Thursday, September 20, 2018

Pecan Pie Cheesecake

Pecan Pie Cheesecake
Cheesecake and Pecan Pie together in one dessert. How could anything be better?
This outrageously good Pecan Pie Cheesecake has a crust made from vanilla wafer crumbs, a nutty and sweet pecan pie layer topped off with a cool and creamy cheesecake layer. I’ve become obsessed with the Crock Pot Dulce de leche I made recently so I drizzled that on top.
This was the first cheesecake I’ve made in eons. I’m surprised I even still had my springform pan.
Note: The recipe (from Taste of the South) did not call for a water bath and I didn’t use one. I thought about it, but I didn’t have any aluminum foil to wrap around the bottom of my springform pan.
When I took the cheesecake out of the oven, it looked absolutely perfect. Completely smooth on top. But when I walked past it about 10 minutes later, it had a giant crack down the middle. Easily fixed with some Dulce de Leche.
But if you don’t want a crack, try using a water bath. Although I’m not sure how much they really help. I’ve heard of plenty of people who have used a water bath and had their cheesecake crack and others who never use a water bath and never have cracks. I should probably check my oven temperature to see if it is running hot.
Anyone have any cheesecake baking tips?
But crack or no crack this is a truly decadent dessert. I love a pecan pie but it is an insanely sweet dessert. This Pecan Pie Cheesecake is perfect for when you want something sweet, but not something sickeningly sweet. You still get to enjoy the flavor of a pecan pie, but the cheesecake layer cuts down on the sweetness.
I’m going to try to start making 1 cheesecake a month, but this one is going to be hard to top!

Pecan Pie Cheesecake
Prep Time 5 hrs 20 mins
Cook Time 1 hr
Total Time 6 hrs 20 mins
A truly decadent dessert with a layer of pecan pie in a vanilla wafer crust, topped by a creamy cheesecake.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Southern
Servings: 16
Calories: 529 kcal
Author: Christin Mahrlig

Ingredients
Crust
  1. 1 3/4 cups vanilla-wafer crumbs
  2. 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  3. 1/3 cup butter, melted
Pecan filling
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2/3 cup dark corn syrup
  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cheesecake filling
  • 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Combine vanilla-wafer crumbs and brown sugar in a medium bowl. Stir melted butter in with a spatula. Press into the bottom and halfway up the sides of a 9-inch Springform pan.
  3. Bake for 6 minutes and let cool.
  4. Combine all Pecan-Filling ingredients in a medium saucepan.
  5. Stir well and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring continuously, until mixture thickens, about 8 to 10 minutes. Pour into prepared crust.
  6. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
  7. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese at medium speed until smooth and creamy.
  8. Add brown sugar and flour and beat until fluffy.
  9. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Use a rubber spatula to scrape doen the sides of the bowl to make sure everything mixes evenly.
  10. Add cream and vanilla and beat just to combine. Pour mixture over pecan filling.
  11. Place in oven and bake for 1 hour. Turn oven off but leave cheesecake in oven with door closed for 1 more hour.
  12. Remove cheesecake from oven and run a knife around the sides to make sure they are not sticking. Let cool completely. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Serve with Dulce de Leche,
Nutrition Facts
Pecan Pie Cheesecake
Amount Per Serving
Calories 529
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.