Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake – The Ultimate Thanksgiving Dessert

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake

This Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake is what cozy fall dreams are made of! Imagine buttery cinnamon graham crust, creamy vanilla cheesecake, warm spiced apples, and a golden drizzle of salted caramel. Each decadent bite tastes like the perfect fusion of apple pie and cheesecake rich, creamy, and full of fall flavor. It’s one of those Thanksgiving Desserts Recipes that will have everyone asking for seconds (and the recipe!).

Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner or just craving something special, this cheesecake will be the centerpiece of your dessert table.

Prep Time: 50 min | Cook Time: 1 hr 45 min | Total Time: 2 hrs 35 min

Servings: 12+ slices

Ingredients

Apple Filling

• 4 medium apples, sliced (about 588 g)
• 3 tbsp salted butter
• 1–2 tbsp apple cider (or water)
• ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
• 1¼ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp cloves
• ⅛ tsp allspice
• 1–2 tsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp cornstarch + 2 tsp water

Crust

• 3 cups cinnamon graham cracker crumbs (300 g)
• ½ cup + 3 tbsp salted butter, melted

Cheesecake Filling

• 32 oz full-fat cream cheese, room temperature
• 1½ cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1½ tsp cornstarch
• ¾ cup full-fat sour cream
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ⅛ tsp cloves

Crumble Topping

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup rolled oats
• ¼ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp salt
• ¼ cup cold salted butter, cubed

Salted Caramel Sauce

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 6 tbsp salted butter, cubed
• ½ cup + 1 tbsp heavy cream
• Pinch of flaky sea salt

Apple Topping

• 4 medium apples, sliced
• 3 tbsp salted butter
• 1–2 tbsp apple cider (or water)
• ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
• 1¼ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp cloves
• ⅛ tsp allspice
• 1–2 tsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp cornstarch + 2 tsp water

Instructions

Step 1: Make the Apple Filling

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and add apples, brown sugar, and spices. Stir and cook until soft (8–14 minutes). Thicken with cornstarch slurry and let cool completely.

Step 2: Make the Crust

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine graham crumbs and melted butter. Press into a 9-inch springform pan and bake for 10 minutes. Set aside.

Step 3: Make the Cheesecake

Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla, cornstarch, sour cream, and spices. Mix until just combined.

Step 4: Assemble Layers

Pour half of the cheesecake batter over the crust. Spread the cooled apple filling evenly. Add the remaining cheesecake batter on top and smooth it out.

Step 5: Prepare the Water Bath

Place cheesecake in a roasting pan and pour hot water into the outer pan (not directly on the cheesecake). Bake for 1 hour 30–50 minutes, until edges are set and center is slightly jiggly.

Step 6: Cool & Chill

Turn off the oven, crack the door open, and let the cheesecake cool inside for 1 hour. Then cool completely at room temp before refrigerating for at least 6 hours or overnight.

Step 7: Make Crumble Topping

Mix oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter. Bake at 350°F for 12–20 minutes until golden and crisp.

Step 8: Make Caramel & Apple Topping

Prepare caramel sauce by melting sugar, adding butter and cream, and finishing with sea salt. Cook apples as before for topping.

Step 9: Assemble & Serve

Top the chilled cheesecake with apple topping, crumble, and a generous drizzle of caramel. Slice and serve cold or slightly chilled.

Pro Tip: For clean slices, dip your knife in warm water and wipe between cuts.

Pro Tips

• Use crisp apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for the best texture.
• Make components ahead of time cheesecake, caramel, and crumble can all be prepped days in advance.
• Always cool cheesecake completely before refrigerating to avoid cracks.

Nutrition (Per Slice)

Disclaimer: Nutrition information is estimated and may vary depending on specific brands or portion sizes.

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Conclusion – Creamy, Spiced, and Perfectly Salted

This Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake is the ultimate showstopper for your Thanksgiving dessert table. With layers of silky cheesecake, cinnamon-spiced apples, crunchy oat crumble, and golden caramel drizzle, it captures every cozy fall flavor in one irresistible bite.

FAQs