Pumpkin Brulee Cheesecake Food

PUMPKIN CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• In a medium saucepan, heat the cream, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves over medium heat, stirring occasionally, just until it comes to a boil. Immediately turn off the heat and set aside to infuse at least 15 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the granulated sugar. Whisking constantly, gradually pour in the hot cream mixture. Whisk in the pumpkin puree. Pour the mixture into 4 ovenproof ramekins and arrange in a hot water bath. Bake in the center of the oven until almost set but still a bit soft in the center, 30 to 40 minutes. The custard should "shimmy" a bit when you shake the pan; it will firm up more as it cools. Remove from the water bath and let cool 15 minutes. Tightly cover each ramekin with plastic wrap, making sure the plastic does not touch the surface of the custard. Refrigerate at least 2 hours, and up to 24 hours.
• When ready to serve, preheat a broiler to very hot (or fire up your kitchen torch). Uncover the chilled custards. Pour as much coarse sugar as will fit onto the top of 1 of the custards. Pour off the remaining sugar onto the next custard. Repeat until all the custards are coated. Discard any remaining sugar. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet or in a roasting pan and broil until the sugar is melted and well browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool 1 minute before serving.

PUMPKIN BRULEE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Grease 9-inch springform pan; line side with parchment or waxed paper. Centre pan on square of heavy duty foil; press to side of pan.
• In bowl, combine cookie crumbs, pecans and butter; press evenly over bottom pan. Bake in 350°F oven for 10 minutes or until firm to the touch. Let cool on rack.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese with granulated sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time; beat in sour cream. Beat in pumpkin, cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, nutmeg and cloves; pour over crust, smoothing top.
• Place pan in roasting pan; pour enough hot water into roasting pan to come 1-inch up side. Bake in 350°F oven for about 50 minutes or until edge is puffed and centre is just set.
• Turn oven off; let cool in water bath in oven, with door closed, for 1 hour. Remove pan from water. Remove foil; let cool completely in pan on rack. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until chilled, or for up to 24 hours. Score into 12 servings.
• On greased foil-lined baking sheet, trace 9-inch circle; with spatula, spread brown sugar evenly over circle.
• With oven door ajar and watching closely, broil sugar for 2 to 3 minutes or until bubbling and starting to darken, rotating pan to melt evenly. With greased knife, immediately cut into 12 triangles; let harden. To serve, break along cuts; with tips at centre, stand long edge of each at 45 degree angle on scored lines.
• TIPS: Cheesecakes require gently heating, so they require cooking in a bain-marie (water bath) to ensure even, moist cooking.
• Even baking is also ensured by baking in a low oven, not opening the oven at all during the first 30 minutes of baking, and bringing the cake slowly to room temperature once baked. This means letting the cheesecake gently cool down in the oven for 1 hour, then letting it come to room temperature before chilling it overnight.
• Canadian Living Cooks Step by Step.