Caramel Apple Cheesecake

My favorite kind of cooking and baking is trying new recipes.  It is painful for me to make the same things over and over and over again.  I discovered this Caramel Apple Cheesecake recipe on Taste of Home.  The caramel is both on the bottom and over the top of the cheese cake which is quite delicious.  I cut the apples very thinly and small to help evenly distribute them throughout the cheesecake.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake
Taste of Home:  http://www.tasteofhome.com/

1-1/2 cups cinnamon graham cracker crumbs (about 8 whole crackers)
3/4 cup sugar, divided
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 package (14 ounces) caramels   
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup chopped pecans, divided (I used more than the recipe calls for)
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1-1/2 cups chopped peeled apples
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan.

In a small bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar and butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of prepared pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.

In a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, cook and stir caramels and milk until melted and smooth. Pour 1 cup over crust; sprinkle with 1/4 cup pecans. Set remaining caramel mixture aside.

In a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, cook and stir caramels and milk until melted and smooth. Pour 1 cup over crust; sprinkle with 1/4 cup pecans. Set remaining caramel mixture aside.

Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. Bake for 40 minutes. Reheat reserved caramel mixture if necessary; gently spoon over cheesecake. Sprinkle with remaining pecans.

Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until center is just set. Remove pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan.