great apple cheesecake

Wendy's Favorite Recipes from www. ClickOnCuernavaca.com

Apple Cheesecake

When I lived in Detroit we had a bakery that made fantastic cheesecakes. One of which was an apple cheesecake. After moving from Detroit I spent years trying to make one that was 1/2 as good. This is the first recipe I have found that makes a decent substitute. Its great!

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

3 tablespoons white sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cups apples - peeled, cored and thinly sliced

1/3 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a large bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and melted butter; press into the bottom of a 9 inch spring form pan. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
2.	In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar. Mix at medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in vanilla; pour filling into the baked crust.
3.	In a small bowl, stir together 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Toss the cinnamon-sugar with the apples to coat. Spoon apple mixture over cream cheese layer and sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped pecans.
4.	Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes. With a knife, loosen cake from rim of pan. Let cool, then remove the rim of pan. Chill cake before serving.