Goat cheese cheesecake is smothered in bourbon apple butter and drizzled with bourbon cajeta for a luscious, boozy dessert.

Sometimes, recipes just easily fall together in my mind as soon as a specific ingredient makes its way home.

At a recent ATX Swappers event, where we swap homemade goods like jam and pickles, I nabbed a jar of bourbon apple butter, and as I made my way home that night I knew it was destined for a cheesecake.

That cheesecake had to be made with goat cheese, something I’ve been planning to do for quite a while. Now, it’s not 100% goat cheese, but the amount used provides enough of the distinctive tang that you know from first bite this dessert is special.

Smothering it with apple butter didn’t hurt of course, and neither did using a nice drizzling of bourbon cajeta, making it even more boozy and, well, goat-based.

Cajeta is made from goat’s milk like dulce de leche is made from cow’s milk, and while it isn’t hard to make yourself, I highly recommend buying it from a local vendor if you can.

Mine comes from Blue Heron Farm, which makes both regular and bourbon cajeta. Opt for the regular if you don’t want a clear bourbon flavor on your dessert or if you have kids eating it — it’s strong!

For the adults, though, this dessert is a showstopper. Using apple butter on top means you don’t need to worry about the top cracking. Any cracks will be covered, and extra apple butter can slide right down in there to fill the cracks cozily.

Bourbon Cajeta Apple Butter Goat Cheese Cheesecake is a mouthful to say, but you don’t have to say a word when you place this one on the table during the holidays!

This recipe is part of the November Progressive Eats!

Welcome to another edition of Progressive Eats, our virtual version of a progressive dinner party. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, a progressive dinner involves going from house to house, enjoying a different course at each location. With Progressive Eats, a theme is chosen each month, members share recipes suitable for a delicious meal or party, and you can hop from blog to blog to check them out.

We have a core group of 12 bloggers, but we will always need substitutes and if there is enough interest would consider additional groups. To see our upcoming themes and how you can participate, please check out the schedule at Creative Culinary or contact Barb for more information.

This month’s theme is Great Holiday Desserts hosted by Jenni Field at Pastry Chef Online. Cookies, Cakes, Pies and more for your holiday party planning!

Great Holiday Desserts

Cakes

• Brown Sugar Pumpkin Cheesecake with Bourbon and Caramel Sauce
• Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Cake Roll
• Bourbon Cajeta Apple Butter Goat Cheese Cheesecake
• Mini Mascarpone Cheesecakes
• Vanilla Rum-Chocolate Chestnut Saint Honoré

Desserts

• Warm Apple Buttermilk Custard Crisp

Candies

• Orange and Ginger Dark Chocolate Bark

Cookies

• Pecan Tassies
• Nutella Stuffed Oatmeal Cookies (Gluten Free)

Pies and Tarts

• Coffee Pecan Tart
• Individual Raspberry Mascarpone Tarts (GF)
• Mini Pomegranate Ganache Tarts (GF)

Bourbon Cajeta Apple Goat Cheese Cheesecake

Yield: 12 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

This cheesecake features the addition of flavorful goat cheese, topped with caramel and apple butter!

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Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1 3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
• 6 tablespoons melted butter
• 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 8 ounces goat cheese, not crumbles, softened
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon bourbon, optional
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup apple butter
• 1/4 cup cajeta

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Mix together graham cracker crumbs, 1/2 cup sugar, and melted butter. Press into bottom and partway up the side of a 9-inch springform pan. Place on a rimmed baking sheet.
3. Bake for 8 minutes, then set aside to cool.
4. Reduce oven to 325°F.
5. Using a stand mixer, beat together cream cheese and goat cheese until blended, then beat in lemon juice, bourbon (if using), and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, scrape down sides, and beat 1 minute more to make sure ingredients are fully incorporated and mixture is smooth.
6. Pour batter into crust and bake for 50-60 minutes, until center is set.
7. Let cool completely, then cover with apple butter. Loosen from springform and drizzle with cajeta just before serving.

Notes

If you don't have cajeta, use dulce de leche or simply caramel sauce.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Sunbeam Stand Mixer with Dough Hooks and Beaters
• 
  9 Inch Non-stick Springform Pan
• 
  OXO Good Grips 3-piece Mixing Bowl Set

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 458Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 124mgSodium: 327mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 1gSugar: 42gProtein: 9g

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