(Image source from: Caramel Apple Cheesecake Recipe)

Someone with a sweet tooth once rightly said, "When life gives your apples, make cheesecake." We agree! Be it holiday gatherings or Sunday dinners, nothing delights more at the end of a good meal than an indulgent, silky cheesecake. And the good part: it comes in different sizes, shapes and flavors. So depending on whether you have lemons, mangoes or apples at hand, we suggest you try whipping up a delectable cheesecake at home this holiday season and floor your guests completely. Here, take a look at the caramel apple cheesecake recipe by Bobby Flay.

Ingredients

8 whole graham crackers

1 cup lightly toasted walnuts, divided

2 tablespoons light brown sugar

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided

1 tablespoon orange zest

3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature (recommended: Philadelphia)

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed light muscovado sugar

4 large eggs, at room temperature

1 large vanilla bean, seeds scraped

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup heavy cream

Apple Mixture Ingredients

2 cups apple juice

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 vanilla bean, reserved from the cheesecake mixture

1 tablespoon cold butter

3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced

3 Fuji apples, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced

1/4 cup apple brandy (recommended: Calvados)

Apple Caramel Sauce Ingredients

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/4 cup water

3/4 cup heavy cream

Pinch salt

3 tablespoons apple brandy (recommended: Calvados)

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Take graham crackers, 1/2 cup of the walnuts and brown sugar in a food processor and whizz till finely ground. In between, add the butter and whizz until the mixture just comes together. Spray the bottom and side of the pan with cooking spray. Pat the mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan, place on a baking sheet and bake in the oven until lightly golden brown and just set, about 8 minutes. Remove to a baking rack and let cool completely.
Combine 1/4 cup of the sugar and the orange zest in a food processor and process until combined.

Place the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand fixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the orange sugar, remaining granulated sugar, and light muscovado sugar and beat again until the sugar is incorporated and the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time and mix until just incorporated, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl. Add the vanilla seeds and vanilla extract and beat until combined. Add the salt and heavy cream and mix until just combined.

Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan. Set the cheesecake pan on a large piece of heavy duty aluminum foil and fold up the sides around it. Place the cake pan in a large roasting pan. Pour hot tap water into the roasting pan until the water is about halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan; the foil will keep the water from seeping into the cheesecake. Bake until the sides of the cake are slightly puffed and set and the center still jiggles, about 55 minutes.

Turn the heat off and prop the door open with a wooden spoon and allow the cake to cook in the water bath for 1 hour. Remove the cake to a baking rack and allow to cool to room temperature for 2 hours. Cover the cake and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours until chilled through.

Top with the warm apple topping, drizzle liberally with the caramel sauce and sprinkle with the remaining toasted walnuts. Serve additional sauce on the side.

Bring apple juice, sugar and vanilla bean to a boil in a large saute pan over high heat and cook until slightly thickened and reduced to 1/2 cup. Stir in the butter until melted. Add the apples and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly caramelized and soft. Add the apple brandy and cook until reduced by 1/2. Transfer the apples to a plate and let cool slightly.

Place sugar and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat (do not stir), swirling the pot occasionally to even out the color, until amber in color, 10 to 12 minutes.
While the caramel is cooking. Place the heavy cream in a small pan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Remove from heat and keep warm.

When the caramel has reached the desired color, slowly whisk in the heavy cream and salt and whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the apple brandy and vanilla extract. Keep warm.

Originally from FoodNetwork.com (Bobby Flay)

AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury