Mid-January is a time for celebration around here because it is Gabu’s birthday. For those who know my mother, you know what a wonderful Italian cook she is, even though she is Irish, and you know what a wonderful baker she is, with cheesecakes being her specialty. Mom’s cheesecake repertoire includes strawberry, pineapple, and cinnamon cheesecakes, but my favorite one that she makes is the Apple Bavarian Torte. In honor of my mother’s birthday, here’s her recipe. Thanks, Mom!
Apple Bavarian Torte
Apple Bavarian Torte (recipe courtesy of Cora J. Donovan Fogliani) Total Time Required: about 4 hours, Prep Time: 45 minutes, Bake Time: 1 hour, Chill Time: 2 hours, Serves: 10 – 12
Ingredients:
Crust:
- 1/2 cup chilled butter
- 1 cup sifted flour
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Filling:
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Topping:
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup chopped almonds or walnuts
- 2-3 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
Directions:
Start with the crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cut the butter into small pieces. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, butter & vanilla. Mix them all together in a stand mixer or with a pastry blender until it resembles coarse meal.
Combine the crust ingredients.
Press the dough into 10-inch springform pan, covering the bottom & halfway up the sides.
Press the dough into the pan.
Bake for 10 minutes. (Peel, core and slice the apples into a large bowl while the crust is baking.) Remove the crust from the oven and allow it to sit until the filling is ready.
For the filling: Preheat the oven to 450°F while you prepare the filling. In the bowl of a mixer, combine the cream cheese, sugar, eggs, & vanilla. Mix until it is completely blended and smooth.
Prepare the filling.
Pour the filling into the prepared crust and smooth the top.
Pour the filling into the prepared crust.
For the topping: Add the sugar, cinnamon & vanilla to the apple slices. Stir them to mix well.
Add the cinnamon, sugar, & vanilla to the sliced apples.
Layer the apple slices on top of the filling.
Layer the apple slices over the filling.
Sprinkle the nuts on top of the apples & filling.
Sprinkle the nuts over the apples.
Bake for 15 minutes, reduce the heat to 350°F and continue baking for 25 minutes. The cake should seem firm in the middle when the pan is jiggled and the apples and almonds should be golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes, run a knife around the edge of the springform and continue to cool to room temperature. Run a knife around the edge of the pan again before removing the ring of the springform pan.
Cool the cheesecake in the pan for 10 minutes.
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.
Serves 10-12.
Absolutely delicious!
Apple Bavarian Torte (recipe courtesy of Cora J. Donovan Fogliani) Total Time Required: about 4 hours, Prep Time: 45 minutes, Bake Time: 1 hour, Chill Time: 2 hours, Serves: 10 – 12
Ingredients:
Crust:
- 1/2 cup chilled butter
- 1 cup sifted flour
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Filling:
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Topping:
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup chopped almonds or walnuts
- 2-3 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
Directions:
Start with the crust. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cut the butter into small pieces. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, butter & vanilla. Mix them all together in a stand mixer or with a pastry blender until it resembles coarse meal. Press the dough into 10-inch springform pan, covering the bottom & halfway up the sides.
Bake for 10 minutes. (Peel, core and slice the apples into a large bowl while the crust is baking.) Remove the crust from the oven and allow it to sit until the filling is ready.
For the filling: Preheat the oven to 450°F while you prepare the filling. In the bowl of a mixer, combine the cream cheese, sugar, eggs, & vanilla. Mix until it is completely blended and smooth. Pour the filling into the prepared crust and smooth the top.
For the topping: Add the sugar, cinnamon & vanilla to the apple slices. Stir them to mix well. Layer the apple slices on top of the filling. Sprinkle the nuts on top of the apples & filling.
Bake for 15 minutes, reduce the heat to 350°F and continue baking for 25 minutes. The cake should seem firm in the middle when the pan is jiggled and the apples and almonds should be golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes, run a knife around the edge of the springform and continue to cool to room temperature. Run a knife around the edge of the pan again before removing the ring of the springform pan. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Serves 10-12.