New England Apple Cheesecake

In' Cheesecake Extraordinaire'

• Ready In: 3 hrs 25 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• Cheddar Walnut Cookie Crust

• 3⁄4 cup flour
• 2 1⁄2 tablespoons sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1  egg, lightly beaten
• 1⁄4 cup butter or 1⁄4 cup margarine, softened
• 1⁄2 cup  shredded cheddar cheese
• 2  tablespoons  chopped walnuts

• Apple Cheese Filling

• 18  ounces cream cheese
• 2⁄3 cup light brown sugar
• 5  teaspoons cornstarch
• 4  eggs
• 2⁄3 cup applesauce
• 1⁄3 cup  frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
• 2  teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2  teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1  teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1  cup  shredded cheddar cheese
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped walnuts

• Apple Walnut Topping

• 1⁄3 cup  frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
• 1  tablespoon light brown sugar
• 1  tablespoon cornstarch
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2  tablespoons port wine
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped walnuts

Directions

1. The crust-in a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, and cinnamon.
2. Add egg and butter; beat with an electric mixer until well combined.
3. Stir in cheddar cheese and walnuts.
4. With generously greased fingers, press the dough evenly onto the bottom of a greased 9-inch springform pan.
5. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned; remove from oven and set aside.
6. The filling-in a large bowl combine cream cheese, brown sugar, and cornstarch.
7. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth.
8. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
9. Beat in the applesauce, apple juice concentrate, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and cloves.
10. Stir in the cheese and walnuts.
11. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the crust.
12. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes.
13. Lower the temperature to 200° and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until the center no longer looks wet or shiny.
14. Remove the cake from the oven and run a knife around the inside edge of the pan.
15. Turn the oven off; return the cake to the oven for an additional 1 hour.
16. Chill, uncovered, overnight.
17. The topping-in a small saucepan stir together the apple juice concentrate, brown sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon.
18. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly; cook and stir 2 minutes more.
19. Stir in port; pour over cheesecake.
20. Sprinkle with walnuts.
21. Chill until serving time.