Luxurious Caramel Apple Cheesecake

Directions:

1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan:
   • Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).
   • Grease the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
2. Prepare the Crust:
   • In a medium bowl, mix together the crushed graham crackers, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and melted butter until well combined.
   • Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan to form an even crust.
3. Make the Cheesecake Filling:
   • In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with 1 cup granulated sugar until smooth.
   • Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
   • Stir in the sour cream and vanilla extract until fully combined.
4. Assemble the Cheesecake:
   • Pour half of the cheesecake batter over the crust in the pan.
   • Spread the apple pie filling evenly over the batter.
   • Drizzle half of the caramel sauce over the apple pie filling.
   • Pour the remaining cheesecake batter over the apple and caramel layers, smoothing the top.
5. Bake:
   • Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the edges are set and slightly browned, and the center is just set (a slight jiggle in the center is fine).
   • Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake cool with the oven door slightly ajar for about 1 hour.
6. Chill:
   • Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to fully set.
7. Garnish and Serve:
   • Before serving, garnish with additional caramel sauce, crumbled graham crackers, and chopped apple.

Note: The cheesecake yields 12 slices, each with approximately 480 calories. The total preparation time is about 20 minutes, with a baking time of 60 minutes, and the overall process (excluding cooling and chilling) takes about 5 hours.

Enjoy this rich and luxurious cheesecake that perfectly combines creamy, sweet, and tart flavors!