Caramel-Apple Butter Cheesecake

 

1 1/2

cups gingersnap cookie crumbs

1/4

cup butter or margarine, melted

20

caramels, unwrapped

3/4

cup apple butter

3

packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened

1/4

cup sugar

2

tablespoons Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

3

eggs

30

caramels, unwrapped

1/2

cup half-and-half

• 1 Heat oven to 300°F. Wrap outside of 9- or 10-inch springform pan in heavy-duty foil. In small bowl, mix cookie crumbs and butter. Press in bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of ungreased pan.
• 2 In medium microwavable bowl, microwave 20 caramels and 1/2 cup of the apple butter uncovered on High 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted. Stir in remaining 1/4 cup apple butter; set aside to cool.
• 3 In large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and flour with electric mixer on medium speed about 1 minute or until smooth and creamy. On low speed, beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Reserve 1/2 cup batter. Fold caramel mixture into remaining batter without mixing it in completely, leaving a few streaks. Pour over crust. Drop spoonfuls of reserved batter over the top. Cut through batter several times with knife for marbled design.
• 4 Bake 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes or until center looks almost set when pan is jiggled. Without releasing side of pan, run metal spatula carefully around cheesecake to loosen. Turn oven off; open oven door at least 4 inches. Leave cheesecake in oven 30 minutes, then remove from oven; cool completely at room temperature, about 2 hours. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Run metal spatula around cheesecake to loosen again. Remove side of pan; leave cheesecake on bottom of pan to serve.
• 5 In 1-quart saucepan, heat 30 caramels and the half-and-half over low heat, stirring frequently, until caramels are completely melted. Serve warm or cool over slices of cheesecake.