Mini Caramel Apple Cheesecakes
Cuisine: American
Recipe Source: Foodtastic Mom
Mini Caramel Apple Cheesecakes are a delicious and festive dessert that is perfect for fall. They are made with a graham cracker crust, a layer of caramel sauce, and a rich and creamy cheesecake filling. The cheesecakes are then topped with diced apples that have been cooked in cinnamon and nutmeg.
Difficulty: EASY
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Serving Size: 12 servings
For The Crust:
Ingredients:
- 12 Pecan Sandies or 12 graham crackers
- 4 T. butter
- 1/4 t. salt
For The Filling
Ingredients:
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 c. sugar
- 1 t. vanilla
- 1 egg
- 2 granny smith apples, cored, peeled and diced
- 1 T. butter
- 1/2 t. cinnamon
- 1/4 t. nutmeg
For The Topping
Ingredients:
- 1/2 c. light brown sugar
- 1/3 c. quick-cooking oats
- 3 T. butter, softened
- pinch salt
- Salted Caramel Sauce
- Apple Chips (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in small skillet over medium heat. Add diced apples, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, for 6-8 minutes, or until apples are beginning to soften and brown slightly. Remove from heat to cool.
- Place 12 cupcake liners into cupcake pan.
- Crush Pecan Sandies (in a Ziploc bag with rolling pin, or using a food processor) and melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a microwave-safe dish.
- Mix the crushed cookies, melted butter and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a small bowl.
- Place a heaping tablespoon in the bottom of each cupcake liner. Tamp down with the back of the tablespoon.
- Place softened cream cheese and sugar in a bowl. Beat on medium speed for about one minute.
- Add vanilla and egg, and beat on low until smooth. Fold in the cooked apples with a spatula.
- Scoop about 1/4 cup of filling into each cupcake liner.
- In another bowl, place softened 3 tablespoons of butter, brown sugar and oats.
- Using a fork or pastry blender, mix well until butter is well incorporated, forming the streusel topping. Place about 1 tablespoon on top of the cheesecake mixture in each cup.
- Bake on middle rack of oven for 20-23 minutes, until streusel topping is beginning to brown. Remove from oven and cool on counter for about 30 minutes.
- Remove the cheesecakes from the pan and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.
- To serve, drizzle each cheesecake with a generous amount of the salted caramel sauce and top with an apple chip, if desired.