Pumpkin Hazelnut Cheesecake Recipes

THE BEST PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• For the crust: Add the gingersnap cookies, melted butter and salt to a food processor. Process until the crumb mixture looks like coarse sand, about 30 seconds. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 10-inch springform pan. Bake the crust until it is fragrant and golden brown, about 12 minutes.
• Remove the crust to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes. Wrap the bottom and sides of the pan tightly with foil and place in a roasting pan.
• For the filling: Add the cream cheese to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar and beat, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed with a rubber spatula, until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the sour cream, vanilla and salt and beat just until combined.
• Scoop 3 cups of the cheesecake filling into a medium bowl. Add the pumpkin puree, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and 1/4 cup water and stir with a rubber spatula until well combined. Bring a pot or kettle of water to a boil.
• Fill a 1-cup measure with plain cheesecake filling and pour into the center of the cooled crust. Fill a 1-cup measure with pumpkin filling and pour into the center of the plain filling. The batter will spread as you add alternating scoops, widening to form concentric circles. Repeat with the remaining batter in 1/2-cup increments alternating between flavors, until all the batter is used.
• Carefully place the roasting pan in the oven (don't pull the rack out of the oven). Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come about halfway up the sides of the foil-wrapped pan.
• Bake until the top of the cheesecake is lightly browned around the edges, but the center is still jiggly, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until the center becomes just slightly jiggly, about 1 hour (see Cook's Note).
• Carefully remove the cheesecake from the roasting pan to a wire rack. Cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours and up to overnight.
• For the spiced pumpkin seeds: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Toss the pumpkin seeds, oil, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, salt and cloves in a small bowl. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet and roast until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• For the pumpkin caramel: Melt the sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat until caramelized and dark amber (a digital instant-read or candy thermometer should register 245 degrees F), about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally with a whisk. Lower the heat to low. Carefully whisk in the heavy cream and butter and continue stirring until melted, about 1 minute. Whisk in the pumpkin puree, cinnamon, salt, vanilla, ginger and cloves until combined. Remove from heat and let cool slightly before serving.
• To serve: Let the cheesecake sit at room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Unlock the springform pan and remove the ring. Sprinkle the spiced pumpkin seeds around the top outer edge of the cheesecake. Dip a knife in a warm water and wipe dry before slicing each piece. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of the pumpkin caramel.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH HAZELNUT CRUST

Steps:

• For crust: Toast nuts in oven for 10 minutes at 350.
• Cool slightly and rub off skins.
• Place nuts in food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.
• Add sugar and process until nuts are finely chopped, but not greasy.
• Combin nut mixture with butter.
• Pat into bottom of 9" sprinform pan and bake at 350 for 10 minutes.
• Cool before filling.
• For filling: Stir together sugar, spices, and cornstarch.
• Beat cream cheese until smooth.
• Gradually add sugar mixture, scraping sides of bowl often.
• Beat in eggs 1 at a time, beating well.
• Beat in pumpkin until just blended.
• Pour into crust-lined pan.
• Place pan of water in bottom of oven.
• Bake cake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• Reduce oven to 300 and bake another 30 minutes.
• Remove cake from oven and place on cooling rack.
• Cover with a large bowl or pot so that it cools slowly.
• Cool completely before serving.

PUMPKIN FRANGELICO CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Grind gingersnaps finely; add sugar and mix well. Add butter and mix well. Then press into bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Refrigerate until ready to use. Position rack in middle of oven. Then preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Blend all ingredients until completely smooth. Pour filling into pan. Bake until edges of cake begin to pull away from sides of pan and cake begins to brown, almost 55 minutes.
• Blend items for topping well. Without removing cake from oven, pour evenly over cake, starting at edges, spread if necessary. Bake 10 minutes. Remove and cool on rack. Refrigerate for 12 hours.
• Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

PUMPKIN HAZELNUT CHEESECAKE WITH WHISKEY SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare crust in advance. Combine crust ingredients, and press on bottom and approximately 2" up the sides of a greased 9" springform pan. Freeze for 20 minutes.
• While crust is chilling, combine all filling ingredients and beat until smooth. Pour into prepared crust.
• Bake 350 degrees for 50 - 55 minutes, or until center is firm. Remove from oven when done, allow to cool completely, and refrigerate overnight.
• When ready to cut into slices, use knife to loosen edge of cake from pan, then release the springform sides and remove cheesecake.
• Top with chilled Grand Marnier Whipped Cream and drizzle generously with warm Whiskey Sauce for the most decadent holiday delight you'll ever taste!