Baked Apples with Curd Filling Cheesecake

Ingredients:

• 8 medium red baking apples, such as Gala
• 2 packages of 240g cream cheese at room temperature
• 2/3 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, room temperature, beaten
• 1/2 cup crushed graham crackers (about 5 whole crackers)
• 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp (30 g) butter, melted
• Caramel cream dolce de leche, for filing
• 0.5 cups toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped, for topping

Preparation:

1. In a medium bowl, use a silicone spatula to combine the cream cheese, 2/3 cup sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add the eggs and mix well.
2. Position the oven rack on the middle shelf and preheat the oven to 150°C.
3. Trim the top of each apple by 0.5 cm and, using a watermelon scoop or teaspoon, scoop out the core and about 2/3 of the apple flesh, leaving a 1 cm thick wall. (Use the scooped out flesh in cooking.) applesauce).
4. Fill each apple with the curd filling, just short of the top. Wipe off any drips from the apples before baking, if necessary.
5. Spread the apples in a 9 x 13-inch (22 x 32 cm) pan and bake until soft but still holding their shape, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool completely before serving.
6. Meanwhile, in a food processor, chop graham crackers, cinnamon, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Add the butter and process until smooth.
7. Arrange the apples on small serving plates, drizzle generously with the caramel cream and sprinkle with the graham cracker mixture and chopped walnuts.