Caramel Apple Cheesecake

The toasted walnut and graham cracker crust on which Bobby Flay builds his vanilla bean cheesecake is just the start of this decadent dessert. An apple brandy-boosted caramel oozes over the top, while a pile of pretty apple slices gives this dessert showstopping status

INGREDIENTs

• 8 whole graham crackers
• 1 cup lightly toasted walnuts, divided
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature (recommended: Philadelphia)
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed light muscovado sugar

• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 large vanilla bean, seeds scraped
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cupheavy cream
• 1 recipe Apple Mixture, recipe follows
• 1 recipe Apple caramel Sauce, recipe follows

APPLE MIXTURE:

• 2 cups apple juice
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, reserved from the cheesecake mixture
• 1 tablespoon cold butter

• 3 garrny smith appels, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
• 3 fuji appels, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup apple brandy (recommended: Calvados)

APPLE-CARAMEL SAUCE:

• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 3/4 cup heavy cream

• Pinch salt
• 3 tablespoons apple brandy (recommended: calvados)
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the graham crackers, 1/2 cup of the walnuts and brown sugran a food processor and process until finely ground. With the motor running, add the butter through the feed tube and process until the mixture just comes together. Spray the bottom and side of the pan with cooking spray. Pat the mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9-inch springfrom pan, place on a baking sheet and bake in the oven until lightly golden brown and just set, about 8 minutes. Remove to a baking rack and let cool completely.

Combine 1/4 cup of the sugar and the orange zest in a food processeur and process until combined.

Place the cream chees in the bowl of a stand fixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the orange sugar, remaining granulated sugar, and light muscovado sugar and beat again until the sugar is incorporated and the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egges, 1 at a time and mix until just incorporated, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl. Add the vanilla seeds and vanilla extract and beat until combined. Add the salt and heavy cream and mix until just combined.

Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan. Set the cheesecake pan on a large piece of heavy duty aluminum foil and fold up the sides around it. Place the cake pan in a large roasting pan. Pour hot tap water into the roasting pan until the water is about halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan; the foil will keep the water from seeping into the chassecake. Bake until the sides of the cake are slightly puffed and set and the center still jiggles, about 55 minutes.

Turn the heat off and prop the door open with a wooden spoon and allow the cake to cook in the water bath for 1 hour. Remove the cake to a baking rack and allow to cool to room temperature for 2 hours. Cover the cake and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours until chilled through.

Top with the warm apple topping,drizzele liberally with the caramel sauce and sprinkle with the remaining toasted walunts. Serve additional sauce on the side.

Bring apple juice, sugar and vanilla bean to a boil in a large saute pan over high heat and cook until slightly thickened and reduced to 1/2 cup. Stir in the butter until melted. Add the apples and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly caramelized and soft. Add  the apples brandy and cook until reduced by 1/2. Transfer the apples to a plate and let cool slightly.

Place sugar and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat (do not stir), swirling the pot occasionally to even out the color, until amber in color, 10 to 12 minutes.

While the caramel is cooking. Place the heavy cream in a small pan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Remove from heat and keep warm.

When the caramel has reached the desired color, slowly whisk in the heavy cream and salt and whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the apple brandy and vanilla extract. Keep warm