Eric's "Out of this World" Caramel Apple White Chocolate Cheesecake

I don't want to get to cooking club this week and find out through some recipe loop-hole that I didn't qualify for Lisa's prize because I didn't post a recipe on the blog. So even though I haven't made this for cooking club, I think it should still put me in the running for the highly-anticipated prize. I am naming it after my husband and even though I have already named a recipe after him... E-Train's Turkey Broccoli Pasta Bake...I figure since he has told three different groups of people that this cheesecake is "out of this world" I am marriage contractually obligated to put his name in the title. And if you compliment my food that much, your name automatically becomes part of its existence. Plus what could make the title of "Caramel Apple White Chocolate Cheesecake" better then adding the words "out of this world" to it. It makes the title quite a mouthful, but not as good a mouthful as an actual bite of...

Eric's "Out of this World" Caramel Apple White Chocolate Cheesecake.

Crust:

1 1/4 c. crushed graham crackers-this is about one sleeve of crackers

2 tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 c. melted butter

Filling:

1/4 c whipping cream
3-4 oz. white chocolate, chopped

3 8oz. packages of cream cheese at room temperature

1/2 c sugar

3 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

Topping:

1-2 small apples, pink lady recommended, but any kind that will stand up to baking. FYI-Red delicious are not good baking apples. Peeled and sliced thinly.

1/8 c sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Caramel Sauce:

1/4 c butter

1/2 c brown sugar

1/2 c sour cream

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 inch spring form pan with parchment or wax paper. It helps to lightly spray the pan with cooking spray before putting the parchment paper in the pan. This helps it stick and will reduce the amount of swearing that might occur during this process. Not that I know from personal experience... I've just heard!

In a small bowl, toss together crushed cookies, sugar and cinnamon. Add melted butter and stir with a fork until well-blended. Pour into prepared pan and press crumbs onto the bottom of the pan. Bake crust for 8-10 minutes. Set aside to cool.

While the crust is baking, heat cream in a small saucepan until almost a boil. Add chopped white chocolate. Remove from heat and let it rest for 2-3 minutes. Stir until smooth. Cool to lukewarm.

In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add sugar and beat well, scraping down the sides occassionally. Add eggs one at a time. mixing well after each addition. Pour in the white chocolate mixture and vanilla. Beat until light and smooth. Pour filling into the cooled crust.

In a small bowl, stir together cinnamon and sugar. Arrange apples over the top of the filling in a circular pattern and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mixture. Bake for 55-60 minutes. Then turn oven off but leave the cake in with the door closed for 1 hour longer. Remove from oven and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight. Dust with confectioners sugar before serving.
To make caramel sauce, melt butter over medium heat in a sauce pan. Add brown sugar and stir until sugar is light and bubbly. This shouldn't take too long. Remove from heat and whisk in sour cream until smooth. Let cool. Then drizzle over top of each slice of cheesecake.