Recipe: Caramel Apple Cheesecake {A Beautiful Mess}

My Google Reader overfloweth.

(*for those that don’t know, Google Reader is a place where you can read all your favorite blogs in one spot*)

I’ve heard stories of some people needing a clean slate, and they reset their Google Reader back to zero, wiping away all those unread blog posts from their favorite bloggers, so they can begin anew.

And I just can’t.

I mean, what if my newest favorite recipe is lurking around that unread corner?

Or the next end-all-and-be-all craft?

Or a great new photo idea?

So I plug away at it, bit by bit, and catch up on my favorite blogs as I can.

And resign myself to the fact that my Google Reader will always contain “1,000+ unread blog posts.”

To compensate, I do go through periods where I delete a ton of blogs.

Because I just have to. And keep only the best of the best.

When it comes to visual prettiness, A Beautiful Mess is one such blog. Powered by two sisters, Elsie and Emma, I’ve been reading their blog for quite awhile now. And although I have never made a recipe they’ve shared. Or a craft or home decor project. I keep reading.

Because they are inspiring. And their photography? Gorgeous.

I finally broke that no-recipe-made spell this past weekend. When I spied their take on Paula Deen’s Caramel Apple Cheesecake, I knew it would be the perfect thing for our second annual Apres Thanksgiving Bloggers Feast.

Because it screamed Fall (and I’m in denial about Winter. Is it even officially Winter yet?).

And it was super easy.

And it was decadent.

You know, all things you generally want from a dessert, right?

Truth be told, I’m not even that much of a cheesecake fan. I can take it or leave it, and generally leave it. But the crust and the topping on this one did me in.

At which point, after serving it at our dinner, I promptly brought it into the office the next day.

Because I didn’t want to be picking at it at home. Eating it because it was there.

Because it kind of really is that tempting.

It is the perfect dessert when you’re entertaining guests.

Or yourself.

Happy weekend!

*Will be back tomorrow with a special Saturday night post, and a craft to share (although not yesterday’s bumped craft). So.very.behind.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake
Original Recipe by Paula Deen, adapted by Emma at A Beautiful Mess

1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup (1 and 1/2 sticks) butter
2 8oz packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 sour apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

For the crust combine 1 cup flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter in a food processor and pulse until crumbly. Press into the bottom of butter spring form pan. Bake at 350°F for 5-6 minutes until browned.

For the cheese cake combine the cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, eggs and vanilla extract and stir until well combined. I did this in my mixer. Easy as pie (hey!). Pour into your prepared pan. Combine chopped apples with a few sprinkles of sugar, the cinnamon and the nutmeg, and then layer those over the cheesecake.

For the topping combine 1/2 cup flour,1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup butter. Mix together by hand until crumbly, layer on top. Bake the cheesecake for another 30-35 minutes. Allow to cool before serving (you can make this the day before Turkey Day!). Drizzle on a little caramel sauce just before serving if you are feeling fancy.

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