Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake with Caramel Bourbon Sauce

By ezunich

Ingredients

• Crust:
• 1 1/2 cups pecans, toasted, cooled
• 3 tbs golden brown sugar
• 3 tbs unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• Filling:
• 3 (8 oz packages) cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 tsp finely grated lemon peel
• 4 large eggs
• 1 (15 oz) can pure pumpkin
• 1/2 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
• 2 tbs all purpose flour
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 ground nutmeg
• 1/4 ground cloves
• Large pinch of salt
• Sauce:
• 1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 6 tbs (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 to 4 tbs bourbon
• 1 1/2 cups pecans, toasted, cooled

Details

Servings 12

Preparation

Step 1

FOR CRUST: Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 9-inch springform pan with 23/4- inch-high sides. Grind first 4 ingredients in processor until nut mixture sticks together. Press evenly onto bottom of pan. Bake crust until golden, about 15 minutes. Cool completely. Wrap outside of pan in triple layer of heavy-duty foiL

FOR FILLING: Using mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, and lemon peel in large bowl until smooth. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, then pumpkin, yogurt, flour, vanilla, spices, and salt. Pour into pan.

Set springform pan in roasting pan.

Pour enough hot water into roasting pan to come halfway up sides of cheesecake. Place in oven. Bake until outer 3 inches puff slightly and center is softly set, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool in water bath 30 minutes. Remove from water. Cut around sides of cake to loosen. Refrigerate in pan until cold, about 4 hours. Cover and chill overnight.

FOR SAUCE: Bring sugar, cream, butter, corn syrup, and salt to boil in deep medium saucepan, whisking until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium; boil
1 minute without stirring. Remove from heat. Stir in bourbon, then pecans. Cool, stirring occasionally.

Remove foil. Cut around pan sides; remove sides. Cut cheesecake into wedges; spoon sauce over .