1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Lightly grease a 23cm springform tin* with a loose bottom or line it with a piece of baking parchment and set aside.

2. Add the cookies to a freezer bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Melt the butter and add it to the freezer bag together with the salt – mix until well combined. Transfer the moist cookie crumbs to the baking tin and press them down to create an even layer. Bake the cookie base in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes, then take it out and let it cool down for some time. While the base is in the oven, you can prepare the other components of the cake. Do not turn off the oven when done with the base.

3. For the streusel topping, mix the flour with the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground ginger in a bowl. Add the butter in small pieces and use your fingers to rub everything together until you get different-sized streusels. If you like your streusel topping a little crunchier, you can mix in 2 tbsp. of rolled oats as well (optional). Place the streusels in the fridge until needed.

4. For the cheesecake filling, mix cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Whisk the eggs separately until broken up, then add them to the bowl and stir in. Set the mixture aside.

5. Peel, quarter, and core the apples, then cut them into slices. Mix the apples with brown sugar, cornstarch, and ground cinnamon. Chop the walnuts and mix them with the apples.

6. Pour the cheesecake filling onto the cooled cookie crust and smooth it out. Carefully spoon the apple mixture onto the cheesecake layer, then sprinkle the streusels evenly on top. Bake the cheesecake for about 55-60 minutes – the streusels should have a golden brown color. Remove the cake from the oven and let it to cool down on a wire rack. Once cooled, place the cake in the fridge for at least 6 hours (or overnight).

7. Remove the properly cooled cake from the baking tin and place it on a serving plate. Before serving, drizzle with caramel sauce as desired – either the entire cake or individual slices. Enjoy!