Pumpkin Cheesecake With Cinnamon Whipped Cream Food

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Prepare the crust: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, melted butter and dash of salt in a large bowl; stir until all crumbs are moistened. (If making the crumbs from whole crackers, use a food processor to pulse the crackers to a fine consistency, then add the sugar, melted butter and salt, and pulse again to combine.)
• Add the crumb mixture to the springform pan and use the bottom of a measuring cup to press it in an even layer and up the edges of the pan by about 1 inch. Bake until the crust is set, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.
• As the crust cools, make the filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using an electric mixer, combine the cream cheese and sugar. Beat on low until smooth and combined, about 1 minute.
• In a small bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Continuing to mix on low speed, add the spice mixture, pumpkin purée and vanilla to the filling. Mix until smooth, about 1 minute, using a rubber spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl as needed.
• Increase the mixer speed to medium-low. Add the eggs and egg yolk, one at a time, beating until mostly mixed in before adding the next. Be careful not to overmix!
• Grease the sides of the springform pan again with cooking spray. Pour the filling into the pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Gently tap the bottom of the pan against the counter to release any air bubbles.
• Bake on the middle rack at 300 degrees for 1 hour, or until the sides of the cheesecake are set and the middle jiggles slightly when shaken. To keep from overbaking, look for a 2- to 3-inch round in the center of the cheesecake to jiggle. Try not to open the oven door more than absolutely necessary to check the doneness! The change in temperature can cause the cheesecake to crack.
• Turn the oven off and keep the oven door shut. Keep the cheesecake in the warm oven with the door closed for 1 hour.
• Remove the cheesecake from the oven and carefully run an offset spatula or butter knife along the edge of the pan to loosen. Allow the cheesecake to sit at room temperature on a wire rack until no longer warm, about 1 hour. Transfer the cheesecake to the refrigerator and let rest until completely chilled, about 4 hours or until ready to serve.
• Serve as is, or make the optional whipped cream: Combine the heavy cream, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and cinnamon in a large bowl and whisk with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Serve each slice of cheesecake with the cinnamon whipped cream, if using, and a grating of nutmeg, if desired.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH BOURBON

Steps:

• To make the crust: stir together crumbs, pecans, both sugars and melted butter until well combined.
• Press the crumb mixture evenly into bottom and 1/2-inch up sides of pan. of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Bake in a 350°F oven for 8 minutes; remove and cool completely.
• Also the crust can be chilled for 1 hour instead of baking, but I think it holds together better when baked.
• For filling: Set oven to 350°F and set oven rack to middle position.
• In a medium bowl whisk together pumpkin puree, eggs, brown sugar, whipping cream, vanilla and liqueur (if using) until combined well.
• In a large bowl stir together white sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt.
• Add in the softened cream cheese and beat with an electric mixer at high speed until creamy and smooth (about 3-4 minutes).
• Reduce speed to medium and add in pumpkin mixture; beat until well combined and smooth.
• Pour filling into crust (smoothing the top).
• Place the springform pan on top of a shallow baking pan (just in case the springform leaks).
• Bake in center oven until center is just set (about 50-60 minutes).
• Transfer to a rack and cool for about 3 hours.
• Chill in refrigerator for a minimum of 6 hours or overnight (even better!).

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Place rack in center of oven.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Make crust: Combine all crust ingredients in a bowl.
• Press onto bottom of 10 inch springform pan and bake for 10 minutes.
• Remove to cool.
• Make filling: Whisk together pumpkin, eggs, spices, salt and ¾ cup of the sugar.
• Cream together cream cheese and remaining sugar.
• Beat in cream, cornstarch and vanilla.
• Carefully beat in pumpkin mixture.
• Pour into crust. Lift pan 1 inch off counter and let drop (this breaks up any air bubbles in the batter that may contribute to cracking). Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until center is set. Run a thin, sharp knife around edge of pan to release crust (this too helps inhibit cracking).
• Let cool, covered loosely, overnight.
• Remove sides of pan and put on your prettiest serving platter.
• Garnish with cinnamon whipped cream and caramel sauce (if desired); dust top of cake lightly with more cinnamon.
• For cinnamon whipped cream: Beat cream until foamy. Beat in sugar and cinnamon until the cream holds soft peaks.
• Note: Although this cheesecake has never cracked for me, I know it has for others - but not to worry as the cinnamon whipped cream topping embellishes everything and the cheesecake is just gorgeous! ;-).

PUMPKIN PIE WITH WHIPPED CREAM AND CINNAMON

Steps:

• For the crust: Combine the water and vinegar in a liquid measuring cup and stick it in the fridge (or even the freezer) to get really cold. In a large bowl or food processor, combine the flour, sugar and salt. Add the butter and either use your hands to toss it with the flour and pinch the butter into flat sheets or pulse in the food processor, incorporating the butter so that about three-quarters of the mixture is mealy. (It's ok if there are still some slightly larger bits of butter.) Drizzle in the cold water and vinegar and mix with your hands or continue to pulse in the food processor just until the mixture comes together to form a dough. If it seems dry or is having a hard time coming together, add a bit more water, a few drops at a time, until it comes together. Turn it out onto a clean surface, divide the dough in two and pat into discs. One disc will be used for the pie; save the other disc for another use. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Adjust a rack to the lower third of the oven (with a pizza stone if you have one) and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. On a floured surface, roll out one of the discs to a circle just larger than 12 to 13 inches.
• Press the dough into a 9 1/2-inch pie plate, trim any excess off, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang, fold the edges under so they sit flush with the plate and crimp them with your fingers. Dock the pie crust using a fork. Freeze for 15 minutes. Place a piece of parchment paper over the crust and fill with dried beans or pie weights and bake, about 15 minutes. Remove the parchment and then bake until pale, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 375 degrees F.
• For the filling: Combine the pumpkin, brown sugar, granulated sugar, maple syrup and salt in a heavy-bottomed pot and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring until glossy to caramelize the sugars, 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and whisk in the cream and milk. Place the eggs in a heat safe bowl. Once the milk mixture is steamy, temper the eggs by adding a few ladles of the mixture, one at a time, to the eggs while whisking vigorously, then add them to the pumpkin mixture, whisking to combine until very smooth. Stir in the cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Pour the mixture into the pie crust and bake until the edges are set but the center is still a little jiggly, 30 to 40 minutes. The internal temperature should be 175 degrees F. Let cool completely. Serve with fresh whipped cream and extra cinnamon.

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE TART WITH CINNAMON WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• For the crust, place wafers and sugar in a food processor; process until finely ground. Add melted butter; process until combined. Press crumbs onto bottom and up side of an ungreased 9-in. tart pan. Freeze for 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 350°. Bake crust until dry, 8-10 minutes, rotating once halfway through baking. Cool on a wire rack., Meanwhile, for the filling, in a large bowl, whisk cream, eggs and vanilla until combined. In a medium saucepan, combine pumpkin, sugars, salt and spices. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon over medium heat until bubbly. Cook and stir 5 minutes longer., Whisk a small amount of hot mixture into egg mixture; return all to pan, whisking constantly. Remove from heat; pour into prepared crust. Place tart pan on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until center is just set and top appears dull, 30-35 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack. Refrigerate, covered, at least 4 hours or overnight., Drizzle melted chocolate over tart; let stand until set. For the whipped cream, in a large bowl, beat cream, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and cinnamon until soft peaks form. Serve with tart.