Monday 15 September 2014

Apple Cinnamon Cheesecake with Salted Caramel Sauce


It's Apples galore on Little Thumbs Up this month. What do apples remind you of besides keeping the good doctor away? 

Let's see - computers, Snow White, Apple Pie and that special person who is the apple of your eye. For me the latest addition to that would be this Apple Cinnamon Cheesecake.



Thanks to Kit's chosen ingredient, this marks my first time baking with apples. My first encounter with apples in bakes is Apple Pie. Apple Pie ala Mode to be exact (Yum!!). Then Apple Strudel, flown all the way from Australia courtesy of my brother. I love both these applelicious pastries but somehow I never thought of baking with apples.


There is always a first time and I jumped at the chance when I spotted this recipe in Allan Bakes Really Good Cheesecakes. This apple cheesecake is baked in disposable aluminium cake liners. The apple mixture is quite easy to make. Just mix the chopped apples with a host of other ingredients and zap it in the microwave.


The cheesecake base is made with Gingersnap cookies and not Digestive Biscuits. Quite honestly, I don't like ginger biscuits. But I decided to follow the recipe and I settled for Arnott's Ginger Nut because I couldn't find anything that said Gingersnap. Are they the same?


When I was crushing the biscuits, I realized that they were not called Ginger Nut for nothing. They are as hard as nuts! There was a lot of boom! boom! boom! coming from my kitchen counter and my arm was very tired. 

The recipe calls for 250g biscuits to 200g butter. Too much butter I thought but seeing that the Ginger Nut biscuits were so hard and dry, maybe it did not seem unreasonable at all. But I regretted. See that? Way too much butter! 


But it was a blessing in disguise and I will tell you why in a moment.

I used the regular cupcake sized disposable aluminium liners and after filling up 12 of those, I was still left with some cheesecake filling. Since I have slightly bigger sized disposable liners, I decided to use two of those. I crushed up 4 digestive biscuits and mixed them into the excess butter. I filled up 2 extra aluminium liners and waited for the first batch of cheesecakes to be baked first.

Notice the two liners at the back are slightly bigger?

For the Caramel Sauce, I did not follow Allan's recipe. Instead, I used the Salted Caramel Sauce that I spotted on Faeez's Blog. I have heard so much about Salted Caramel Sauce and I decided that it was about time that I made some myself. And whoa, no wonder there is so much fuss over it. 


Salty, sweet and buttery, this sauce made the cheesecake taste even better. I mean the cheesecake was already very good. Full of apple and cinnamon aroma, just like eating apple pie. But drizzle some salted caramel sauce onto it, gosh.... I just can't describe it! 


This latest bake has made me very happy. I am not much of a fruit person and baking with fruits (except bananas) did not appeal to me very much until now. Welcome on board, apples! PH loves you! 


I have followed the recipe for the cheesecake almost to a tee except for the caramel sauce. Allan's instructions are quite long and detailed (he is after all an expert!) and I have simplified them in the recipe reproduced below. As for the Salted Caramel Sauce, please hop over to Faeez's or to Sally's Baking Addiction for a step-by-step tutorial.


Should you decide to bake this apple cheesecake, please do not skip the salted caramel sauce. You would be missing out on a lot if you did!












Apple Cinnamon Cheesecake with Salted Caramel Sauce
Recipe source : Adapted from Allan Bakes Really Good Cheesecakes (page 60)
Makes 12 regular cupcake-sized cheesecakes with extra filling to spare (possibly 15-16 cupcake-sized cheesecakes)
Note :
- I used disposable aluminium cupcake liners.
- Once the caked is baked and chilled, I removed them from the liners and transferred them into regular cupcake liners for easy handling.

Ingredients :

For the cheesecake base :
- 250g Gingersnap cookies, finely crushed (I used Arnott's Ginger Nut)
- 200g unsalted butter, melted (I find this amount excessive. Recommend 75-100g only)

Method :
1. Combine crushed cookies with melted butter. Mix well.
2. Divide mixture equally among disposable cupcake liners and press firmly onto the base.
3. Bake for 15 minutes at 160C.
4. Set-aside to cool.

For the Apple Mixture :
- 3 medium apples, pared, cored and chopped. (I used Granny Smith)
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp grated lemon zest
- 3 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- a pinch of ground cloves (I omitted)
- a pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp cornflour

Method :
1. Combine all the ingredients in a microwave-safe container.
2. Microwave for 6-8 minutes or until apples are soft.
3. Mix well and leave to cool.
4. Place into food processor and pulse gently, do not puree (I did not do this)
5. Set aside.

Cheesecake filling :
- 500g cream cheese, at room temperature.
- 180g castor sugar
- 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- a pinch of salt
- 2 tbsp cornflour
- 2 medium eggs
- 2 medium egg yolks
- 60ml Double Cream

Method :
1. Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
2. Add vanilla extract, lemon juice, cinnamon, salt and cornflour and mix well.
3. Add eggs and egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. Add cream and mix well.
5. Add apple mixture and incorporate.
6. Pour filling equally into prepared liners and place cake liners into a roasting pan. Fill roasting pan with hot water until it reaches halfway up the side of the cake liners. (I used the steam-bake method by placing a container of hot water below the baking rack).
7. Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes. (Mine were done at 40 minutes)
8. Turn oven off and leave cakes to cool completely in the oven with oven door ajar. (I only left them in there for 20 minutes).
9. When cool, remove cakes from oven, cool further and refrigerate overnight.
10. To unmould cakes, use scissors to cut open the cake liners.
11. Insert a palette knife under the base of the cakes and lift onto serving plate. (I am very clumsy, so I put on a plastic glove and used my hand to lift the cakes onto plate)
12. To serve, drizzle with caramel sauce.

Salted Caramel Sauce : Please go to BitterSweetSpicy or Sally's Baking Addiction



Photobucket

This post is linked to the event, Little Thumbs Up organised by Zoe of Bake for Happy Kids and Doreen of My Little Favourite DIY and hosted by Kit of I-Lost in Austen.



This post is also linked to Cook-Your-Books #16 hosted by Joyce of Kitchen Flavours.

68 comments:

  1. I am already tempted by your delightful apple cheesecakes. Irriesistible!

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  2. Applelicious Phong Hong ! ... oh not you lah, I mean your lovely applelicios Apple Cinnamon Cheesecake with Salted Caramel Sauce ^-^! And the lovely pictures too. I still have some fear in making baked cheesecake ... attempted once and failed :( But using disposable tart cases is great idea and can adjust the quantity say for 4 cheesecakes. Bookmarked first !

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    1. Hi Karen! Try again. I find that cheesecakes are the easiest to bake. I thought I was applelicious after eating so much apples :D

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  3. Phong Hong OMG!! I LIKE THIS!!! loos so good!! Apple Cinnamon Cheesecake with Salted Caramel Sauce!! I just read the title and already imagining how nice this could be.. Apple and cinnamon are always best buddies, and cheesecake of this flavor is so not common.. or maybe I'm just jakun, even if apple cinnamon cheesecake is common, then the salted caramel topping will be something that makes it special..

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    1. Hi SK! Yes, not common. I have not seen it at any bakery. Some people may not like cinnamon but I love it. Another cinnamon best buddy is bananas. Ah, must try banana cheesecake :)

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  4. and you used gingersnap instead of the usual digestive biscuits, I give you 30 points extra.. I guess the slight ginger taste will give it a nice kick.. I would say the whole cake is full of flavor in different "layers", you feel one at a time (the principle if the taste zones on my tongue) and before you swallow in, you have chewed everything and have a good blend of all taste.. ah, can you imagine what I'm saying?? hahahaha.. :D

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    1. like one complicated taste but you can slowly dissect each and every one and savor them, and lastly bring them all together for a harnony blend of taste..

      p/s: suddenly find this comment quite professional as a good critic huh?? hehe~~

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    2. SK comments make me drool even more. LOL

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    3. SK : Wah, so descriptive! Ya lah, can pass off as a professional food critic :)

      Lina : SK made my cheesecake sound even more delicious.

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  5. luckily it's salted caramel.. bcos I was reading your comments in my blog, I read a lot of chili sauce and suddenly this flashed in my mind, haha!! but cannot slash out the possibility that this can go well with chili also huh?? kikikiki~~ :p

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    1. hah..ha...I cannot live without chili sauce!

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  6. Phong Hong, I've also bookmarked a similar cheesecake recipe, with apples, cinnamon & caramel sauce for the LTU event. Looking at yours, I think I need to make mine soon!

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    1. Hi Faaez! I am looking forwards to your apple cheesecake!

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  7. Hi Phong Hong,

    I'm happy to hear that baking with apples has made you very happy :D

    I can't imagine that you will say that these irresistible-looking apple cheesecake is not enough for you... I will smack myself if you say that :p

    Zoe

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    1. Hi Zoe! hah..hah... please don't smack yourself :D

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  8. WOW!! So Butter-rich and so creamy and yummylicious and tempting and... and... wish I could try one now!! :)

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    1. Hi Claire! You have described the cheesecake quite well hah..hah...

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  9. Oooo...you made little cupcakes ones. So elegant, so pretty. I guess that's what they call a woman's touch...nothing like my curry puffs. You saw them on Facebook. Muahahahahaha!!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Your curry puffs looked pretty good to me! I don't even know how to make curry puffs :(

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  10. wow.... look at the cinnamon top.... looks so delicious!

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  11. Waaaaaaa! Waaaah! That's my favourite! Apple Cinnamon Cheesecake is not sold anywhere here but I can imagine the taste cos I am a cheescake's mouse. I really wish I am your neighbour and could be friends over the kitchen windows.
    I have a friend in Perth who always brought Apple Strudels for me too. I don't see any Apple Strudels here that can match the OZ ones.

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    1. Hi TM! I remember how awesome the apple strudels from Australia were. That's why my brother took the trouble to bring a few boxes home. I really miss apple strudels but don't ask me to make them hah..hah..

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  12. oh wow salted caramel on top of cheesecake... must be sooo decadent! I can never say no to anything with salted caramel.

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  13. Wow, this is nice. Another tempting cheesecake from you. No time to make, please give me some.

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    1. Hi Kimmy! Sure, I will give you some. Must not eat all by myself hee..hee...

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  14. It actually did makes me drool just by looking at these pictures. I guess the caramel makes this cheesecake morw yummier, right?

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    1. Mel, the caramel sauce made me want to keep on eating the cheesecake!

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  15. Hi Phong Hong, wah so fast got 18 comments already! Was bz this morning, hopefully I'm not that late, haha.. Call me jakun, today is the first time I hear apple cinnamon cheesecake.. I've heard of lemom cheesecake, strawberry cheesecake, Oreo cheesecake, peanut butter marshmallow cheesecake.. That caramel sauce already making me drool.. I think I can just scoop the sauce and drink up.. No need to drizzle on top of the cake, haha..

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    1. Hi Louiz! I love that salted caramel sauce. In fact I thought of you when I used a spoon to eat some of the sauce hah..hah...

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  16. Hi Phong Hong. this is very tempting leh.... how to go on diet? The caramel sauce itself is so irresistible! Ho jiak!!! Regards :)

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    1. Hi Ivy! Cannot diet as a food blogger ha..ha...

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  17. Good evening Phong Hong,

    Wow, wow, wow, apples and cheese - must taste superb together, not to mention the to-die-for salted caramel sauce. I will become one fat woman if I live with you (that is if you like me eat those lovely cakes and desserts you baked).

    May I know what brand of cream cheese and double cream that you use? Thanks!

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    1. Hi Mun, we can get fat together hah..hah... I used Tatura Cream Cheese though I prefer Philadelphia Cream Cheese (more expensive). For the double cream, I used Emborg.

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    2. Thanks for the brands answer. Then we exercise together everyday. :D

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  18. And Happy Malaysia Day to you!

    Happy Baking,
    mun

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    1. Happy Malaysia Day to you too, Mun! No baking today :)

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  19. Your first times always have end products that look like a pro. You are superb leh!

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    Replies
    1. Not always lah. This one I was lucky hah..hah..

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  20. Can I lick the caramel sauce Phong Hong? Can I? Can I???

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    1. Diana, I'll give you a spoon and the whole bottle. LOL!

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  21. Mmm... I love to see this yummilicious treat first thing in the morning. Simply love the caramel salted sauce dripping from cheesecake. I can lick the whole plate! :DD

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    1. Hi Ann! Oh yes, that salted caramel sauce really gets the appetite going. Dangerous hah..hah...

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  22. Hi Phong Hong,
    Wow, that is one gorgeous cheesecake! And with the caramel salted sauce really takes it over the top! I have a cookbook of Allan, but have never attempted his recipes before. I bought it because it was cheap from BBW sale! I should really try out at least one of his recipes!

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    1. Thanks, Joyce! Most of the time I like to flip Allan's book and admire the pictures hah..hah... His recipes are quite elaborate and I get tired just from reading the instructions :) If not for the LTU Apple theme, I might not have attempted this recipe!

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  23. Hello my friend....

    Boleh tak, kalau... whenever i visit your page, I tak payah baca apa you tulis?! Sebab kalau I baca apa yang you tulis.... it's like putting a bullet through my head la! Killing me! Huwaaaaa.. everything sounded so good, so nice, so yummy.... macam mana I nak rest in peace! Huwaaaa....

    But your cheesecake does look good!

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    1. ish...ish...ish...you niiii...... Takper, MamaFaMi, you just tengok gambo cukup ler....

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  24. I can sure 'taste' the sweetness of the sauce just by looking at the texture of the sauce!

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  25. this looks so delicious, especially with the caramel topping, yum yum!

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    1. Hi Jess! The caramel sauce, can make me faint hah..hah...

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  26. WOW! O,kay now I'm drooling over this decadent cheesecake ! Cheesecake & salted caramel , simply perfect ! And the pictures are lovely & appetizing ! I'm glad that you like apples in bakes & it made you happy . And that makes my day too . I've never made an apple cheesecake before but I'm sure that I'm trying this recipe for sure . Thank you so much for sharing this recipe with LTU . Have a nice day ;)

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    1. Hi Kit! I am really glad for the theme you chose because it opened up a whole new world of apples to me hah..hah... Even after this event, I will still continue to experiment with apples :)

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  27. Look at all that sauce, I really feel like licking it up!

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  28. Hi Phong Hong, wow... this cake look like to die for ley.... I love the caramel sauce, it look so good. ))
    Thanks for sharing the wonderful recipe.

    Have a nice week ahead,regards.

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    1. Hi Amelia! I'm really glad I made the caramel sauce. It was so good!

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  29. Now that I 'back tracked'...glad that I did...I wouldn't have wanted to miss these amazing little cheesecakes for the world. I can just smell the wonderful aroma of the apples, and the oozing caramel sauce...wish you lived nearer; I would want to sample each and every dessert and dishes you make, Phong Hong...yumm

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    1. Hi Elisabeth! That would be great, huh? You and me exchanging food everyday hah..hah...

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  30. good morning phong hong! the caramel sauce is the killer! salty and sweet and creamcheese..wow! this dessert will sure cheer up everyone, even the moody ones! haha...i also happened to stumble upon allan's cheesecake books the other day and saw one gula melaka cheesecake, sounds too yummy!

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    1. Morning, Lena! Yes, this caramel sauce really perks things up. Makes you want to keep on eating :D

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