Deluxe Pumpkin Cheesecake

Recipe provided courtesy of Taste of Home magazine.  Find more great recipes at www.tasteofhome.com.

This is the ultimate pumpkin dessert.  It has a unique gingersnap crust and rich, luscious swirls of cheesecake and pumpkin. 

                Sharon Skildum                                                                   Maple Grove, Minnesota

Deluxe Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Deluxe Pumpkin Cheesecake

1 cup crushed gingersnap cookies (about 20 cookies)

1/3 cup finely chopped pecans

¼ cup butter, melted

4 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened, divided

1 ½ cups sugar, divided

2 Tbsp. cornstarch

4 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 cup canned pumpkin

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 ½ tsp. nutmeg

Garnish:   chocolate syrup

Caramel ice cream topping

Whipped topping

Crushed gingersnap cookies

Place a greased 9 inch springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 inch square).  Securely wrap foil around pan.

In a small bowl, combine the cookie crumbs, pecans and butter.  Press onto the bottom of prepared pan.  Place on a baking sheet.  Bake at 350 F. for 8 to 10 minutes or until set.  Cool on a wire rack. 

For filling, in a large bowl, beat 1 package of cream cheese, ½ cup sugar and cornstarch until smooth, about 2 minutes.  Beat in remaining cream cheese, one package at a time until smooth.  Add remaining sugar and vanilla.  Add 4 eggs; beat on low speed just until combined.

Place 2 cups filling in a small bowl; stir in the pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Remove ¾ cup pumpkin filling; set aside.  Pour remaining pumpkin filling over crust; top with remaining plain filling.  Cut through with a knife to swirl.  Drop reserved pumpkin filling by spoonfuls over cheesecake; cut through with a knife to swirl.

Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 inch of HOT WATER to larger pan.  Bake at 350 F. for 55 – 65 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull.  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.

Garnish with chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, whipped topping and additional crushed gingersnaps.                                12 servings.

(Recipe for Deluxe Pumpkin Cheesecake is from www.tasteofhome.com, 2012)

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