How To Make No-Bake Caramel Apple Cheesecake

Combine the nostalgia of apple pie with the decadence of cheesecake, and you have an irresistible dessert. Blending two classics, no-bake caramel apple cheesecake offers incredible appeal to a wide range of palates — including picky youngsters. It makes a great choice for finishing a dinner party, but it’s also a wonderful way to wow your family on a weeknight. Even better, it’s an uncomplicated recipe that requires no baking — perfect to make with kids.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Making a no-bake cheesecake is a different process than making a traditional one. Rather than using eggs and baking the cheesecake, for example, you do not use eggs and instead set the cheesecake by chilling. Overall, the steps are simpler; however, it’s important to avoid common pitfalls unique to the no-bake method.

Here are a few tips to make sure your cheesecake turns out well:

• Bring the cream cheese to room temperature. Using chilled cream cheese directly from the refrigeratorwill likely create a lumpy batter. A better option is to let the cream cheese fully come to room temperature or, in a pinch, microwave it to take off the chill.
• Don’t overmix. Getting overzealous in your batter mixing can backfire, as it incorporates too much air into the mixture.
• Scrape the mixing bowl. To properly incorporate all of the ingredients, scrape the sides of the bowl after each step of the recipe.
  
  

<h2>The Recipe: No-Bake Caramel Apple Cheesecake

This hassle-free dessert makes four servings, dished in containers of your choice. Below, the ingredients are divided by layer: apples, cheesecake, graham cracker crust, and whipped cream topping.

Caramel Apple Ingredients

1 cup of chopped apples, from one cored and peeled Golden Delicious apple

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons caramel sauce

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 pinch of salt

Cheesecake Filling Ingredients

8 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon maple syrup

Graham Cracker Crust

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Whipped Cream Topping

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon maple syrup

Directions:

1. Start by making the caramel apples: In a saucepan over high heat, stir apples, sugar, cinnamon, and caramel sauce. Bring to a boil, and continue cooking for five minutes or until apples are soft. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice, vanilla, and salt. Set aside to cool in a heat-safe dish.
2. Next, make the cheesecake filling: In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add heavy whipping cream and maple syrup, and beat until thick and creamy.
3. For the graham cracker crust, stir graham cracker crumbs and melted butter to create a crumblymixture.
4. For the whipped cream, beat cream with vanilla and maple syrup until soft peaks form.
5. Last, assemble the parts of the dessert into sundae glasses, mason jars, or other single-portion containers. Start with the graham cracker mixture, pressing it into the container and slightly up the sides. Scoop the cheesecake filling into the container, then a layer of caramel apples, and finish with a layer of whipped cream. Sprinkle a bit of extra graham cracker crumbs on top of the whipped cream, if desired.

Chill containers until ready to serve.