Fluffy Pumpkin Praline Cheesecake Food

ALMOST-FAMOUS PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• Brush a 10-inch springform pan with some of the butter. Stir the remaining butter with the crumbs, 1/4 cup of the sugar and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the pan, packing it tightly and evenly. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool on a rack, then wrap the outside of the springform pan with foil and place in a roasting pan.
• Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese with a mixer until smooth. Add the remaining 2 1/2 cups sugar and beat until just light, scraping down the sides of the bowl and beaters as needed. Beat in the sour cream, then add the pumpkin, eggs, vanilla, 1 teaspoon salt and the spices and beat until just combined. Pour into the cooled crust.
• Gently place the roasting pan in the oven (don't pull the rack out) and pour the boiling water into the roasting pan until it comes about halfway up the side of the springform pan. Bake until the outside of the cheesecake sets but the center is still loose, about 1 hour 45 minutes. Turn off the oven and open the door briefly to let out some heat. Leave the cheesecake in the oven for 1 more hour, then carefully remove from the roasting pan and cool on a rack. Run a knife around the edges, cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Bring the cheesecake to room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Unlock and remove the springform ring. To finish, place a dollop of the whipped cream on each slice and sprinkle with the toasted pecans.

FLUFFY PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Set aside all of your tools and ingredients for the 3 components-- which is why the ingredients are listed the way they are-- the crust, filling, and second layer glaze. (BTW, preparing the canned pumpkin gets it own step in #2) The glaze isn't like a frosting or some optional thing, you NEED to have this glaze on or the cheesecake won't have its fluffiness nor will it set right. You need at least 3 mixing bowls, two medium and one very large. You will also need an electric mixer (unless you have the strength of the Hulk to whisk all that cream cheese), a 10" pie pan, and a rubber scraper to get all of the mixtures out of their bowls.
• Prepare the pumpkin by measuring out 1/2 cup to use for the crust, and measure out 1/3 cup to use for the glaze-- the entire remainder of the 15-oz can (which should be just a little over 1 cup) is going to be used in the main cheesecake filling.
• Make the CRUST: Put 1/2 cup pumpkin, 4 tbsp butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 1/4 cups flour, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp nutmeg into a medium or large mixing bowl. Beat well with the electric mixer and put it in an ungreased 10" pie pan, be sure to use the rubber scraper to get plenty on the sides of the pain and doesn't sink all the way to the bottom.
• Bake the crust at 350 for 10 minutes and then let it cool for 10-15 minutes.
• As the crust bakes then cools, make your GLAZE: Mix 1/3 cup pumpkin, 1 cup plain yogurt, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp nutmeg. Beat softly in a medium sized mixing bowl, it should look like a bowl of orange yogurt. Cover the glaze and put in the fridge to chill for now.
• Get your large mixing bowl ready for all the ingredients for the FILLING: the remainder of the canned pumpkin, the cream cheese, 3 eggs, 1 tbsp vanilla, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1/4 cup flour, 1 1/4 cups sugar, 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and 1 1/2 tsp nutmeg. Beat slowly then quickly, until the mixture is completely smooth and melded.
• Raise the temperature to 450 (after the pan with the crust has been pulled out and I imagine it's cooled off for a while now.).
• Carefully pour the FILLING into the pan with the baked crust. When the temperature is done rising, put the pan back in the oven to bake at 450. Bake for 10 minutes.
• When the 10 minutes are up, lower the temperature to 300 and bake for 35 minutes.
• When the 35 minutes are up, remove the cheesecake from the oven and let it cool for 5-10 minutes.
• Take out your GLAZE and carefully spread it on the top of the cheesecake until there is none left. Bake for another 15 minutes at 300.
• When the 15 minutes are up, remove the cheesecake from the oven and let it cool at room temperature for 15-20 minutes.
• Cover the pan with foil and let it chill in the fridge for at least 4-6 hours before eating so the glaze can set.

PRALINE CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottom of a 9-by-9-inch square pan with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
• In a medium bowl, combine the crumbs, granulated sugar and melted butter and press into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside.
• Increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F and make the filling.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until fluffy, then add the brown sugar and flour. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla. Fold in the chopped pecans.
• Pour the batter into the crust and bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 250 degrees F and bake until slightly browned on top, an additional 50 minutes. Allow to cool completely, about 20 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Cut into 9 bars before serving.

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.

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 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.

PUMPKIN CHEESE PRALINE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper; brush pan with softened butter.
• Prepare pumpkin batter;
• In an electric mixer on medium speed, mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, baking powder and baking soda for about 30 seconds, until evenly combined. Add butter, eggs and pumpkin; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, until smooth. Scrape bowl with rubber spatula. Add flour all at once; beat on low speed for 30 seconds, until flour is evenly blended inches.
• Pour half the pumpkin batter into prepared pan. Reserve other half in a small bowl, scraping mixing bowl well.
• Using the same mixing bowl, prepare cream cheese batter:
• Beat cream cheese, egg and extracts on medium speed for abut 2 minutes, until fluffy and smooth. Add sugar; beat on medium speed for about 1 minute. Spread cream cheese batter over pumpkin batter in pan.
• Pour reserved pumpkin batter over cream cheese layer. Using a rubber spatula, cut through the batter several times through the length of the pan, then through the width of the pan, to create a marbled effect.
• Prepare topping:
• Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and brown sugar for 2 minutes, until fluffy and light in color. Add flour and pecans; bet on low speed for about 1 minute. The mixture will be crumbly.
• Sprinkle crumbs evenly over marbled batter.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. When done, the topping will have begun to brown and the top will feel slightly firm when touched gently with your fingertip. Remove from oven; let cool completely on wire rack; cut into bars.

PUMPKIN PRALINE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In medium bow, stir together all crust ingredients except pecans; press into bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Sprinkle ½ cup pecans over crust. Refrigerate while preparing filling.
• Heat oven to 300 degrees. Place cream cheese in food processor; process until smooth and creamy. Add pumpkin, 1 cup brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and allspice; pulse to combine. Add eggs two at a time; pulse until well-blended. Add rum; pulse to combine. Cheesecake also can be make with electric mixer. Pour into pan.
• Bake 65 to 75 minutes, or until edges are puffed and top is dry to the touch. Center should move slightly when pan is tapped, but should not ripple as if liquid. Cool on wire rack 1 hour. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Place ½ cup brown sugar and cream in small saucepan; heat over medium heat until sugar dissolves, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5 minutes or until thickened (you should be able to see bottom of pan when stirring). Topping will thicken more as it cools.
• Remove from heat, stir in ¾ cup pecans. Let stand until cool, 10-15 minutes. Pour over cheesecake, spreading with spatula. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until set. Store in refrigerator.