Pumpkin Cheesecake

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 55 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 3 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/8 teaspoon clove
• 1 cup sugar, plus
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup well-chilled heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon icing sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• caramel sauce (optional)

Recipe

• 1 place rack in center of oven.
• 2 preheat oven to 350°f.
• 3 make crust: combine all crust ingredients in a bowl.
• 4 press onto bottom of 10 inch springform pan and bake for 10 minutes.
• 5 remove to cool.
• 6 make filling: whisk together pumpkin, eggs, spices, salt and ¾ cup of the sugar.
• 7 cream together cream cheese and remaining sugar.
• 8 beat in cream, cornstarch and vanilla.
• 9 carefully beat in pumpkin mixture.
• 10 pour into crust. lift pan 1 inch off counter and let drop (this breaks up any air bubbles in the batter that may contribute to cracking). bake for 40-45 minutes, or until center is set. run a thin, sharp knife around edge of pan to release crust (this too helps inhibit cracking).
• 11 let cool, covered loosely, overnight.
• 12 remove sides of pan and put on your prettiest serving platter.
• 13 garnish with cinnamon whipped cream and caramel sauce (if desired); dust top of cake lightly with more cinnamon.
• 14 for cinnamon whipped cream: beat cream until foamy. beat in sugar and cinnamon until the cream holds soft peaks.
• 15 note: although this cheesecake has never cracked for me, i know it has for others - but not to worry as the cinnamon whipped cream topping embellishes everything and the cheesecake is just gorgeous! ;-).