APPLE CHEESECAKE

Ingredients

1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoon margarine, melted
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
4 cups peeled thinly sliced Golden Delicious Apples (about 2 pounds)
1/4-1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preparation

In a small bowl, combine crumbs, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and margarine. Press onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in vanilla; pour into baked crust and set aside. In a large bowl, combine 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Add apples, tossing gently to coat with sugar mixture. Spoon or arrange apple mixture over cream cheese layer. Sprinkle with pecans. Return to oven at 350 degrees and bake 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until set. Cool completely; refrigerate before serving.
—Bridgette Hood, Moulton, 2000 Bake-Off Winner