RECIPE FOR CARAMEL APPLE COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• Grate apples on the large holes of a box grater or in a food processor with the grater attachment. Transfer grated apples to a clean kitchen towel and squeeze over a medium bowl to extract all the juice possible. Measure out ¼ cup apple juice and set aside (save any leftover apple juice for another use). Set grated apples aside (you should have about 2½ cups).
• Bring sugar, cream of tartar, and reserved ¼ cup apple juice to a rapid boil in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring just to dissolve sugar. Cook, without stirring but swirling pan often, until bubbles slow and caramel turns a deep amber color, 5–7 minutes. Remove caramel from heat and stir in butter, salt, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg.
• Set pan over medium-low heat and add reserved grated apples, stirring quickly to combine (don’t worry if the caramel mixture looks like it’s seizing at first). Cook apple caramel, stirring constantly, until the liquid from the apples has evaporated and the bubbles noticeably slow down, 9–11 minutes. (The caramel should be sticky and clump together as you stir). Scrape apple caramel onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and spread out in an even layer; let cool 30 minutes. Set ¼ cup apple caramel aside for topping cookies.
• Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat to 375°. Whisk flour, salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar in a medium bowl to combine.
• Beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, starting on low speed, then increasing speed to medium, until combined, about 2 minutes total. Add eggs one at a time, incorporating thoroughly before adding the next, then add vanilla. Reduce speed to low; add dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Add apple caramel and pulse mixer two or three times to swirl caramel throughout dough or fold in caramel using a sturdy rubber spatula (take care not to overmix or else you’ll lose the swirled caramel effect as the cookies bake).
• Using a #20 ice cream scoop (about 3 Tbsp.), portion out 16 balls and divide between 2 parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing at least 2" apart (you will have dough left over). Top each cookie with a few small pieces of reserved apple caramel and sprinkle with sea salt.
• Bake cookies, rotating baking sheets top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until golden brown at the edges, 13–16 minutes. Let cookies cool 5 minutes on baking sheets then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. Let 1 baking sheet cool, then repeat process with remaining dough to make 8 more cookies (they may bake slightly faster). Do ahead: Cookies can be made 5 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

Steps:

• For the crust: Prepare an 8-inch round springform pan with nonstick cooking spray. Wrap the outside of the pan with a double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar and salt. Press the mixture into the bottom and 1 1/2-inches up the sides of the prepared pan. Bake until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.  For the cheesecake: Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F. Arrange the apple slices in an even layer in the bottom of the cooled crust. Drizzle with the caramel sauce. Beat the cream cheese in the bowl of stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the brown sugar and flour and beat until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating on low until just combined after addition. Beat in the vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Spread the cheesecake batter an even layer over the apples. Place the springform pan in a roasting pan and carefully pour in boiling water to come halfway up the sides of the springform pan. Bake at 325°F until the center of the cheesecake is almost set and jiggles just slightly, 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Carefully transfer the cheesecake to a wire rack. Remove and discard the foil. Let the cheesecake cool completely, about 2 hours. Cover and chill the cheesecake until firm, at least 8 hours or up to 1 day. For the topping: While the cheesecake is chilling, combine the apples, cinnamon and water in a medium microwavable bowl. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and microwave on high until the apples are tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully uncover the bowl and pour off any liquid. Let the apples cool completely.   Remove the sides of the pan and transfer the cheesecake to a rimmed serving plate. Top with the cooled apples, then drizzle all over with the caramel sauce just before serving.