Description
This Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dream Pie is a deliciously rich and creamy dessert featuring a classic graham cracker crust, smooth cheesecake filling, tender cinnamon-spiced apple topping, buttery crumble, and a luscious caramel drizzle. Perfect for impressing guests at any gathering, it combines warm autumn flavors with a velvety texture for a truly memorable treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- ½ tsp cinnamon
Cheesecake Filling
- 16 oz (450 g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup sour cream
Apple Topping
- 2 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), peeled & diced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Crumble Topping
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp rolled oats
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- Pinch of cinnamon
Caramel Drizzle
- ½ cup soft caramels or caramel sauce
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat Oven. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) to prepare for baking the crust and cheesecake layers.
- Prepare Crust. In a mixing bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, melted butter, and cinnamon until the mixture is evenly moistened.
- Bake Crust. Press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 8–10 minutes until set, then remove and allow to cool completely.
- Make Cheesecake Filling. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with granulated sugar until smooth and creamy, ensuring no lumps remain.
- Add Eggs and Flavoring. Add eggs one at a time to the cream cheese mixture, beating well after each addition. Then mix in vanilla extract and sour cream until fully combined.
- Bake Cheesecake. Pour the cheesecake filling over the cooled crust and bake in the preheated oven for 30–35 minutes, until the cheesecake is just set but not browned.
- Cool and Chill. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and let it cool completely at room temperature. Then refrigerate for at least 2 hours to firm up.
- Cook Apple Topping. In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice, stirring to coat the apples evenly.
- Sauté Apples. Cook the apple mixture for 5–7 minutes until the apples are tender and coated in a syrupy glaze. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Prepare Crumble Topping. In a bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, rolled oats, melted butter, and a pinch of cinnamon. Stir until coarse crumbs form.
- Toast Crumble. Toast the crumble topping either in a skillet over medium heat for 3–4 minutes until golden or bake it in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 8 minutes.
- Assemble Pie. Once the cheesecake is chilled, spread the apple topping evenly over the surface.
- Add Crumble. Sprinkle the toasted crumble topping over the layer of apples to add texture and flavor.
- Make Caramel Drizzle. Warm soft caramels or caramel sauce together with heavy cream until smooth and pourable, either in a microwave or on the stovetop.
- Drizzle Caramel. Generously drizzle the warm caramel over the apple and crumble layers on the cheesecake.
- Final Chill. Refrigerate the completed pie for 1 hour to allow all the layers to set for clean and easy slicing before serving.
Notes
- Use firm apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for best texture and tartness.
- Allow the cheesecake to cool fully before adding toppings to prevent sogginess.
- The crumble topping can be toasted in a skillet or baked depending on your preference and equipment.
- For easier slicing, chill the pie overnight instead of just one hour.
- You can substitute caramel sauce for soft caramels to save time.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: apple cheesecake pie, caramel apple dessert, graham cracker crust cheesecake, fall dessert, caramel cheesecake, apple crumble cheesecake
