Cheesecake
Turtle pumpkin cheesecake + merry mondays!
Turtle pumpkin cheesecake + merry mondays!
Ingredients
For the crust:
12 ounces gingersnaps
1/2 cup chopped pecans
6 ounces butter melted
For the cheesecake:
32 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 15 ounce can pumpkin
4 eggs at room temperature
2 1/2 tbsp heavy cream
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground allspice
For the topping:
1/2 cup whole pecans
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
caramel sauce
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Wrap a 9-inch springform pan with heavy duty foil around the edges.
To make the crust:
Pulse gingersnaps and pecans in large food processor or put them in a large plastic baggie and roll them with a rolling pin until fine crumbs.
Add melted butter and pulse more until combined. Press into prepared springform pan and bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle pecans over crust, then drizzle with caramel sauce. Set aside and reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
To make the cheesecake:
In large bowl with electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, and brown sugar until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes.
Add the pumpkin and mix on low. Scrape down sides as needed.
Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides as needed.
Add heavy cream and vanilla and beat until combined, about 1 minute.
Finally, add the spices and salt and mix well to combine.
Pour batter into prepared crust.
Place the springform pan in a large roasting pan in which the springform pan will fit and add hot water to pan about halfway up the springform pan. Note: I like to place it in the oven before adding the water so I don't have to worry about spilling the water.
Bake the cheesecake in preheated oven for 65-70 minutes, until the edges are set and the middle still jiggles a little.
Keeping the oven door closed, turn off the oven and let the cheesecake cool in oven for 1 hour.
After an hour, remove from the oven.
Take the springform pan out of waterbath and let cool on a wire rack for 2 hours. Note: it might still look a little jiggly at this point - that's okay! It will firm up completely in the refrigerator.
Lastly, place in refrigerator and let cool completely for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.
Once cooled completely, sprinkle pecans on top of cheesecake in your preferred design.
Place semi-sweet chocolate chips in a bowl and microwave in 30 second increments until melted.
Drizzle chocolate over pecans.
Warm caramel sauce in microwave for about 30 seconds.
Finally, drizzle with caramel sauce to your liking.
Serve and enjoy!
