Apple Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups apples - peeled, cored and thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup chopped pecan
• Serves 8

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Stir together the graham cracker crumbs, 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and melted butter in a large bowl then press into the bottom of a 9 inch pan. Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes.
2. Combine cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl. Mix at medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time. Blend in vanilla and pour filling into the baked crust.
3. Stir together 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl. Toss the cinnamon-sugar with the apples to coat. Spoon apple mixture over cream cheese layer and sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped pecans.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 60- 70 minutes. Use a tall knife to loosen cake from rim of pan. Let the apple cheesecake cool then remove the rim of pan. Chill apple cheesecake before serving.