TO WARM YOUR BONES AND YOUR TASTEBUDS….

When it’s cold outside, what’s better than a warm, sweet desert to thaw the cockles of your heart? And what’s better to do that than CHEESECAKE? Here’s a recipe for one that a friend gave me (with a little fine-tuning from me). Enjoy and stay warm! Spring will be here soon.

HOT APPLE CHEESECAKE

3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese softened
1 ½ C white sugar
1 ½ Tsp. vanilla
24 graham crackers
6T butter or margarine
6 apples
¼ C sugar
1T cinnamon
6T butter

Preheat oven to 350

GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST:
In a small saucepan or the microwave, melt 6 T of butter. Place graham crackers in a plastic Zip Loc bag.
Roll with a rolling pin until finely crushed.
Measure 1 ½ C of graham cracker crumbs into a medium bowl.
Add ¼ C of sugar to the graham crackers.
Add 6T melted butter or margarine.
Stir with fork until blended.
Press into the bottom of a 9 X 13 baking pan.

CREAM CHEESE FILLING:
Beat cream cheese with 1 1/2 cups sugar and vanilla until smooth.
Spread cream cheese mixture evenly in the pan with graham cracker lining
Bake about 45 minutes
Cool completely in pan before serving

HOT APPLE TOPPING:
Peel and core 6 apples
Slice apples as for pie
Combine apples with 1T cinnamon, ¼ C sugar (stir until apples are well coated)
Melt second measurement of butter in large frying pan
Add apples and stir and cook until apples are tender
Serve hot over cooled cheesecake