Salted Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake
Serves: 1 (9-inch) cake
 
Ingredients
  • Caramel:
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1½ teaspoons sea salt
  • Crust:
  • 2 cups crushed gingersnap cookies
  • ½ cup finely chopped pecans
  • 3 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 6 tablespoons butter, melted
  • Filling:
  • 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • ¾ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 5 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1½ cups canned pumpkin
  • Sweetened whipped cream, to serve
Instructions
  1. For caramel: In a large skillet, cook granulated sugar, ¼ cup water, and corn syrup over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture is honey-colored. Remove from heat, and whisk in cream until mixture is smooth. Whisk in butter and sea salt until smooth. Let cool completely.
  2. Preheat oven to 300°.
  3. For crust: In a medium bowl, stir together crushed gingersnaps, pecans, and brown sugar. Stir in melted butter until well combined. Press mixture into bottom and up sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
  4. Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Wrap bottom and sides of pan with heavy-duty foil. Leave oven on.
  5. For filling: In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugars, flour, and pie spice with a mixer at medium speed until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until combined after each addition. Stir in pumpkin and ½ cup cooled caramel, reserving remaining caramel for garnish. Pour batter into prepared crust. Place springform pan in a roasting pan, and pour boiling water in roasting pan to come halfway up sides of springform pan.
  6. Bake until cheesecake barely jiggles in center when gently shaken, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Transfer springform pan to a wire rack, and let cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 6 hours or overnight. Serve with whipped cream and remaining caramel.
Recipe by Paula Deen Magazine at https://pauladeenmagazine.com/salted-caramel-pumpkin-cheesecake/