Cheesecake With Pecan Gingersnap Crust Recipes

CHEESECAKE WITH PECAN GINGERSNAP CRUST

Steps:

• Crust. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease with butter the bottom and sides of a 9 inch springform pan. For easier release, place a 9 inch parchment circle on the bottom of the pan and butter the top of the parchment. Also grease a 5 inch round ramekin. (All the batter will not fit into the 9 inch pan. The ramekin is for the remainder to make a mini-cheesecake.)
• Spread pecans on a baking sheet. Toast pecans in oven for 5 minutes. Redistribute/mix the pecans and place back in oven 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to burn them. Let them cool to room temperature.
• While the pecans are toasting and cooling, melt the butter and allow to cool.
• Pull out a large piece of long, heavy duty foil. Place the springform pan on top of it, and pull the sides of the foil up the outsides of the pan. Use one piece of foil. Do not try to use two pieces, one covering the other, because you will have a seam on the bottom that will allow water to come in. I suggest double wrapping the pan in the heavy duty foil for extra protection from the water.
• Grind the ginger snaps in a food processor. (A blender will work too, you but may take longer and you may have to stop and mix more.)
• Once the pecans are fully cooled to room temperature, grind pecans in food processor. (If your food processor is large enough, you can add the pecans to the ginger thins and grind them all together with all the dry ingredients. Add the butter and pulse until fully combined and move to step 8.)
• Combine ground ginger snaps, ground pecans, sugars and melted butter in a bowl. Mix until the butter is evenly distributed and it has the consistency of sand.
• Press crumbs into greased pan about ½ inch thick on bottom of pan. You can also use crumbs to go up the side of the pan. (I have done both and think it's prettier - and easier -- to have the crumbs just on the bottom.) Use the bottom of a dry measuring cup to press the crumbs down. If you want a crust for your mini-cheesecake, pull out some of the crumbs and press into the ramekin.
• Place the foil wrapped pan with the crumbs in the freezer for 15-30 minutes. Alternatively, place in the refrigerator for at least an hour and up to overnight.
• Cheesecake. Preheat oven to 350° F.
• Using the paddle attachment of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the sugar, 1-2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well at medium speed to make sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding in the next one. Beat in the milk, vanilla beans, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated. Beat in the sour cream. Just before the sour cream is fully incorporated, slowly beat in flour.
• Pour batter into chilled crust, leaving about ¼ inch to the top of the pan. Pour the rest into the prepared ramekin.
• Place the foil wrapped springform pan into a larger pan like a roasting pan and place in oven. Pour hot water into the large pan, at least 1 inch high, being careful not to pour any water onto the cheesecake. Use another baking pan to place the ramekin in and also fill with hot water. (Baking the cheesecake in a water bath is essential. The steam prevents the top from cracking and ensures a moist cheesecake.)
• Bake at least 1 hour. The mini-cheesecake will likely be done, but the larger one may take a full 75 minutes. The top should be puffy and golden brown.
• Remove cheesecakes from oven and allow to cool while sitting in the water bath, 1-2 hours. (The cheesecakes will deflate slightly so that they look less puffy and more level.) Carefully remove the foiled pan from the water bath to avoid getting any water in the cheesecake. Remove foil from outside of pan.
• Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Keep plain or top with any topping of choice just prior to serving.
• Blueberry Topping. Place all the fresh or frozen berries in a 3 quart pot. Pour the rest of the ingredients on top of the berries. On a medium-high heat, cook the mixture, stirring well at first to coast the berries in the dry ingredients. Once the liquid on the bottom of the pan starts to simmer, reduce the heat to medium. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool. Place plastic wrap directly on top of the cooled mixture and store, airtight, in refrigerator for at least a couple of hours. Spread the blueberry topping on the cheesecake just before serving.

VEGAN PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH GINGERSNAP PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place gingersnaps and pecans in a food processor; blend into fine crumbs. Pour in margarine gradually, pulsing until crumbs are well combined. Cover the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with about 1/2 inch of the crumbs. Pack down crumbs to form a crust.
• Place cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar, tofu, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, baking soda, and salt in a food processor. Puree until very smooth. Pour into the crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheesecake is set but still jiggles in the middle when gently tapped, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes. Cover and refrigerate to let flavors mingle, 6 hours to overnight.

GINGERSNAP CHEESECAKE CRUST

Steps:

• Stir together the gingersnap crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Press onto the bottom and 1 inch up the sides of a buttered 9-inch springform pan. Fill right away or chill up to 2 hours.