Autumn Apple Cheesecake

Crust:

1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
3 tbl. white sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Cheese Cake:

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 cups apples - peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, 3 tbl. sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and melted butter; press into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar. Mix at medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in vanilla; pour filling into the baked crust.

In a small bowl, stir together 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. Toss the cinnamon-sugar with the apples to coat. Spoon apple mixture over cream cheese layer and sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped pecans.

Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes. With a knife, loosen cake from rim of pan. Let cool and then remove the rim of pan. Chill cake before serving.