Great Cakes by Carole Walter.   Each month we will choose a recipe from this book based on a poll and present it on-line on or after the 20th of each month.  This month everyone baked an Applesauce Spice Cake from Great Cakes.  I was delighted with this recipe as the cake was delicious!

 

 

 

I found this cake to be full of warm Fall flavors.  Lots of good spices, chopped fruit and nuts all surrounded by a tender and moist cake.  And then because I just love a good icing I whipped up the suggested topping of a Brown Sugar Glaze and drizzled it over the cake.  Perfection! 

 

 

 

I did change a couple of things slightly from the original recipe.  Unfortunately, I did not have any nuts in my pantry so instead I added raisins and dried cranberries which I plumped up in some boiling water for a couple of minutes. I also omitted the allspice that the recipe called for as I was in the  mood for just nutmeg and cinnamon. 

 

  The steps that were required to create this cake were put together with great thought and care. Such as sifting the dry ingredients a couple of times before adding them into the wet ingredients.  I also found it nice to add the granulated and brown sugar by the tablespoon mixing well in between each addition instead of all at once.

 

A perfect Fall cake to share a gatherings or to enjoy simply with a cup of delicious hot tea.

 

 

 

 

Applesauce Spice Cake

(recipe from Carole Walter's book, Great Cakes)

 

Cake Ingredients:

 

2 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground allspice

1 tsp ground nutmeg

3/4 cup pecans, lightly toasted and chopped

1/3 cup (2/3 stick) butter

1 tsp grated lemon rind

1/3 cup vegetable shortening

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

2 large eggs

1 medium-sized tart greening or Granny Smith apple, peeled and chopped medium small (about 2/3 cup)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup sweetened bottled applesauce

 

Brown Sugar Glaze Ingredients:

 

3 Tbsp butter

3 Tbsp light brown sugar

3 Tbsp heavy cream

3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

 

Directions:

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter and flour a fluted or bundt pan.

 

2. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and spices in a triple sifter a couple of times.  Stir in chopped nuts and set aside.

 

3. In a large bowl of  mixer cream together butter and lemon rind. Beat at medium-high speed for 1 minute and then add in shortening.  Mix for an additional minute.

 

4.  Add in granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time.  This will take 3-4 minutes to complete.  Next add in brown sugar the same way and scrape sides of the bowl occasionally.

 

5. With the mixer on medium-low speed add in eggs one at a time in 1 minute intervals.  Add in fresh chopped apple (and dried fruit if you wish) along with vanilla extract.

 

6. Keeping the mixer on low speed add in flour mixture alternately with applesauce - starting and ending with the flour mixture.  Only beat batter until flour is just incorporated after each addition.  Scrape sides of bowl occasionally.

 

7. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.  Bake in the center of the oven for 50-60 minutes or until cake is golden brown and toothpick inserted into the center comes out dry.

 

8.  Cool cake for 10-15 mintues before inverting onto a serving plate.  While cake cools prepare glaze. 

 

9.  In a medium size sauce pan melt together brown sugar and butter over low heat.  Stir in heavy cream.  Cook until mixture comes to a gentle boil and then allow to simmer for 1-2 minutes.  Remove from heat to add in sifted powdered sugar - whisking until smooth.  Add in vanilla extract.  If the glaze is too thick add in more heavy cream, 1 Tbsp at a time.  Pour glaze over warm cake. 

 

~Store cake at room temperature under a glass dome or in an airtight container for up to 2 days.  If you store in refrigerator cake will store up to 10 days.  Cake should be wrapped tightly and unglazed.

 

Enjoy!  And be sure to enjoy the links below for all the beautiful Applesauce Spice Cakes that my fellow Cake Slice Baker's made too!

 

 

 

Happy Applesauce Spice Cake Baking!

 

 

 

 



Apple Acorn Squash

 

Hooray for the magic of Fall as it has arrived here in New England!  I feel so fortunate to be able to experience such beauty!  The trees are all in full glory of reds, yellows, oranges and golds.  And at least once every day this past week I have seen and heard flocks of geese flying south for their winter homes.  All signs of the crisp and warm season of Fall that has gently settled into our lives for the next couple of months.

 

In my effort to embrace and welcome Autumn I choose a lovely recipe of Apple Acorn Squash to share you today.  I discovered this recipe from a beautiful lady named, Bean who writes, creates and photographs for her blog called, Without Adornment.  I was given the opportunity to explore Without Adornment this past month as it was my September assignment through the Secret Recipe Club.  For those of you that prefer to stay away from gluten by choice or even necessity Bean's blog is a must for you to check out. All of her recipes are gluten free unless otherwise noted.  And they look fabulous! Along with all of her beautiful recipes, Bean shares stories of her adventures in life with her hubby along with her talented creations of cakes.  Gorgeous, gorgeous cakes! Along with her adventures and recipes she also has a beautiful gallery of her photography. Such a talented lady I say!

 

 

I was delighted with how my Apple Acorn Squash came out.  Completely easy to put together.  Completely delicious! And oh yes, completely Fall.

I did add a little butter along with salt and pepper to this recipe.  They can easily be omitted if you wish to stay clear of extra fat or sodium.

 

 

 

 

 

Apple Acorn Squash

recipe slightly adapted from Without Adornment

 

1 Acorn squash

2-3 apples, peeled and sliced  

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1-2 Tbsp butter

salt and pepper

 

 

Preheat oven to 375.  Cut squash in half and then scoop out seeds. Season each half with salt and pepper if you wish along with a pat of butter.  Toss apple slices with brown sugar and cinnamon and then carefully spoon into each of the squash. Another pat of butter can go onto of the apple pile if you are so inclined.  Place squash halves in a baking dish with just enough water to cover the bottom of the dish.  Cover with tinfoil and bake for 45 minutes or until squash is done.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

Happy Fall!  And Happy, Happy Apple Acorn Squash baking!

Glazed Apple Bundt Cake (Week #8 of 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats)

 

 

My love for bundt cakes will never die.  I the idea of the simplicity yet beauty of such a cake makes me happy.  In one pan a delicious cake can be created, decorated and then served to friends and family and get the same "ooh" and "ahh" factor that a layered cake would get.  As you can see from the above photo my bundt pan has produced many a cake.  Cakes such as the,  Sweet and Tart Rhubarb Cake, the Peachy Bundt Cake, along with the fabulous Root Beer Float Cake, and moist Blueberry Lemon Cake and of course the Hummingbird Cake have all come from my precious stoneware bundt pan. If you have yet to treat yourself to such a baking pan put it on your holiday wish list! It is the perfect gift for a baker!

 

 

 

 

 Speaking of holidays I want to share with you today a perfect cake that can be presented at a festive party or given in a pretty basket as a gift as it is delicious beyond words and beautiful to the eye.  Sweet apples and sugary chopped nuts are surrounded by a dense cake which are then covered in a brown sugar glaze.  The perfection of a bundt cake!  Thus I present to you on this 8th week of the 12 Weeks of Holiday Treats created by the lovely Brenda of Magical Meal Planning, a Glazed Apple Bundt Cake.

 

 Glazed Apple Bundt Cake

        (recipe discovered on A Recipe a Day)

 

Cake Ingredients:

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 eggs

3 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups sour cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

 

Filling Ingredients:

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup chopped nuts - I used walnuts, pecans are good too!

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

3-4 apples, peeled, cored and sliced

 

Glaze Ingredients:

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

2 Tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla

 

 

Directions:

 

1. Grease bundt pan well and set aside. Mix together all filling ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside.

 

2. Beat together butter and sugar until light in color and consistency - about 4-5 minutes.  Add in eggs - one at a time.  Mixing between each until the yellow of the egg is completely incorporated to the batter.

 

3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.  Add to butter mixture alternating with the sour cream, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.   Beat on low speed after each addition until mixture is just blended.  Stir in vanilla extract.

 

4. In prepared bundt pan pour in half of the cake batter.  Layer with sliced apples and then all of the filling ingredients. Pour remaining batter over apples and nuts.  Bake in a preheated oven of 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  My cake took 1 hour and 10 minutes.  I covered the cake with tin foil for the last 10 minutes so that the top of the cake did not burn.

 

5. Cool cake on a rack for 15 minutes before removing from pan.  Once cake is completely cooled make the glaze.  Melt 2 Tbsp butter just until it starts to brown.  Remove from heat and then add in brown sugar, milk and vanilla extract.  Stir all together until smooth.  Drizzle glaze over your beautiful cake and serve (or give away).

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Happy Glazed Apple Bundt Cake Baking!

 





Caramel Swirled Apple-Pear Bread (Week #3 of 12 Weeks of Holiday Treats)

 

 

Confession.  I baked this bread twice in a 12 hour period of time.  Not once but twice I say. Yes, this quick bread which is packed with chunks of apples and pears, oozing with cinnamon happiness and swirled with a rich loveliness of caramel sauce is NO joke.  I promise you that once you make it once you will then make it twice within a day.  Bake one loaf for yourself and one to give away.  EASY!   Even better, bake a couple as holiday gifts!! This bread would absolutely perfect wrapped up in a pretty package and handed off to friends and family for the holidays.   They will all love and thank you for it over and over again -  I can promise you that.  So put your apron on and get out your apples and pears!  It's time to make a lovely quick bread.

 

 

 

Thus I present to you my #3 entry for the 12 Weeks of Holiday Treats. I can't thank Brenda from Meal Planning Magic for all the hard work and dedication she has put towards making this 12 week party happen.  Hugs of gratitude to sent to you dearest Brenda!
 

 

 

 Feel free to make this bread with just apples as the original recipe only used apples.  Also feel free to use store bought caramel sauce (simplicity is crucial during the holidays!) or you can use the recipe I posted last week for Homemade Caramel Sauce - it's super yummy and very easy to make. The original recipe also called for pouring caramel sauce over the top of the bread when baked and cooled.  Such a good idea!  I did not do so for either of my breads but I promised myself that the next time I make this recipe I will. 

 

 

Caramel Swirled Apple-Pear Bread

(recipe altered slightly from one of my all time favorite blogs - Bakingdom)

 

Ingredients:

 

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 medium apples - peeled, cored and cut into small chunks (shredded is fine too)

1 medium pear - peeled, cored and cut into small chunks (shredded if you prefer)

1/4 - 1/2 cup caramel sauce - homemade or store bought

 

Directions:

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 9x5 loaf pan and set aside.

 

2. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves. Set dry mixture aside.

 

3. Beat butter and sugars together until light and fluffy.  Add in eggs one at a time - mix well inbetween each one.  Add in 1/3 of flour mixture, mix to combine and continue with remaining 2/3's flour mixture.  Do not over beat as that will create a "tough" bread.

 

4.  Gently stir in prepared fruit.

 

5.  Pour 1/2 of bread batter into prepared pan and then pour caramel sauce over batter. Finish by topping with remaining bread batter.



 

6. Bake for 50-60 minutes.  Rotating pan half way through.  A toothpick inserted in center should come out with only a few crumbs stuck to it when bread is done. Cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing and enjoying.  Don't forget, you can always drizzle some caramel sauce over the top of your bread before slicing...it sure looks good that way!

 

 

 



 Happy Caramel Swirl Apple-Pear Bread Baking!



Apple Pie Cheesecake (12 Weeks of Holiday Treats)

12 weeks until Christmas friends.  Yup, I am NOT kidding.  But not to worry because I have your back.  Help is right here for all your baking, treat making, homemade gift ideas needs.  For the next 3 months, one a week you will be handed a variety of amazing and totally delicious recipes and ideas to help you figure out the best of the best for holiday treats.  Yours truly along with a spectacular group of many talented food bloggers will provide you with a plethora of such resources once a week for the next 12 weeks.  So sit back, relax and be ready to drool. :-)

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking of drooling happiness how about a fabulous cheesecake recipe?  You know the kind with apples, cinnamon and sugary goodness all on top? Ahhh yes, an Apple Pie Cheesecake.  Heaven in a springform pan.  HEAVEN.

 

 

 

What could be better than a cookie crust that surrounds a silky cheesecake filling and then topped off with slices of cinnamon sugary dusted apples?  The perfect dessert for a special holiday party or even given as a gift to a special friend.  This cheesecake could easily be made for Thanksgiving, Christmas or even New Year's.  A delicious dessert that is easy to make and makes everyone fall over backwards for seconds.

 

 

 

The crust is easily adaptable to your preference.  If you don't wish to use the crust recipe I have to share you can make a graham cracker or even a ginger cookie crust.  Apples go well with a variety of flavors.  I jazzed up the apple layer of the cheesecake by drizzling  it with a lovely homemade caramel sauce.

 

 

 

 

 

Apple Pie Cheesecake

(recipe discovered from Dinner with Julie)

 

Crust Ingredients:

1 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg yolk (reserve egg white for later)

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature

 

Filling ingredients:

2 8oz. packages of cream cheese, at room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

 

Apple topping ingredients:

2 large apples (I used Cortland) - peeled, cored and thinly sliced

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

 

Directions:

1. Butter or grease 9" springform pan and set aside.

 

2. Prepare crust by combining all crust ingredients in a medium bowl.  Mix well all together with a fork or pastry cutter.  Ingredients will be appear as big soft crumbs.  Press mixture into prepared springform pan on bottom and up sides.

 

3. Prepare filling by beating cream cheese and sugar together until smooth and lump-free.  Add in eggs, one at a time and then reserved egg white and vanilla extract. Pour filling into prepared crust.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

   

4. Prepare apple topping by combining sliced apples, sugar and cinnamon - toss gently so that sugar and cinnamon coat apples.  Arrange sugary-cinnamon apple slices over cheesecake filling to cover completely.

 

5. Bake cheesecake for 12 minutes at 400 degrees F. and then reduce to 375 to continue baking for another 30-35 minutes.  Cheesecake will be puffed and lightly browned but slightly jiggly in center when done.  Turn off oven and open door slightly to allow cheesecake to cool for a good 45-60 minutes.   Then take out of oven and cool further to room temperature.  Refrigerate over night before serving. 

 

 

 

Serve with a lovely drizzling of your favorite caramel sauce or freshly whipped cream.  A delight of a dessert!  Enjoy!

 

 

 

Happy Apple Pie Cheesecake Baking!