Ultra Creamy Pumpkin Cheesecake With A Hint Of Brandy Food

CLASSIC PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325˚ F. Wrap the outside (bottom and sides) of a 9-inch springform pan with foil to prevent leaking. Make the crust: Toss the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar in a bowl until combined. Firmly press into the bottom of the pan. Bake until set and a few shades darker, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Make the filling: Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 more minutes. Add the pumpkin, sour cream, pie spice, vanilla and salt and beat until combined. Add the eggs and beat on medium-low speed until just combined; switch to a rubber spatula for the last few stirs, making sure to get the bottom of the bowl. Pour the filling into the cooled crust; gently tap the pan on the counter a few times to release any air bubbles.
• Set the cheesecake in a roasting pan or large baking dish and set on the middle oven rack. Carefully pour the boiling water into the roasting pan until it comes one-third of the way up the sides of the springform pan. Bake the cheesecake until it's set around the edges but the center is still jiggly, about 1 1/2 hours. Turn the oven off, crack the door open slightly and leave the cheesecake in the oven for 30 to 45 more minutes. Transfer to a rack, run a thin knife around the edge and let cool completely. Cover the cheesecake and refrigerate until fully chilled, at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Let the cheesecake sit at room temperature about 30 minutes before serving. Remove the springform ring. Top with whipped cream.

ULTRA-CREAMY PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH A HINT OF BRANDY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Coat 9" springform pan with cooking spray.
• Crumb Crust:.
• Combine graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Mix to moisten crumbs, then press into prepared pan - bottom and 2-inches up the sides. Bake 10-12 minutes until slightly darkened.
• Pumpkin Filling:.
• With a wire whisk or electric mixer on low speed, beat cottage cheese until smooth. Add cream cheese, brown sugar, eggs (one at a time until smooth), and flour; continue beating until smooth.
• Add pumpkin, ginger, cinnamon, brandy, nutmeg and cloves; beat until smooth. COOK'S TIP: DO NOT OVERBEAT! If there is too much air in the batter, it will pouf up like a souffle while baking then drop into an unappetizing mess.
• Pour the batter into the baked graham cracker crust.
• Bake the cheesecake 1 1/2 hours on a baking sheet, or until top is firm and cake is beginning to pull away from sides of pan.
• Cool cheesecake to room temperature on a wire rack, then chill in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 hours before unmolding and serving. COOK'S TIP: Chilling overnight is best.
• Just before serving, decorate each slice with a daub of whip cream, chopped pecans and ginger.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Butter a deep 22cm loose-bottomed cake tin and line with baking parchment. Wrap the base and side of the tin with three layers of cling film, followed by three layers of foil (this helps keep it waterproof during baking). Fold a clean tea towel and put it in the base of a large roasting tin.
• Blitz the biscuits to crumbs in a food processor. Add the melted butter and pulse to coat the crumbs. Tip the mixture into the prepared cake tin, spreading up to the side and pressing down with the back of a spoon. Bake for 10 mins. Remove from the oven, brush with the egg white and bake for another 3 mins (this will help stop the base from becoming soggy).
• To make the filling, put the soft cheese in a bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, and beat with an electric whisk or the mixer until loosened. Add the pumpkin purée, sugar and flour and beat again until combined. With the motor running, gradually add the eggs and egg yolk until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Pour the filling over the baked biscuit base, then sit the cake tin on the tea towel in the roasting tin. Pour a kettleful of just-boiled water into the roasting tin so the water comes halfway up the side of the cake tin.
• Bake for 10 mins, then reduce the oven temperature to 110C/90C fan/gas ¼. Bake for a further 1 hr 30 mins until the cheesecake is set with just a slight wobble in the middle when you gently shake the tin. Turn off the oven, then open the oven door slightly and leave the cheesecake to cool inside for 2 hrs until completely cool. Remove from the oven and chill overnight.
• Carefully remove the cold cheesecake from the tin and transfer to a cake stand or serving plate. Whip the cream to soft peaks using an electric whisk, and spoon in big dollops over the cheesecake. Dust with a little cinnamon or pumpkin spice, sprinkle over the chopped pecans and drizzle with the caramel sauce before serving.