Directions
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Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper. Don’t forget to grease the parchment as well for easy removal later.
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In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks with 1/2 cup of granulated sugar until the mixture becomes thick and pale yellow. Stir in the vanilla extract, unsweetened applesauce, and vegetable oil until smooth and well combined.
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In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the egg yolk mixture. Mix until the batter becomes smooth and unified. Gently fold in the finely chopped apples and chopped walnuts if you are using them.
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In a clean bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. This step is crucial for achieving a fluffy cake texture.
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Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the apple batter, making sure to keep the mixture light and airy.
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Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake in your preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean when it’s done. Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan before proceeding.
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For the cheesecake filling, beat the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. In another bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form, then gently fold this into the cream cheese mixture to create a light, fluffy filling.
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For the caramel sauce, place granulated sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the sugar melts into a thick amber liquid. Carefully add the butter, stirring until it melts, and then slowly stir in the heavy cream. Add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor. Allow the caramel to cool slightly.
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Once the cake has cooled, layer the cheesecake filling on top, spreading it evenly. Drizzle the homemade caramel sauce generously over the cheesecake layer, making sure it glistens invitingly. For an elegant touch, dust the top with powdered sugar before serving.
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