Pumpkin Cheesecake

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

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 cup crushed gingersnap cookies or 20 gingersnap cookies
• 1/3 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened, divided
• 1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• chocolate syrup
• caramel ice cream topping
• whipped topping
• additional crushed gingersnap cookie (optional)

Recipe

• 1 place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 inches square).
• 2 securely wrap foil around pan.
• 3 in a small bowl, combine the cookie crumbs, pecans and butter.
• 4 press onto the bottom of prepared pan. place on a baking sheet.
• 5 bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until set. cool on a wire rack.
• 6 for filling, in a large bowl, beat 1 package of cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar and cornstarch until smooth, about 2 minutes.
• 7 beat in remaining cream cheese, one package at a time until smooth. add remaining sugar and vanilla.
• 8 add 4 eggs; beat on low speed just until combined.
• 9 place 2 cups filling in a small bowl; stir in the pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
• 10 remove 3/4 cup pumpkin filling; set aside.
• 11 pour remaining pumpkin filling over crust; top with remaining plain filling.
• 12 cut through with a knife to swirl.
• 13 drop reserved pumpkin filling by spoonfuls over cheesecake; cut through with a knife to swirl.
• 14 place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 inches of hot water to larger pan.
• 15 bake at 350° for 55-65 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull.
• 16 remove springform pan from water bath.
• 17 cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
• 18 carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. refrigerate overnight.
• 19 garnish with chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, whipped topping and additional crushed gingersnaps if desired.