Apple Cardamom Cheesecake

Apple Cardamom Cheesecake | Anecdotes and Apple Cores

November and December are upon us. My favorite months of the year. Yes, I am a winter baby, born just nine days shy of Christmas, but I love the end of the year for many other reasons. Gift-giving. Apple Cider. Over-sized sweaters. Carols sung by children on brisk early nights.

The opening of homes to friends and family. An elegantly set table with plates brimming: roasted vegetables, well-seasoned meats, and tender rolls.

Apple Cardamom Cheesecake | Anecdotes and Apple Cores

While pies and cookies often take center stage during November and December, I often find myself looking for a dessert that is both new and familiar. A twist on a classic winter flavor that leaves a permanent mark in your guests’ memories.

This Apple Cardamom Cheesecake is just that: an elegant twist. The classic fall gem, the apple, is caramelized with a sprinkling of cardamom and then layered between graham crackers and cheesecake. I promise you, everyone who tries it will be asking for the recipe (and will be sharing your dinner party with friends).

Apple Cardamom Cheesecake | Anecdotes and Apple Cores

Cardamom has a strong, unique taste, and it’s long been used in Nordic kitchens to enhance baked goods. This holiday season, I’d encourage you to use spices outside of the typical cinnamon-ginger-nutmeg trilogy. It’s remarkably simple to elevate a dessert from ordinary to extraordinary, and the key can often be found in your spice cabinet.

McCormick Spices offers a lovely jar of Cardamom that can be found at any major grocery store. So the next time you have dinner guests coming, pick up a few pounds of apples, two blocks of cream cheese, and a glass jar of cardamom. You won’t regret it (we had a hard time saving this cake for our friends!)

Apple Cardamom Cheesecake | Anecdotes and Apple Cores

Apple Cardamom Cheesecake

From McCormick Gourmet

Crust:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/3 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Collection Cardamom, Ground

Glazed Apples:

4 medium apples (2 pound) peeled and cored

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Collection Cardamom, Ground

Filling:

2 packaged (8 ounces) each cream cheese, softened

2/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel

4 eggs

Preheat oven to 325°F. For the Crust, mix all ingredients in medium bowl. Press firmly onto bottom and 1 inch up side of 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.

For the Glazed Apples, cut apples into thin slices (about 1/4-inch thick). Add remaining ingredients to apples in large skillet. Cook on medium heat 5 to 10 minutes or until apples begin to caramelize, turning frequently. Arrange apples on bottom of crust.

For the Filling, beat cream cheese in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar, vanilla and lemon peel. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until blended. Spoon evenly over apples.

Bake 60 to 70 minutes or until center is almost set. Turn oven off and allow cheesecake to cool in oven 1 hour with door slightly ajar. Run small knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cheesecake. Cool in pan on wire rack.

Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

Monet

Anecdotes and Apple Cores

46 thoughts on “Apple Cardamom Cheesecake

  1. Ashley

    Oh yum Monet! This cheesecake looks and sounds wonderful! I love that there are apples in it : ) I still can’t get enough of them right now! I hope you had a great weekend!!

  2. Jenny @ BAKE

    wow! this is making my mouth water! cheese, crackers and apples are such a lovely way to finish off a meal and I love the idea of them amalgamated into a dessert! this looks just beautiful! I can’t wait for an excuse throw a party and make it!

  3. Jamie@Milk 'n' Cookies

    Monet, I love how creatively you use spices. Like many others, I tend to stick to cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. but like you’ve said, using a spice such as cardamom can have an elegant and unexpected dish. Thanks for the inspiration!

  4. Bonnie

    Monet: This looks and sounds delicious! I love the drawing in of winter (I’m a winter baby as well–eighteen days after Christmas) and we are awaiting our first snow.

    Best,
    Bonnie

  5. Shundara@SavyNaturalista

    I love to stick to the classics as well during the winter, but I am a cookie lover. I didn’t know McCormick had cardamom, it is one of my favorite spices so hard to find during the season. I am going to half to check my grocery store. Thanks 🙂

  6. Becky

    Monet,
    Such a lovely combination in a classic dessert, especially the cardamom. I’m familiar with cardamom, because I have a friend, whos is Swedish, and make breads and cookies with cardamom every Christmas!

  7. Laura Dembowski

    This isn’t my favorite time of year – I am definitely missing summer. But this cheesecake is gorgeous! I’ve never baked with cardamom before and so want to try it!

  8. sallybr

    I ADORE cardamon…. unfortunately, I married a great guy, but he is a cheesecake hater. Can you believe that?

    other than that, a complete keeper! 😉

    Beautiful post as usual, Monet…. hope you are having a nice beginning of your week, as productive and full of love as you want it to be!

  9. Pam

    Oh, can’t wait to try this over the holidays! Love the cardamom in it! And a slice right now in this snowy weather would be great with a cup of coffee!

  10. Eileen

    You know, there are hundreds of cheesecakes with fruit on the top, but I don’t think I’eve ever seen one with actual sliced fruit on the bottom! Such a good plan. 🙂

  11. Consuelo @ Honey & Figs

    December is my favorite month of the year as well, I lvoe winter and Christmas so much. And cheesecakes like this one, it looks so comfoting and amazing! I wish I had a big slice of it right now.
    I hope you’ve had a great weekend 🙂

  12. Jeannie Tay

    Hi Monet, I can smell your lovely cheesecake from here:P Bet the cardamon smell must be awesome when your cake is baking in the oven….hope to try this out soon!

  13. Brian @ A Thought For Food

    I had no idea it was cheesecake you were making with the McCormick’s spices!!! Don’t you know that cheesecake is my favorite thing in the whole world. Seriously… I can’t resist it. This looks fabulous, darling!

  14. Kelly

    What a beautiful looking cheesecake Monet! I love the creative twist you added to this classic dessert – especially drooling over the glazed apples, they look incredible! I adore the holiday season too – it’s such a nice time for family to get together to enjoy great company and food together 🙂 Hope you and your beautiful family have a wonderful week Monet 🙂

  15. Monica

    Monet, your cheesecake is beautiful. I, too, love this time of year. Everyone is a little nicer and there’s just a warm and cozy feel in the air. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season with Lucy. It will be so memorable, I’m sure. : )

  16. Amy @ Elephant Eats

    Yay for apple cider and giant, cozy sweaters (and blankets)! I love the cold weather and everything that comes with this time of year as well 🙂 This cheesecake sounds amazing. That layer of apples on the crust! and cardamom has the most delicious fragrance. This really sounds like the perfect twist on cheesecake, Monet!

  17. Shannon

    This sounds sooo good! I recently had an apple tart which had a thin layer of cheesecake topped with apple pie filling and crumb topping. A pinch of cardamom in there would have made it even more dreamy!

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