1-Preheat oven and prepare the water bath: Getting started with this apple crisp cheesecake recipe is fun and straightforward let’s walk through it together. First, preheat your oven to 350°F and set up a water bath by placing a large sheet pan half-filled with water on the bottom rack. This helps the cheesecake bake evenly and stay moist, preventing any cracking.

2-Line and press the crust: Next, line a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper on the bottom for easy removal later. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, granulated sugar, and melted butter in a bowl, then press this mixture evenly into the pan to form the crust.

3-Blend the cheesecake filling: You’ll mix the cream cheese with light brown sugar until it’s creamy, then add vanilla, cinnamon, flour, and eggs, blending just until smooth to avoid overmixing.

4-Layer apples over the batter: Pour the cheesecake batter over the crust in the pan. In another bowl, mix the diced Gala apples with light brown sugar and cinnamon, then spoon this apple mixture over the batter.

5-Add and form the crisp topping: For the topping, combine flour, quick oats, light brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter; use your hands to form large crumbs and sprinkle them evenly on top.

6-Bake, cool, and chill the cheesecake: Place the pan on the rack just above the water bath and bake for 50 to 55 minutes until set. Once done, cool the cheesecake for 5 minutes, run a knife around the edges to loosen it, and let it sit at room temperature for 1 hour before refrigerating for at least 6 hours. For more tips on perfect bakes, check out baking basics guide on our site.