Cream Cheesy Apple Pie

This is the time for apples in New England! And this is truly a scrumptious apple dessert! You could make it with a store-bought pie crust, home-made pastry, or even a graham cracker shell. The cream cheese adds a certain moisture and sharpness which goes perfectly with the apples and cranberries. This one's definitely a keeper!

 

 

Base:
8 oz cream cheese (softened in the microwave for 30 seconds)
1/4 C brown sugar
1 egg, whisked
Store-bought pie crust, home-made pastry or graham cracker shell

Filling:
2 to 3 cups of apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 C dried cranberries (soaked in orange juice for 10 minutes and drained)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 C apple sauce

Topping:
1/3 C flour
1/3 C oats
1/4 C brown sugar
1/2 stick of unsalted butter, chilled and grated
1/3 C walnuts, chopped

Method:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Mix the softened cream cheese and 1/4 C brown sugar with a wooden spoon until well-blended. Add the egg and spread the mixture onto the pie shell base.
3. Mix the chopped apples, cranberries, 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Stir in the apple sauce, and  pour over the cream cheese mixture.
4. Mix flour, oats, 1/4 C brown sugar, and 1/2 tsp of cinnamon. Cut in the butter and rub the mixture until it resembles breadcrumbs. Then add in the chopped walnuts.
5. Bake for about 45 minutes until golden brown. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice-cream.