no-bake apple pie cheesecake

 

apple picking season is here & i am so excited for fall! i seriously wait for this moment all summer long (sorry summer lovers). summer was amazing & went by rather quickly, but instead of being sad it's over let's just celebrate with pie. this pie is not your tradtional apple pie or traditional cheesecake. it is a no-bake recipe with a stove top apple pie topping! it brings the best of both worlds together.

for the crust i use diamond's of california prepared pecan crust. it makes this recipe extra simple, as you don't have to worry about preparing a crust from scratch. it also works as the perfect base for this fluffy cream cheese filling & has a great nutty flavour. i favour no-bake cheesecakes not just because they are easier to make, but i love the texture of them too. not dense like a baked cheesecake, more like biting into a cloud! diamond's crust comes in both pecan + walnut flavour, so either works for this recipe. for the apples, use any variety you like best for baking. the apples can be peeled or the skins left on (all about personal preference), but be sure to slice them evenly so they cook up at the same time.

ingredients

for the apple pie filling:

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 large apples, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 3 tablespoons + 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch

for the cheesecake:

  • 16 ounces full fat cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup + 1/3 cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1 diamond of california's pecan pie crust
  • 1 batch apple pie filling (see recipe)
  • caramel sauce, for serving

directions

for the apple pie filling:

  • melt the butter in a medium skillet over low heat. add the apples & sugar, toss to coat.
  • stir in the lemon juice, 3 tablespoons of water, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg & salt. cook (continuously stirring) until the apples soften, about 10 minutes.
  • whisk together the cornstarch with the remaining water. add to skillet & stir to combined. once the filling begins to cool, remove from heat & let chill to room temperature.

for the cheesecake:

  • in a large mixing bowl beat together the cream cheese & 1/3 cup of sugar until fluffy.
  • in a separate large mixing bowl, whisk the egg whites to soft peaks. add the remaining sugar & vanilla extract. whisk to stiff peaks.
  • gradually add the whipped cream to the cream cheese mixture. beat until light & fluffy.
  • transfer mixture to prepared pecan pie crust & smooth the top flat with an offset spatula. refrigerate for a minimum of two hours.
  • when ready to serve, top with prepared apple pie filling.

apple cider rum punch

 

today is national rum punch day & i am sharing the recipe for a fall inspired rum punch!!! cue: apple cider. i honestly can't get enough apple cider in the fall. i am surrounded by several apple orchards that sells fresh cider. it is just so good. can enjoy it both hot & cold, but these days cold because we are getting july like weather over here. i just want to be wearing my wool sweaters & leather boots again! anyways, back to this rum punch. it is made with fresh local cider, a little rum, a stevia infused simple syrup to allow for no added sugar AND a good old splash of zevia's ginger ale. zevia's ginger ale is also sugar free as it is made with stevia too. plus the ginger taste so good with apple cider & adds the perfect amount of fiz to the punch! you are going to need this punch today to cool down if you are experiencing any of the weather we are.

cheers! xo

ingredients

for the apple cider rum punch

  • 1 cup light rum
  • 3 cups apple cider (100% juice, no sugar added)
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 cup zevia's ginger ale
  • 1 cup thyme + lemon simple syrup (see recipe below)
  • apple slices, for garnish
  • lemon slices, for garnish
  • fresh thyme, for garnish

for the thyme + lemon simple syrup

  • 1 cup liquid stevia (approx. 1 teaspoon stevia to 1 cup water)
  • 1 cup water
  • 5-6 sprigs of fresh thyme
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 lemon, sliced

directions

for the apple cider rum punch

  • in a large pitcher stir together the rum, apple cider, lemon juice, zevia ginger ale & simple syrup. fill remaining space with ice. when serving, garnish with apple slice, lemon slice & fresh thyme.

for the thyme + lemon simple syrup

  • in a sauce pot over medium heat add the stevia, water, thyme, lemon zest & lemon. bring to a gentle simmer and stir until stevia dissolves. remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes. strain liquid and store in a glass weck jar for up to two weeks.

salted caramel apple cakelets

 

SEPTEMBER!!!! i am probably most excited for this month then i am any other month. especially because it is no longer signals back to school time for me. instead, i just get to take it all in & enjoy what early fall has to offer: pumpkins, apples, corn mazzes & more pumpkins! i already decorated the house earlier this week for fall. justin claims it was too early but i don't think it is ever too early when it comes to fall. we rock that pumpkin spice soap all year long! next on my list is to decorate the front porch when the real pumpkins start popping up at the farm. i am going all out this year... whymsical white pumpkins galore! we got our rejuvenation x o&g studios rocking chairs the other week so i am ten times more motivated to get the porch ready.

okay, but enough about my fall obsession! let's talk about these little cakelets. i had to kick september off with an apple recipe because apples are starting to pop up at the local farmers market. this recipe is infused with a homemade salted caramel, but you can also go the extra mile and drizzle a little on top too! i grated the apple into the cakes so the cakelets aren't filled with apple chunks. i baked them in the cutest nordic ware "apple slice cakelet pan"! i am just in love with it. the pan is made of cast aluminum & features all different sliced apple designs rather then just the same one. i think kids would love these as a back to school snack! i gave the pan a quick spray & not a single cakelet stuck.

p.s. nordic ware make a pumpkin pan too! i so need that for october when pumpkin takes over my kitchen. it is called the "autumn delights cakelet pan".

happy september friends & enjoy the long weekend:) xo

ingredients

for the salted caramel

  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

for the apple cakelets

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 cups raw sugar
  • 2 tablespoons salted caramel (see recipe above)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 medium apples, grated
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • powdered sugar, for serving
  • salted caramel, for serving

directions

for the salted caramel

  • in a saucepot add the sugar and water. bring the pan to a boil while wiping down the crystals that form on the sides of the pan using a pastry brush (do not stir, i repeat, do NOT stir).
  • continue to boil until the mixture turns to a deep amber colour, approximately 5 minutes. be sure not to burn the caramel! it will go from a deep amber to burnt sugar VERY quickly.
  • remove from heat and immediately whisk in the butter, cream & salt. cool to room temperature before serving.

for the cakelets

  • preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • in a large mixing bowl whisk together the eggs, oil, raw sugar, salted caramel and vanilla. stir in the grated apples.
  • in a separate mixing bowl sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. add this mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until batter just comes together (do not over mix).
  • lightly grease apple slice cakelet pan and pour a tablespoon of batter into each cakelet.
  • bake for 20 minutes or until the top bounces back to touch.
  • dust with powdered sugar & drizzle with salted caramel before serving.