White Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake With Almond Topping Food

WHITE CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH ALMOND TOPPING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Wrap foil securely around pan. Place on a baking sheet., In a small bowl, combine gingersnap crumbs and butter. Press onto the bottom of prepared pan. Bake until set, 8-10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in melted white chocolate. Combine pumpkin and spices; gently fold into cream cheese mixture. Pour over crust. , Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. Bake until center is just set and top appears dull, 60-70 minutes. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with knife; remove foil. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight, covering when completely cool. , For topping, combine all the ingredients; spread in a shallow baking pan. Bake until almonds are golden brown, 10 minutes, stirring twice. Cool. Transfer topping to an airtight container; store in the refrigerator., Remove sides of pan. Just before serving, sprinkle topping over cheesecake.

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust: Add the chocolate graham crackers and the almonds to a food processor. Process until finely chopped. Add the butter and salt and process to the consistency of wet sand. Press the crust into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the topping: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and almonds. Using your fingers, work in the butter until the mixture has the texture of a crumble topping. Set aside.
• For the filling: Place the cream cheese, sugar and yogurt in a large bowl. Using an electric hand mixer, beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed with a rubber spatula. Add the eggs, almond extract, vanilla extract and salt; beat another minute on medium. Reduce the speed to low and beat in the chocolate until combined. Pour the filling over the crust and sprinkle evenly with the crumble topping.
• Bake until the center of the cake is just set, 45 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled.
• Serve cold, with a dusting of powdered sugar if desired.

WHITE CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan. , Press cookie crumbs onto the bottom of prepared pan; set aside. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in melted chocolate. , In a small bowl, combine pumpkin and spices; gently fold into cream cheese mixture. Pour over crust. Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. , Bake at 325° for 50-55 minutes or until center is almost set. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. Garnish with chocolate curls and/or crushed cookies if desired.

WHITE CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. For crust place cookies in large food processor; process into fine crumbs. Add 2 tablespoons of the sugar and melted butter; process just until combined. Press into bottom of 9 -inch springform pan; set aside.
• For filling place cream cheese and 1 cup of the sugar in food processor; process until smooth. Add pumpkin, melted chocolate, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg; process until combined. Pour into crust-lined pan. Place springform pan in shallow baking pan.
• Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until center appears nearly set when gently shaken. Remove; cool on wire rack 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, for Almond Topping combine almonds, 2 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon sugar in food processor; cover and process until combined. Spread evenly in shallow baking pan. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until toasted, stirring occasionally.
• Sprinkle almond topping on cheesecake. Loosen and remove sides of springform pan. Cool cheesecake 1 hour more. Cover loosely; chill at least 4 hours or overnight.
• ** Cool and chill time extra and not included in prep or cooking time.

CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Wrap the outside of a springform pan with aluminum foil.
• Combine graham crackers, cocoa powder, 1 cup sugar, and butter in a food processor and pulse to fine consistency. Press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned and toasted, about 15 minutes.
• Remove crust from oven and spread chocolate chips in a single layer over the crust bottom, leaving 1/2-inch rim at edges; cool to room temperature.
• Beat cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, scraping sides frequently to ensure evenness and no lumps. Beat in 1 1/2 cup sugar, vanilla extract, and maple extract; add pumpkin puree and beat to combine. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing until incorporated and scraping the bowl each time. Add cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt; beat once more until well distributed.
• Pour filling over cooled crust. Place pie pan in a baking dish and gently pour boiling water into the baking dish to come half-way up sides of the springform pan.
• Bake in preheated oven until edges are puffed and surface of cheesecake is firm except for a small spot in the center that will jiggle when the pan is gently shaken, about 55 minutes. Turn off heat and allow the cheesecake to cool to room temperature in the oven with the door open, about 1 hour. Refrigerate until completely chilled, about 2 hours.

WHITE CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine gingersnap crumbs (or graham cracker crumbs) with butter. Press into the bottom of a greased 9-in springform pan. Set aside.
• in a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla; beat on low speed until combined.Stir in melted chocolate.
• Combine the pumpkin and spices in a seperate bowl; gently fold into cream cheese mixture. Pour over crust.
• Place the pan on a baking sheet and bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes or until center is set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
• Combine topping ingredients and spread in a shallow baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden. Be sure to stir a couple times so the almonds get toasted evenly. Cool.
• Run a knife under hot water, then around the edge of the pan to loosen cake. Cool for an hour in the refrigerator. Before serving, sprinkle topping over individual servings. Store extra in a container or ziploc bag.
• *I don't care for gingersnaps, so I use cinnamon flavored graham crackers for my crust!

ALMOND-CRUNCH PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F if using a silver 9-inch springform pan (or to 325°F if using a dark nonstick springform pan). Mix graham cracker crumbs, 1/3 cup of the sugar, almonds and margarine until well blended. Press firmly onto bottom and 2 inches up side of pan; set aside.
• Beat cream cheese and remaining 2/3 cup sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add pumpkin, sour cream and spice; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour into crust.
• Bake 1 hour. Turn off oven. Open door slightly; let cheesecake stand in oven 30 minutes.
• Preheat broiler. Spread Almond Crunch Topping over warm cheesecake. Broil 6 inches from heat for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Run small knife or spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.