Fluffy Pumpkin Cheesecake Food

THE BEST PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• For the crust: Add the gingersnap cookies, melted butter and salt to a food processor. Process until the crumb mixture looks like coarse sand, about 30 seconds. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 10-inch springform pan. Bake the crust until it is fragrant and golden brown, about 12 minutes.
• Remove the crust to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes. Wrap the bottom and sides of the pan tightly with foil and place in a roasting pan.
• For the filling: Add the cream cheese to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar and beat, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed with a rubber spatula, until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the sour cream, vanilla and salt and beat just until combined.
• Scoop 3 cups of the cheesecake filling into a medium bowl. Add the pumpkin puree, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and 1/4 cup water and stir with a rubber spatula until well combined. Bring a pot or kettle of water to a boil.
• Fill a 1-cup measure with plain cheesecake filling and pour into the center of the cooled crust. Fill a 1-cup measure with pumpkin filling and pour into the center of the plain filling. The batter will spread as you add alternating scoops, widening to form concentric circles. Repeat with the remaining batter in 1/2-cup increments alternating between flavors, until all the batter is used.
• Carefully place the roasting pan in the oven (don't pull the rack out of the oven). Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come about halfway up the sides of the foil-wrapped pan.
• Bake until the top of the cheesecake is lightly browned around the edges, but the center is still jiggly, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until the center becomes just slightly jiggly, about 1 hour (see Cook's Note).
• Carefully remove the cheesecake from the roasting pan to a wire rack. Cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours and up to overnight.
• For the spiced pumpkin seeds: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Toss the pumpkin seeds, oil, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, salt and cloves in a small bowl. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet and roast until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• For the pumpkin caramel: Melt the sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat until caramelized and dark amber (a digital instant-read or candy thermometer should register 245 degrees F), about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally with a whisk. Lower the heat to low. Carefully whisk in the heavy cream and butter and continue stirring until melted, about 1 minute. Whisk in the pumpkin puree, cinnamon, salt, vanilla, ginger and cloves until combined. Remove from heat and let cool slightly before serving.
• To serve: Let the cheesecake sit at room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Unlock the springform pan and remove the ring. Sprinkle the spiced pumpkin seeds around the top outer edge of the cheesecake. Dip a knife in a warm water and wipe dry before slicing each piece. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of the pumpkin caramel.

GINA'S PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Crust:
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add the gingersnaps to the bowl of a food processor, and pulse until crumbly. Transfer to a large bowl and add the melted butter. Stir until evenly mixed. Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with 3-inch sides. Bake the crust until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let cool completely while preparing the filling.
• Filling:
• Put a teakettle filled with water on the stovetop, over medium heat, and bring to a boil.
• In a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese and sugar and beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the pumpkin and beat until incorporated. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, then add the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and vanilla, and beat until blended. Add the flour and beat until incorporated.
• Wrap the sides and bottom of the springform pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Pour the filling into the pan and put it in a small roasting pan. Pour the hot water from the teakettle into the roasting pan, filling halfway up the sides of the springform pan, about 1 1/2 inches. Bake until the center of the cheesecake moves slightly when the pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Remove the cake from the water bath and let it cool on a wire rack.
• Once cooled, use a paring knife to loosen the sides of the cake from the pan. Chill the cheesecake for at least 4 hours before serving. Serve with Cinnamon Whipped Cream.
• Pour the heavy cream into a large bowl and beat with an electric hand mixer until thick and frothy. Add the confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon, and beat until medium peaks form.

FLUFFY PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE PIE

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and pumpkin pie spice on medium speed until smooth.
• Stir in pumpkin.
• Add eggs, and mix until blended.
• Place crust on a baking sheet and pour filling into crust.
• Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until center is almost set.
• Cool completely on wire rack.
• Refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.
• Garnish with whipped topping (and spices, chocolate morsels, etc.) if desired.

FLUFFY PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE PIE

Steps:

• In large mixing bowl beat cream cheese on medium speed until fluffy.
• Add sugar & spice - beat until combined.
• Add eggs, one @ a time, mixing until just combined after each addition.
• Stir in pumpkin.
• Pour into crust and bake @ 350 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until center is almost set.
• Cool for 1 hour on wire rack.
• Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving.
• * Soften cream cheese in microwave @ high for 15 to 20 seconds.
• ** May substitute 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves in place of pumpkin pie spice.

FLUFFY PUMPKIN PRALINE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese, granulated sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add pumpkin; mix on low speed just until blended. Stir in 2 cups COOL WHIP. Spoon into crust.
• Refrigerate 3 hours or until set.
• Meanwhile, microwave butter, brown sugar and 1/2 cup COOL WHIP in small microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min.; stir. Microwave 1 more min., stirring every 30 seconds. (Mixture will be very hot.) Stir in nuts. Cool to room temperature. Spread praline topping over cheesecake just before serving; top with remaining COOL WHIP.

RICH AND CREAMY PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Wrap a double layer of WIDE heavy-duty aluminum foil around the outside of a 10-inch springform pan. (To make it watertight).
• Combine the graham crackers, sugar, and cinnamon, drizzle the melted butter over crumbs and mix.
• Press the crumbs over the bottom (not the sides) of the prepared pan.
• Bake in the middle of the oven until the crust is slightly golden, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer to a wire rack and cool while preparing the filling.
• To make the Filling: Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy.
• Beat the eggs one at a time.
• Add the pumpkin, cream, vanilla and spices and beat just until mixed.
• Pour the filing into the prepared crust.
• Place the springform pan in a large roasting pan and add hot water to come halfway up the sides of the springform pan.
• Bake the cheesecake until the filling is slightly puffed and softly set and the top is golden, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Transfer the cheesecake to a wire rack to cool.
• Cover and refrigerate the cake overnight.
• Use a knife to cut around the side of the pan to loosen the cheesecake.