Cheesecake Stuffed Apples

A new way to eat baked apples – Cheesecake Stuffed Apples filled with walnuts and caramel sauce. Small batch recipe makes 4 apples as a dessert for two people.

Happy (Almost) Fall!

Although to be honest, I’ve been ready for fall since Labor Day when Dad and I usually pick a peck of apples like we do every year.

I forgot to weigh the bag, but we like to say “this weighs more than the cat!” It usually doesn’t but it’s still fun to play.

The first thing I made when we got home was my Homemade Apple Turnovers.

Since I have so many apple recipes on my blog including Mini Apple Pies and Homemade Apple Pie Filling, sometimes it’s tough coming up with new ideas.

Then I started thinking about my Cheesecake Stuffed Peaches.

That recipe is so popular for summer, how can I recreate it for fall?

Baked apples are pretty common, usually stuffed with butter, cinnamon, and nuts. Why not take it one step further with Cheesecake Stuffed Apples?

The apples are cored then stuffed with a caramel cheesecake filling and walnuts.

It’s the ideal apple recipe to get a full serving size of fruit while also indulging in dessert.

Ingredients For Cheesecake Stuffed Apples

Ready to make your caramel filled apples with cheesecake? Start gathering the following ingredients:

• Apples: Use a good baking apple that’ll hold up in the oven (more on that below).
• Cream cheese: Use a full-fat block of cream cheese for best results. Low fat, fat free, or whipped may result in a watery filling.
• Sugar: Sweetens the cheesecake filling.
• Egg: Since cheesecake is technically a custard, you need an egg for a smooth and creamy texture.
• Caramel sauce: Use homemade caramel sauce or a store-bought jar.
• Vanilla: Brings out the other flavors, much like salt does.
• Walnuts: Adds a salty, crunchy texture
• Graham cracker crumbs: Since most cheesecakes have a crust, the graham cracker crumbs on top tie it all together.

What are good apples for stuffing?

The hardest part about making cheesecake stuffed apples is deciding which apples to use for baking.

You want to use a variety that can hold up to baking. That means no red delicious, which is only good for snacking.

I used gala apples in my recipe. Other varieties you can use are Fuji, Jonagold, and Cortland.

How To Core Apples

Although an apple corer isn’t necessary, it makes stuffing apples so much easier.

I’ve been in the market to buy a new corer since my last one got all bent up, but it seems like most stores don’t carry them.

They had the circular one that cores and slices at the same time, but that’s not going to help me with baked apples.

I eventually went to a local kitchen store and bought this apple corer (affiliate link) but didn’t expect it to be that difficult to find.

All of that to say if you don’t have or want to deal with a corer, you can most certainly use a knife to cut out the center.

Learn how to core an apple with a knife from The Kitchn.

How To Make Cheesecake Stuffed Apples

First, prep your cheesecake apples by coring the centers then place in an 8×8 square pan or a mini casserole dish. You want to make sure your pan is small enough so the apples don’t fall over and spill.

Next, make your caramel cheesecake filling. Beat together the cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy then beat in the egg, caramel, sauce and vanilla. Add the walnuts.

Spoon your filling into the center of each apple. If you find the openings aren’t large enough, carefully cut the hole wider with a paring knife.

Bake at 350F for about 20-25 minutes or until the centers are set. Serve warm with caramel sauce, chopped walnuts, and graham cracker crumbs on top.

Because of the perishable cheesecake filling, store leftover baked apples in the fridge for up to 5 days.

When To Serve Cheesecake Stuffed Apples

You don’t need a special occasion to serve your caramel stuffed apples with cheesecake! Whip them up after picking apples at the orchard or at the farmer’s market.

However, they do make an easy fancy dessert for the holidays. Instead of eggless pumpkin pie, serve them for your Thanksgiving Dinner For Two.

More Apple Cheesecake Recipes

Loved your cheesecake apples? Here are more recipes for apple cheesecake:

• Caramel Apple Cheesecake
• No Bake Caramel Apple Cheesecake
• No Bake Apple Butter Cheesecake
• No Bake Apple Pie Cheesecake Phyllo Cups
• Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip

Originally published September 22, 2016