Chipotle Chocolate Cheesecake In Pecan Crust Food

CHOCOLATE-PECAN PIE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325ºF.
• Use pulsing action to blend 2 cups nuts in blender until finely ground; mix with 1 Tbsp. flour, 1/4 cup sugar and half the butter. Press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake 10 min.
• Beat cream cheese, 1/2 cup of the remaining sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add 2 eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour cream cheese mixture over crust. Bake 25 min.
• Meanwhile, toss chocolate and remaining nuts with remaining flour in large bowl until evenly coated. Beat corn syrup and remaining sugar, butter and eggs in medium bowl with whisk until blended. Add to nut mixture; mix well.
• Spoon nut mixture gently over cheesecake. Bake 35 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours.

MINI CHOCOLATE-PECAN-CARAMEL CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 24-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
• Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until fine crumbs form. Add the butter and sugar, then pulse until well combined. Distribute the crumbs among the prepared cups, about 2 tablespoons in each, and press to firm them up.
• For the filling: Beat the cream cheese in an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth. Mix in the sugar and eggs. Add the vanilla and 3 tablespoons of the salted caramel and mix again. Distribute the batter among the muffin cups, about 3 tablespoons per cup. Tap the tin on the counter to distribute the batter evenly.
• Bake, watching to make sure they don't burn, until set in the middle, 15 to 17 minutes. Cool on a wire rack, then chill for 2 hours.
• For the ganache: Place the chopped chocolate in a bowl and set aside. Heat the cream in a saucepan until warm and bubbles begin to form around the edges, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour over the chocolate and allow to sit for 2 minutes. Mix until smooth, then set aside to cool slightly.
• Place about 1 tablespoon ganache on top of each cheesecake. Sprinkle the top with the pecan pieces and mini chocolate chips. Drizzle with the remaining 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon caramel and freeze, uncovered, for 1 hour. Transfer to an airtight freezer container and freeze for up to 3 months.
• Allow to thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE PIE WITH GRAHAM CRACKER AND PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the graham cracker crumbs, pecans, 1/2 cup of the sugar, the salt and butter in a food processor and pulse in short bursts until well combined.
• Scoop the graham cracker mixture into a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the mixture into an even layer, covering the bottom and sides of the pan.
• Place the pan on a baking sheet and bake until set, about 15 minutes. Set aside on a rack to cool.
• Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Combine the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar, cream cheese and vanilla extract in a bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Add the eggs to the mixture one at a time, making sure to completely incorporate each egg before adding the next. Add the pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice and beat until smooth.
• Transfer the pumpkin mixture to the cooled crust, place on a baking sheet and bake in the oven until firm in the center, about 50 minutes. Remove and cool on a rack. Refrigerate until completely chilled before serving, about 2 hours. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.

CHOCOLATE PECAN CHEESECAKE PIE

Steps:

• 1. Fill a deep dish pie plate with crust.
• 2. Beat cream cheese, 1 egg, 1/2 c sugar, salt, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla until smooth.
• 3. Pour dark chocolate chips into microwaveable dish and add the whipping cream. Microwave on 50% power until morsels just start to melt (about 1 minute). Remove from microwave and stir with a fork until combined and smooth.
• 4. Pour corn syrup, melted butter, 3 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/4 cup of sugar into a medium bowl. Whisk until thoroughly combined. Stir in pecans.
• 5. Pour chocolate mixture into the pie crust and smooth out with a spatula until evenly distributed.
• 6. Pour cream cheese mixture over chocolate and smooth out until evenly distributed.
• 7. Then pour pecan mixture over cream cheese mixture and even out on top of the cream cheese mixture.
• 8. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 55 minutes (or until set). Cool completely on a wire rack. Store leftovers (if you have any!) in the refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE PECAN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine caramels and evaporated milk. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until smooth; stir in 1/2 cup pecans. Pour into crust. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. , Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. In a small bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes; beat into cream cheese mixture until blended. Spread over caramel mixture. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Before serving, drizzle with hot fudge topping and sprinkle with remaining pecans.

CHIPOTLE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE IN PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the melted butter, pecans, chiles, salt, honey and flour with a fork in a large bowl. Mix it gently but thoroughly. Press the sticky dough into a buttered 9 1/2 inch glass pie dish. Flute the edges. Poke bottom of crust in 12 places with a fork to prevent puffing. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, until set, in the preheated oven. Cool thoroughly. For the filling: Cream the creamcheese with a wooden spoon until no lumps remain. Beat in the honey, cocoa powder, chile powder, and yogurt, in that order. (I guess a food processor could be used here, but I don't.) Scrape the filling into cooled crust, swirling the it attractively with a rubber spatula. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Remove from refrigerator just before serving. Cut into 12 servings, then sprinkle the slices evenly with chocolate and chiles, and serve.

CHIPOTLE CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine 2 tablespoons each butter and flour, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper in a saucepan; whisk over medium heat until foamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in 1 cup milk; cook, whisking, until thick, about 4 minutes. Add 3/4 cup grated Colby cheese, 1/4 cup chopped canned green chiles (drained), 1 diced plum tomato and 1 to 2 tablespoons chipotle hot sauce; stir until creamy.

PECAN-PIE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the crust: Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter the inside of the springform pan.
• Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter, sugar and salt, and pulse until the mixture comes together and holds its shape when squeezed. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and press it into the bottom to make an even layer. Bake until the crust is just firm, about 10 minutes. Remove and let cool completely. Place the pan on a large piece of foil, and fold the foil up the sides of the pan. (This helps seal the pan, to keep water out while baking.)
• For the filling: Wipe out the food processor. Pulse the cream cheese, sugar and sour cream until completely smooth, without any lumps, scraping down the sides of the bowl a few times. Add the eggs and vanilla, and pulse until incorporated. Pour the filling into the crust, and set the pan inside a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to go halfway up the sides of the springform pan (but not above the foil).
• Bake the cheesecake until the edge is set but the center jiggles slightly (when you gently shake the pan, the cheesecake should move in a cohesive wave motion), 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off, and open the door for a few seconds to let out some heat. Close the door, and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until cooked completely through, 1 hour more.
• Transfer the springform pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge, and let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
• For the topping: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the pecans out on a baking sheet, and bake until they turn a few shades darker and are nicely toasted, about 15 minutes. Let cool, then halve each pecan lengthwise.
• Meanwhile, heat the cream, butter, corn syrup, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat until just steaming. Reduce the heat to low to keep the cream mixture warm.
• Cook the sugar in an even layer in a medium skillet over medium heat, without stirring, until it begins to melt. Gently swirl the pan as needed as the sugar continues to melt and begins to caramelize and turn lightly golden in spots. Keep cooking and swirling until the caramel is a uniform deep amber. Remove from the heat, and slowly whisk in the warm cream mixture (watch out for ferocious bubbles). Return the caramel sauce to medium heat, and cook to reduce slightly, about 2 minutes. Let cool. To see if the sauce is ready for topping the cheesecake, dip a spoon into it and let the sauce drop off; it's ready if it easily and slowly drips off the spoon. (The sauce can be refrigerated up to 2 days; reheat in the microwave.)
• To assemble: Spoon the sauce into the center of the cheesecake, and let it ooze to the edge. If needed, swirl the sauce with the back of a spoon to help it along. Sprinkle the pecans in a generous layer over the sauce. The cheesecake can now be served or refrigerated for up to 4 hours.
• To slice the cake, dip a sharp, heavy knife into warm water, wipe the knife dry and slice into the cake. Wipe the knife clean and repeat.

CHIPOTLE DARK CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a standard cupcake or muffin pan with 12 cupcake liners.
• In medium bowl, whisk together with an electric mixer or hand whisk the flour mix, granulated sugar, cocoa, baking powder, chipotle powder, cinnamon, salt and xanthan gum until well integrated. Add in the soy milk, oil, espresso, vanilla and vinegar, and mix until smooth.
• Fill the cupcake liners three-quarters-full with batter. Place 1 chunk of chipotle chocolate into the center of each cupcake and bake until baked through, 13 to 15 minutes. Cool the cupcakes completely.
• For the buttercream: Whip the powdered sugar, cocoa, butter spread, soy milk and vanilla with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Put into a pastry bag and cut 1/2-inch off the tip.
• To assemble: Generously frost the top of each cupcake with the chocolate buttercream frosting.

SWEET POTATO CHEESECAKE WITH PECAN-CRUMB CRUST

Steps:

• Set oven to 425 degrees.
• FOR CRUST: combine crust ingredients well, and press into a 10-inch springform pan.
• Beat cream cheese, sugar and all eggs until smooth.
• Mix in whipping cream.
• Beat in flour, cinnamon and ginger.
• Beat in well-mashed sweet potatoes until well combined.
• Pour the batter into prepared crust.
• Bake at 425 degrees for 15 mins; lower heat to 275 degrees, and bake 1 hour more.
• Turn heat off, and leave in oven to cool for several hours, or cool on a wire rack.
• Leave in fridge for 8-9 hours, or overnight to set.
• Serve with sweetened whipped cream or caramel topping.

CREAMY CHEESECAKE WITH PECAN CRUST AND SOUR CREAM TOPPING

Steps:

• To make crust, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Process graham crackers in a food processor until they become fine crumbs or put them in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin. Measure out 1-1/2 cups.
• Chop pecan halves. Mix cracker crumbs with pecans and sugar. Add melted butter and mix well.
• Lightly butter a 9-inch springform pan. Press mixture in an even layer on bottom and about 1 inch up the sides of pan. Bake in oven for 10 minutes. Let cool completely. Leave oven set at 350 degrees.
• To make filling, beat cream cheese with sour cream at low speed until very smooth. Gradually beat in sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Beat in lemon zest. If using vanilla bean, scrape its seeds with point of a knife into cheese mixture, or stir in vanilla extract.
• Carefully pour filling into cooled crust and bake for about 45 minutes or until firm in center. Remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes. Raise oven temperature to 425 degrees.
• To make topping, mix together sour cream, sugar and vanilla. Carefully spread topping on cake in an even layer without letting it drip over crust.
• Return cake to oven and bake for 8 minutes or until topping sets. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
• Remove sides of springform pan just before serving.