Rich Pumpkin Cheesecake Food

RICH AND CREAMY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place foil over bottom disk of a 9-inch springform pan, tucking excess underneath disk; assemble pan. Pull up foil around pan sides. Brush interior of pan with butter. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs into pan, tilting it in all directions to coat evenly with crumbs. Cover exterior of pan with a sheet of heavy-duty foil and set in a large roasting pan. Bring a kettle of water to a boil for water bath.
• Meanwhile, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add sugar and beat on medium speed until it is fully incorporated, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just incorporated and scraping down bowl after each addition. Add zest and vanilla and beat until just incorporated. Stir in cream and sour cream by hand.
• Pour batter into springform pan. Set roasting pan on oven rack, set springform pan in it, and pour in enough boiling water to come about halfway up the side of springform pan. Bake until perimeter of cake is set but center jiggles when pan is tapped, 55 to 60 minutes. Turn off heat and leave oven door ajar, using a long-handled kitchen fork or spoon if necessary to hold it open for 1 hour. Remove springform pan from water bath and set on a wire rack; cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours. Cheesecake can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.

RICH AND CREAMY PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Wrap a double layer of WIDE heavy-duty aluminum foil around the outside of a 10-inch springform pan. (To make it watertight).
• Combine the graham crackers, sugar, and cinnamon, drizzle the melted butter over crumbs and mix.
• Press the crumbs over the bottom (not the sides) of the prepared pan.
• Bake in the middle of the oven until the crust is slightly golden, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer to a wire rack and cool while preparing the filling.
• To make the Filling: Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy.
• Beat the eggs one at a time.
• Add the pumpkin, cream, vanilla and spices and beat just until mixed.
• Pour the filing into the prepared crust.
• Place the springform pan in a large roasting pan and add hot water to come halfway up the sides of the springform pan.
• Bake the cheesecake until the filling is slightly puffed and softly set and the top is golden, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Transfer the cheesecake to a wire rack to cool.
• Cover and refrigerate the cake overnight.
• Use a knife to cut around the side of the pan to loosen the cheesecake.

RICH PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375'F.
• For crust, combine cake mix and melted butter in large bowl; press into bottom of ungreased 10-inch springform pan.
• For filling, combine cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk in large bowl.
• Beat with electric mixer at high speed for 2 minutes.
• Add pumpkin, eggs and pumpkin pie spice. Beat at high speed 1 minute. Pour over prepared crust in pan.
• Bake at 375'F for 65 to 70 minutes or until set. Cool completely on rack.
• Refrigerate 2 hours.
• Loosen cake from sides of pan; remove sides of pan.
• For topping, preheat oven to 300'F.
• Toast almonds on baking sheet at 300'F 4 to 5 minutes or until fragrant and light golden brown.
• Cool completely.
• Beat cream in medium bowl until soft peaks form.
• Gradually add sugar; beat until stiff peaks form.
• Spread over top of chilled cake. Garnish with toasted almonds.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve. Tip: To prepare in a 13x9 inch pan, bake at 350'F for 35 minutes or until set.

PUMPKIN PECAN CHEESECAKE WITH CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Adjust the oven rack to lower-middle position and heat the oven to 350°F.
• Coat the inside rim of a large 10-inch springform pan with butter. Cut a 3-1/2 inch strip of parchment paper to line the inside edge of the pan forming a collar that extends past the top of the pan. Spray the paper and the pan bottom with oil spray.
• Place the cookies in a food processor and pulse until they break into fine crumbs. Add the butter over the top and pulse to combine.
• Tip the mixture into the prepared pan and press against the bottom of the pan. Transfer to the oven and bake for 10 minutes, then remove and cool on a wire rack.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F.
• Bring a pot of water to a simmer. You will use this for a water bath.
• Add the cream cheese to a mixing bowl and beat on medium speed for 1 minute to break up the cream cheese. (You can use a stand mixer or a handheld mixer).
• Stop the motor and scrape down the sides. Add the sugar to the cream cheese and mix on low speed until blended together about 1 minute. Stop the mixer and scrape the bowl, then add the vanilla. Beat on medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes. Be sure to stop the mixer at least twice during this time to scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl.
• Stop the mixer and add the pumpkin puree then stir in the cream and the spices. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute until well incorporated.
• Break the eggs into a dish and whisk to break them up, being careful to not create bubbles.
• With the mixer set on the lowest speed, pour 1/4 of the eggs into the cream cheese mixture. Mix until the eggs are well incorporated. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Continue adding, mixing and scraping the bowl with the remaining eggs. Mix the eggs just until they are well blended. Keep the mixer speed on low to prevent incorporating air into the batter.
• In order to make the springform pan leak-proof, set the pan into an oven-proof bag. You can use either a large turkey bag or a crockpot liner. Roll the excess of the bag up so it comes to the edge of the springform pan and tie it with a twisty to secure it.
• Pour the cheesecake batter into the crust, smoothing out the top. Set the springform pan into a larger pan such as a roasting pan and transfer to the middle rack of the oven.
• Carefully, pour the hot water into the larger pan so the water reaches halfway up the side of the springform pan.
• Bake the cheesecake for 60 to 75 minutes or until the center of the cheesecake is slightly wobbly. If you have an instant-read thermometer it should read 145-150°F.
• Remove the pan from the oven and let the cheesecake cool in the pan of hot water. When the water has cooled transfer the springform pan to a wire rack to finish cooling, then drape with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours. Overnight is best.
• Transfer the cheesecake to the work surface, unsnap the hinge on the side of the pan and lift off the rim of the pan. Gently peel away the parchment paper around the side of the cake.
• To transfer the cake to a cake plate or pedestal, use a large cake lifter or a long, thin knife to slide between the metal pan bottom and the cake, working it loose as you turn the cake. A turntable is very useful here. Use the cake lifter or a wide spatula to lift the cake onto the serving plate.
• When ready to serve, spread 1 cup of salted caramel sauce over the top of the cake and sprinkle with the toasted chopped pecans and whole pecans.
• Slice the cake with a thin knife dipped into hot water.