Pumpkin Coconut 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.

PUMPKIN-COCONUT PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Pulse the flour, coconut, 2 tablespoons butter, the shortening and salt in a food processor until it looks like fine meal. Add the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and pulse until it is in pea-size pieces. Drizzle in 2 tablespoons cold water and pulse until the dough just comes together. Turn out onto a piece of plastic wrap; use the plastic to help form the dough into a disk. Wrap tightly and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight. (The dough can be frozen for up to 2 months; thaw at room temperature.)
• Roll out the dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Ease into a 9-inch pie plate, fold the overhanging dough under itself and crimp the edge with your fingers. Chill at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the crust with foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until golden around the edge, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and weights and continue baking 5 more minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Gently whisk the pumpkin, coconut milk, sugar, eggs, rum, vanilla, cinnamon and allspice in a large bowl until combined. Pour into the prepared crust and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Transfer to the oven and bake 1 hour. Sprinkle more coconut around the edge of the pie; continue baking until the center is almost set but still jiggles slightly, about 15 more minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.

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.

NO-BAKE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the crust: In a medium bowl, combine the gingersnap cookies, butter and salt. Use a measuring cup to gently press the cookie crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Freeze for 30 minutes.
• For the filling: Using an electric mixer, whip the cream cheese, pumpkin, powdered sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, salt and cloves in a large bowl until creamy and smooth, about 5 minutes. Carefully fold in the coconut whipped topping with a rubber spatula. Pour into the crust and refrigerate at least 6 hours and up to overnight.
• In a small skillet over medium-high heat, quickly toast the coconut flakes, stirring constantly so they don't burn. Allow to cool completely and then scatter over the cheesecake.

PUMPKIN COCONUT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Crust: Preheat oven to 325°F
• Lightly grease bottom of a 10in springform pan.
• In a bowl, stir crumbs with 1 cup coconut, sugar and butter until evenly moist.
• Press over bottom and partway up sides of pan.
• Bake in oven until edges are golden, about 10 mins, cool.
• Filling: Meanwhile, whisk eggs in a large bowl.
• Whisk in pumpkin, brown sugar and seasonings.
• Cut cheese into cubes and place in a large bowl.
• Using an electric mixer, beat in sugar, then cream, scraping side of bowl as needed until well mixed.
• Pour over warm crust.
• Bake in oven until filling is almost set, 55-60 minutes.
• Run a knife around edges to loosen crust and prevent cracking.
• Cool to room temp, then chill in fridge at least 4 hrs or overnight.
• Remove from pan and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup of toasted coconut.

COCONUT CREAM CHEESECAKE (COPYCAT)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Puree coconut and cream in blender for 4 minutes; set aside to cool.
• Cut butter into flour and 4 teaspoons sugar until mixture resembles small crumbs.
• Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Cream together cream cheese and 1-1/2 cups sugar.
• Stir in cooled puree.
• Slowly stir in eggs and yolks.
• Stir in 2-1/2 Tablespoons liqueur, lemon juice and extracts.
• Pour into prepared crust.
• Bake until sides of cake are dry and center is set, about 1 hour.
• Allow cheesecake to cool for 30 minutes.
• Beat together sour cream, cream of coconut and 1/2 teaspoon liqueur; spread over cheesecake.
• Bake for 10 minutes.
• Allow cheesecake to cool for 30 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
• Sprinkle coconut flakes over top before serving.
• Enjoy!