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spring hill ranch caramel-apple blondie cheesecake

WileyP avatar
Recipe by
Wiley P
@WileyP
Sierra Vista, AZ

We make lots of cheesecakes here at the ranch. Especially during the Fall and holidays, this is one of our very favorites. It is also the only one we don't bake, other than the "crust." Don't be put off by the humongous list of ingredients or the seemingly endless steps required to make it - It is soooo worth the time and effort!

yield 12 -16
prep time 1 Hr
cook time 35 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For spring hill ranch caramel-apple blondie cheesecake

  • FOR THE BLONDIE BASE:
  • 3/4 c
    (1 1/2 sticks) salted butter
  • 1-1/2 c
    (10 1/2 ounces) light brown sugar (9 ounces at 8,000 feet)
  • 1 Tbsp
    vanilla extract
  • 1 lg
    egg at room temperature
  • 1
    white from a large egg
  • 1-1/2 c
    (7 1/4 ounces) all purpose flour (8 ounces at 8,000 feet)
  • 1/2 tsp
    ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 tsp
    apple pie spice
  • 3/4 tsp
    baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp
    baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp
    table salt
  • 1/2 md
    apple, finely chopped
  • FOR THE CARAMEL SAUCE:
  • 8 Tbsp
    (1 stick) salted butter
  • 1 c
    light (golden) brown sugar
  • 1/3 c
    heavy (whipping) cream
  • FOR THE CHEESECAKE:
  • 2 pkg
    (8-ounces each) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 c
    (3 1/2 ounces) granulated white sugar (3 ounces at 8,000 feet)
  • 1/2 c
    (3 3/4 ounces) light brown sugar (3 ounces at 8,000 feet)
  • 3/4 c
    homemade caramel sauce (see directions)
  • 1/2 tsp
    apple pie spice
  • 2 c
    stabilized whipped cream (or fake whipped cream if you must)
  • FOR THE CINNAMON APPLES:
  • 1-1/2 md
    apples, thinly sliced
  • 2 tsp
    lemon juice
  • 1 pinch
    freshly ground nutmeg
  • 1 tsp
    ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 c
    (1 3/4 ounces) light (golden) brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp
    salted butter
  • FOR THE CINNAMON WHIPPED CREAM:
  • 1/2 c
    heavy (whipping) cream
  • 1/4 c
    confectioners' (powdered) sugar
  • 1/4 tsp
    ground cinnamon

How To Make spring hill ranch caramel-apple blondie cheesecake

  • 1
    Line the bottom of a 9 inch spring-form pan with parchment paper and grease the sides. Adjust an oven rack to the center position and preheat the oven to 350°.
  • 2
    For the apple-spice blondie base: In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter using 10-second increments. Transfer the melted butter to a large mixing bowl. Add the brown sugar and whisk to combine. Add the vanilla, egg and egg white and whisk until incorporated.
  • 3
    In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, apple pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until combined. Fold in the chopped apple. Pour this batter into your prepared pan and bake it for 30-33 minutes. Allow it to cool for about 5 minutes, then remove the blondie to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
  • 4
    Meanwhile, make the caramel sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar and heavy cream and whisk constantly over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring the pan to a boil and allow it to boil for 3 minutes, no more. Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool completely. You can store the caramel in refrigerator.
  • 5
    Once the blondie and caramel are cool, make the cheesecake: In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the cream cheese, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Add 3/4 cup of the caramel sauce and apple pie spice and mix until well combined. Fold in the Cool Whip. Place the blondie back into the spring-form pan. Spread cheesecake mixture evenly on top of the blondie base, then put it in the refrigerator until it is firm, 3-4 hours.
  • 6
    In a medium mixing bowl, combine the apple slices, lemon juice, nutmeg, cinnamon and brown sugar in a medium saucepan, tossing to coat. Add the butter and cook over medium-high for about 15-20 minutes, until the apples have softened. Cool them for 10-15 minutes, then place them on top of the cheesecake.
  • 7
    Make the cinnamon whipped cream: Freeze a metal bowl and whisk attachment for 10-15 minutes. Remove bowl from freezer, add the heavy cream, and whip on high speed until it begins to thicken. Add the powdered sugar and cinnamon and whip until it you get stiff peaks.
  • 8
    Pipe the whipped cream around the edges of your cheesecake. Drizzle more caramel sauce over finished cheesecake.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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