Bobby Flays Caramel Apple Cheesecake Recipes

CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE - BOBBY FLAY THROWDOWN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the graham crackers, 1/2 cup of the walnuts and brown sugar in 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 springform 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 processor and process until combined.
• Place the cream cheese 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 eggs, 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 cheesecake. 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, drizzle liberally with the caramel sauce and sprinkle with the remaining toasted walnuts. Serve additional sauce on the side.
• Apple Mixture:.
• 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 apple brandy and cook until reduced by 1/2. Transfer the apples to a plate and let cool slightly.
• Apple-Caramel Sauce:.
• 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.

CHEDDAR CHEESECAKE WITH APPLE BUTTER CARAMEL

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Wrap the bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan with 3 pieces of heavy-duty foil.
• For the crust: Add the crackers, sugar and cheddar cheese to a food processor and process until fine crumbs form, about 1 minute. Pour in the melted butter and pulse until well incorporated and the mixture holds together when pinched between your fingers, 10 to 12 pulses. Press the crumb mixture into the prepared springform pan, taking care to get the crust evenly to the edges. Bake until golden brown and set, 10 to 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes then place in a large roasting pan.
• For the cheesecake: Beat the cream cheese, cheddar cheese and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until well combined, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the sour cream and vanilla and beat until just combined. Reduce the speed to low and add the eggs, one at a time, until just combined. (Take care not to overmix or the cheesecake will puff up and crack.) Pour the batter evenly over the crust, smoothing the top. Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come about halfway up the sides of the foil-wrapped springform pan. Bake until the outside of the cake is set but the center is still slightly loose, about 1 hour 10 minutes.
• Turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake in the oven for another hour. Remove the cheesecake from the roasting pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge and cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours.
• Run a knife around the edge of the pan once more and unlock to unmold the cheesecake. Remove from the springform base and transfer to a serving platter or cake stand and smooth the edges with a knife.
• For the apple butter caramel: About 2 hours before serving the cheesecake, whisk the heavy cream, apple butter, corn syrup, butter, vanilla extract and salt in a small saucepan and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly, until very smooth, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly in a medium skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring with a rubber spatula, until the sugar melts and is smooth, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and slowly drizzle in the warm cream mixture, whisking constantly. Return the skillet to medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer; cook, whisking frequently, until smooth and a deep amber color, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a heat proof container and refrigerate, uncovered, until cool, about 1 hour.
• Pour the caramel sauce into the center of the cake and use an offset spatula to spread it out, letting some of the sauce drip over the sides. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

BOBBY FLAY'S CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• To make the cheesecake, preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray.
• Combine the graham crackers, 1/2 cup of the walnuts, and the brown sugar in 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. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan, place it on a baking sheet, and bake in the oven until light golden brown and just set, about 8 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• Combine 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar and the orange zest in a food processor, and process until combined.
• Put the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, and beat until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the orange sugar, remaining 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, and the muscovado sugar, and beat until the sugar is incorporated and the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix until just incorporated, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl. Add the vanilla seeds (save the pod for the apples), vanilla extract, and salt, and beat until combined. Add the heavy cream and mix until just combined.
• Scrape the mixture into the cooled crust. Set the springform pan on a large piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil, and fold the foil up the sides to surround it. Set the pan in a large roasting pan. Pour hot tap water into the roasting pan until it reaches about halfway up the sides of the springform pan (the foil will keep the water from seeping into the cheesecake). Bake until the edges of the cake are slightly puffed and set and the center still jiggles, about 55 minutes.
• Turn off the heat, prop the oven door open with a wooden spoon, and leave the cheesecake in the water bath in the oven for 1 hour.
• Remove the springform from the water bath, place it on a wire rack, and cool to room temperature, 2 hours. Then cover the pan and refrigerate until the cheesecake is chilled through, at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.
• To cook the apples, bring the apple juice, sugar, and reserved vanilla bean pod to a boil in a large sauté pan over high heat. Cook until slightly thickened and reduced to 1/2 cup, 10 minutes. Remove the vanilla bean pod and discard.
• Stir in the butter until melted. Add the apples and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly caramelized and soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the Calvados and simmer until reduced by half. Transfer the apples to a plate and let cool slightly.
• To serve, remove the foil and sides from the springform pan. Spread the crème fraîche over the cheesecake. Top with the warm apple topping, drizzle liberally with the caramel sauce, and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup chopped walnuts. Serve additional caramel sauce on the side.
• Combine the sugar and 1/4 cup water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook, swirling the pot occasionally to even out the color, until amber, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Slowly add the heavy cream and salt to the caramel. Whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat, and stir in the Calvados and vanilla extract. Serve warm.

BOBBY FLAY'S SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat, combine the sugar with 1/4 cup cold water and stir to combine. Cook, without stirring, until the sugar has turned a deep amber hue, approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, warm the cream in a small saucepan. When the caramel is ready, slowly whisk in the warm cream and continue simmering the mixture until it is smooth, another 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, then whisk in the butter, and then the salt, to taste. Serve warm.