Category
Yummy Dessert
Author:
Joy of Cooking
Pumpkin Cheesecake has become a staple in our family for the Holidays. This year we prepared it with Homemade Pumpkin Puree. The Puree is very easy to prepare, don't worry!
Ingredients
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 tablespoon white sugar
4-5 tablespoons melted butter
2/3 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
2-8 ounce packages full fat cream cheese, room temperature
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup pure pumpkin puree (canned or homemade)
Crust
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and place the oven rack in the center of the oven. Use butter or non-stick spray to coat an 8-inch springform pan.
Crust
In a medium sized bowl combine the graham cracker crumbs, crushed ginger cookies, sugar, and melted butter. Press the mixture evenly onto the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake 8-10 minutes or until set. Let cool.
Cheesecake
In a separate bowl, stir and combine the sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and salt.
In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), on low speed, beat the cream cheese until smooth (about 2 minutes).
Gradually add the sugar mixture and beat until creamy and smooth (1 to 2 minutes).
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well (about 30 seconds) after each addition.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat in the vanilla extract and pumpkin puree.
Pour the filling over the crust and place the spring form pan on a baking sheet to catch any drips. Place a cake pan, filled halfway with hot water, on the bottom shelf of your oven to moisten the air.
Bake the cheesecake for 30 minutes and then reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees and continue to bake the cheesecake for another 10 – 20 minutes, or until the edges of the cheesecake are puffed but the center is still a little wet and jiggles when you gently shake the pan.
Total baking time 40 – 60 minutes.
Meanwhile stir together 1 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract and 1/4 cup white sugar.
Spread the topping over the warm cheesecake and return the cheesecake to the oven and bake about 8 minutes to set the topping.
Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Loosen the cake from the pan by running a sharp knife around the inside edge (this will help prevent the cake from cracking).
Then, place a piece of aluminum foil over the top of the pan so the cheesecake will cool slowly. When completely cooled, cover and refrigerate at least eight hours, preferably overnight, before serving.
Serve with Marina’s Cranberry Chutney. Yum!