To give the cheesecake batter a deeper, more fragrant taste, add actual vanilla bean seeds.
To create a warm, savory base that goes well with the apples, incorporate cinnamon into the crust's components.
To add caramel overtones to the cheesecake filling, use brown sugar rather than white sugar.
For an added apple punch, lightly coat the crust with apple butter before adding the cheesecake filling.
For a richer, caramelized sweetness, include a little amount of maple syrup in the cheesecake filling or apples.