Caramel Pumpkin Gingersnap Cheesecake Food

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH GINGERSNAP CRUST AND CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F degrees and set a rack in the lower middle position. Wrap a 9- or 10-inch springform pan with with one large piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil, covering the underside and extending all the way to the top so there are no seams on the bottom or sides of the pan. Repeat with another sheet of foil for insurance. Spray the inside of the pan with nonstick cooking spray. Pulse the gingersnaps, sugar, and melted butter in a food processor fitted with the metal blade until finely ground. Transfer the moistened crumbs into the prepared pan and press into an even layer. Bake until fragrant and set, about 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack while you prepare the filling.
• Set a kettle of water to boil (this will be used for the water bath). In a small, heavy saucepan, stir together the pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a sputter, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes, until thick, bronzed and shiny. Scrape the mixture into a large food processor fitted with the metal blade and process for 1 minute with the feed tube open.
• With the motor running, add the cold cream. Add the cream cheese (cut into chunks) and process for about 30 seconds, scraping the sides if necessary, or until smoothly incorporated. Add the eggs and process for about 5 seconds or just until incorporated (do not overmix!).
• Set the cake pan in a large roasting pan. Pour the batter into the cooled crust, and then pour enough boiling water into the large roasting pan to come about halfway up side of the cake pan. Bake until the cake is just set, 1½ to 1¾ hours. A properly cooked cheesecake will jiggle a bit when you nudge the pan, but if the center seems at all liquidy, it's not done. CAREFULLY remove the roasting pan from the oven and set on a wire rack. Run a sharp paring knife around the edges to loosen the cake from the sides of the pan. Cool until the water is just warm, about 45 minutes. Remove the springform pan from the water bath, discard the foil and set on a wire rack. Continue to cool at room temperature until barely warm, about 3 hours. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Stir the sugar, corn syrup, water and lemon juice together in a 2-cup microwave-safe measuring cup or medium glass bowl. Microwave until the caramel is pale yellow, or just barely starting to take on some color, 4-8 minutes (depending on the strength of your microwave). It's fine to stop and open the microwave to check often; just don't let it get too dark or it will burn. Let the caramel sit for 5 minutes -- it will gradually turn a rich amber color. (If after five minutes, it's not dark enough, place it back in the microwave for thirty seconds or so, then let it darken again. If it gets too dark, start over.)
• In the meantime, heat the cream in the microwave until hot. Once the caramel reaches the right color, immediately stir in the hot cream a few tablespoons at a time. It will bubble up intensely, but it won't overflow. After you've added all the cream, stir to incorporate then add the butter. Add more cream if the mixture seems too thick. Once the caramel cools, you can store it in your fridge.
• Remove the outer ring from the springform pan. Slide a thin metal spatula between the crust and pan bottom to loosen, then slide the cheesecake onto a serving platter. (Alternatively, you can keep it on the pan bottom.) If there is condensation on the top of the cheesecake, blot it gently with a flat paper towel. Let the cheesecake stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then cut it into wedges. Warm up the caramel sauce in the microwave (it stiffens in the fridge). If it's too thick, add more heavy cream to thin it out. Drizzle the caramel sauce over each piece of cheesecake and top with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream if desired.
• Note: You'll need a large food processor -- preferably with a 14-cup capacity -- to make the filling (you can also use an 11-cup, but you may have a bit of leakage). If you don't have one, it's fine to use a Kitchenaid Mixer or electric beaters for the filling and a small food processor for the crust.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cheesecake can be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze: place the cake in the freezer briefly, unwrapped, to firm it up. Then double-wrap it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place it in heavy-duty freezer bag. Thaw in the refrigerator the night before you plan to eat it.

CARAMEL PUMPKIN GINGERSNAP CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a food processor (or large Ziploc bag), crush gingersnaps. Add chopped pecans, melted butter, brown sugar, and salt, and pulse (or mix) until thoroughly combined. Press into bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan. Chill for 20-30 minutes.
• In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add pumpkin and spices and mix again. Add eggs one at a time, mixing for 20 seconds between each addition. Add cream and mix until just combined.
• Remove crust from fridge. Pour 1/2 jar of caramel topping on crust. (This can be omitted. See note below.) Sprinkle caramel with chopped pecans. Gently pour cheesecake filling into pan. Even out the top with a flat spatula.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes, or until no longer soupy. Cheesecake should still be somewhat jiggly.
• Cool on counter for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, pour the rest of the caramel topping over the top. Smooth with a flat spatula until evenly smooth. Cover and chill cheesecake for another four hours or overnight.
• When ready to serve, remove rim from pan and slice. Sprinkle each slice with extra crushed gingersnaps.

CARAMEL PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300°F. Wrap outside bottom and side of 9-inch springform pan with foil. Spray inside of pan with cooking spray. Mix crust ingredients; press in bottom and 1 inch up side of pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 10 minutes.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in sugar. On low speed, beat in eggs, one at a time, just until blended. Spoon 3 cups of the mixture onto crust; spread evenly. Add pumpkin and pie spice to remaining cream cheese mixture; mix with wire whisk until smooth. Spoon over mixture in pan.
• Bake 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes or until edge is set but center still jiggles slightly. Turn oven off; open door 4 inches. Leave cheesecake in oven 30 minutes. Run knife around edge of pan to loosen. Cool on cooling rack 30 minutes. Refrigerate 6 hours or overnight. Run knife around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake; carefully remove side of pan. Top with whipped topping and candied pecans. Drizzle with caramel topping.

CARAMEL PUMPKIN PECAN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Chop 1/4 cup nuts finely; place in medium bowl. Add gingersnap crumbs and butter; mix well. Press onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan.
• Beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add pumpkin, spice and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 45 min. or until center is almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate 4 hours.
• Microwave caramels and milk in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until caramels are completely melted, stirring every 30 sec.; spoon over individual servings of cheesecake. Sprinkle with remaining nuts. Serve with whipped cream.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH WALNUT-GINGER CRUST AND CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place cookie crumbs, walnuts, and 3 tablespoons sugar in a food processor and pulse 3 or 4 times until combined; add butter and pulse 4 or 5 times, or until crumbly. Wrap the outside of a 10-inch springform pan with aluminum foil, then press cookie mixture into the bottom and 1 inch up the sides. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Cool crust completely on a wire rack. Reduce oven heat to 325 degrees.
• Beat cream cheese with an electric mixer at medium speed 3 minutes, or until creamy. Gradually add brown sugar and the remaining 3/4 cup sugar, beating 4 minutes, or until blended.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until yellow disappears. Add pumpkin, whipping cream, and pumpkin-pie spice. Beat on low speed of an electric mixer just until blended. Do not overbeat. Pour batter over prepared crust.
• Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until almost set (it will still jiggle in the center). Remove from oven; run a knife around edge of pan. Cool on a wire rack 1 hour. Chill 8 hours or overnight. Garnish with walnut halves and serve with Caramel Sauce.
• Caramel Sauce: Melt butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat; add brown sugar and corn syrup, then cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Gradually add cream, stirring constantly. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE IN A GINGERSNAP CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch springform pan.
• Using a fork, combine gingersnaps, hazelnuts, 3 tablespoons brown sugar and melted butter. Press mixture onto the bottom and two inches up the sides of the pan to form the crust.
• With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the pumpkin. Mix in the cream, maple syrup, cinnamon, allspice and vanilla. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing until smooth.
• Pour batter into prepared crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 90 minutes, or until center of cheesecake is set. Allow to cool in pan for 30 minutes, then refrigerate overnight.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH CARAMEL SWIRL

Steps:

• For Crust: Preheat oven to 350°F Finely grind ground cookies, pecans and sugar in processor.
• Add melted butter and blend until combined.
• Press crust mixture onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides.
• For Filling: Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl until light.
• Transfer 3/4 cup mixture to small bowl; cover tightly and refrigerate to use for topping.
• Add pumpkin, 4 tablespoons whipping cream, ground cinnamon and ground allspice to mixture in large bowl and beat until well combined.
• Add eggs 1 at a time, beating just until combined.
• Pour filling into crust (filling will almost fill pan).
• Bake until cheesecake puffs, top browns and center moves only slightly when pan is shaken, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Transfer cheesecake to rack and cool 10 minutes.
• Run small sharp knife around cake pan sides to loosen cheesecake.
• Cool.
• Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight.
• Bring remaining 3/4 cup cream cheese mixture to room temperature.
• Add remaining 5 tablespoons whipping cream to cream cheese mixture and stir to combine.
• Press down firmly on edges of cheesecake to even thickness.
• Pour cream cheese mixture over cheesecake, spreading evenly.
• Spoon caramel sauce in lines over cream cheese mixture.
• Using tip of knife, swirl caramel sauce into cream cheese mixture.
• (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.).
• Release pan sides from cheesecake.
• Spoon sour cream into pastry bag fitted with small star tip (do not stir before using).
• Pipe decorative border around cheesecake and serve.