Mini Pecan Pie Cheesecakes Food

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.

MINI PECAN PIE CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Grease a 12-cup muffin tin generously with melted butter, including the entire top of the pan.
• Dust a flat work surface with flour. Unroll 1 pie crust at a time, refrigerating the other while you work. Cut into 4 circles using a 4-inch round cookie cutter. Roll dough scraps into a ball; roll out and cut out 1 more circle. Repeat with the remaining crust to yield 10 circles total.
• Place dough circles into the muffin cups, working quickly, by pressing down centers and ensuring dough is in full contact with the sides. Smooth down the top edges so the mini pie shells are uniform and even with the top of each cup. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Beat cream cheese, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon bourbon, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt in a bowl using an electric mixer until cheesecake mixture is well combined and no lumps remain, scraping down sides of the bowl as necessary.
• Whisk corn syrup, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon bourbon, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt together in a separate bowl to make the pecan pie filling.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Move oven rack to the lowest part of the oven.
• Fill the chilled crusts 2/3-full with the cheesecake mixture using an ice cream scoop with a lever. Knock the bottom of the muffin tin onto the counter to expel air bubbles. Top each pie with 1 tablespoon chopped pecans; fill to the top with pecan pie filling. Garnish the center of each pie with a pecan half.
• Bake on the lowest rack in the preheated oven until puffed and golden, about 40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for at least 2 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.

PECAN PIE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter. Press evenly into bottom and halfway up the side of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 6-8 minutes; set aside to cool.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 6 tablespoons butter. Add 1/2 cup light brown sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to bubble and sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in dark corn syrup, 1 1/2 cup chopped pecans, eggs, vanilla extract and salt. Pour into prepared crust; set aside.
• In a stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat cream cheese, 1 cup light brown sugar and flour until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until just combined. Add 1 cup heavy cream and stir until well combined. Pour over pecan pie filling and place springform pan on a baking sheet. Bake for 60-70 minutes until cake jiggles slightly when moved or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Turn off oven and leave cake in for 1 hour, then remove from oven and let cool completely.
• To Make the Pecan Topping:
• Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and cook until bubbling, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 1/2 cups toasted pecans, 1/3 cup heavy cream and pinch of salt. Let cool to room temperature then spoon over.
• cooled cheesecake. Slice to serve or store refrigerated.

PHILADELPHIA MINI CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Combine graham crumbs, 2 Tbsp. sugar and butter; press onto bottoms of 18 paper-lined muffin cups.
• Beat cream cheese, vanilla and remaining sugar with mixer until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Spoon over crusts.
• Bake 25 to 30 min. or until centers are almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate 2 hours.
• Beat whipping cream with mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form; spread onto cheesecakes. Top with blueberries and zest.

SOUTHERN PECAN PIE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°.
• Thaw pecan pie according to package directions.
• Cut evenly into 20 thin slices, keeping wedges intact, and set aside.
• Line the outside of a 10-inch springform pan tightly with foil.
• Stir together cracker crumbs and next 3 ingredients; press mixture onto bottom and 1 1/2-inches up sides of a 10-inch springform pan.
• Arrange 10 pecan pie wedges in a spoke design in prepared pan, placing 1 cut side of each wedge on crust with narrow end towards center of pan.
• Reserve remaining pecan pie wedges for another use.
• Beat cream cheese until smooth; add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition.
• Add sour cream, half-and-half, and vanilla; beat until blended.
• Fold in powdered sugar and flour.
• Carefully pour cream cheese mixture evenly over pecan pie wedges in pan, making sure wedges remain in place.
• Arrange pecan halves evenly around edge.
• Bake at 325° for 50 minutes in a water bath.
• Turn off oven, and let cheesecake stand in oven 1 hour.
• Remove to a wire rack, and let cool completely.
• Chill at least 8 hours or overnight before serving.
• Note: Baking in a water bath means that you set the cheesecake in a roasting pan filled with about an inch of water.
• The foil should keep the water out.