Pecan Pie Cheesecake – Baker by Nature

When you love pecan pie, you HAVE to strive my pecan pie cheesecake recipe. A pecan crust, brown sugar cheesecake filling, and gooey pecan pie topping, make that is the final word vacation dessert! This crowd-pleasing dessert is scrumptious plain or with whipped cream. And can go away your family and friends hailing you a baking genius!

Greatest Pecan Pie Cheesecake

Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away! And this yr we’re going with a pecan pie theme.

Pecan pie french toast casserole and pecan cinnamon buns for breakfast… and pecan pie cheesecake for dessert! I wouldn’t flip down a slice of brownie pecan pie both. However I had to attract the road someplace!

Right here’s why this recipe is the best possible:

• Buttery and crunchy pecan crust… with only a trace of cinnamon spice
• cheesecake filling options brown sugar, vanilla, and bourbon
• pecan pie topping is crunchy, stick candy, and completely gooey
• make-ahead pleasant, you may make this pecan pie cheesecake recipe as much as 2 months upfront.

Pecan Pie Cheesecake Recipe: Components

This ingredient checklist is sort of just like my pecan pie cheesecake bars and mini pecan pie cheesecakes. The principle distinction between these recipes is how they’re ready. Right here’s every thing you’ll have to make this pecan pie cheesecake recipe.

• Graham Crackers Crumbs: You should utilize pre-crushed graham cracker crumbs. Or purchase the sleeves of graham crackers from the shop and crush them your self. The best approach to do that is by putting them in a blender or meals processor and pulsing till fully crushed. Then measure and use the quantity known as for within the graham cracker crust.
• Pecans: You’ll want pecan halves for the pecan crust in addition to for the pecan pie topping. All the time style your pecans earlier than use. Nothing ruins a pecan pie cheesecake sooner than rancid pecans!
• Darkish Brown Sugar: Provides sweetness together with a delicate molasses taste to the creamy cheesecake filling! In a pinch, mild brown sugar will work wonderful.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness to the cheesecake batter. In a pinch you need to use all granulated sugar or all brown sugar. However ideally, use the quantities known as for of every.
• Salt: Helps steadiness the sweetness and improve the flavors within the cheesecake batter.
• Melted Butter: I at all times favor utilizing unsalted butter, however in a pinch, salted or unsalted butter will work.
• Cream Cheese: With regards to cream cheese, use full-fat. It’ll provide the finest style and texture. Block-style cream cheese works finest, we love Philadelphia model. Convey cream cheese to room temperature earlier than use.
• Bitter Cream: Full-fat works finest, and also you’ll additionally need this ingredient at room temperature. When you can’t discover bitter cream, full-fat Greek yogurt is the most effective substitute.
• Heavy Cream: Also referred to as whipping cream, this provides richness to the cheesecake batter and pecan pie filling.
• Vanilla Extract: A splash enhances all the opposite flavors on this recipe, and provides its signature wealthy vanilla taste.
• Bourbon: I like including a splash of bourbon to the pecan pie topping. It provides a wealthy and sturdy taste, just like pecan pie. You possibly can sub whiskey or rum, or just go away it out. When you omit the bourbon from the pecan pie topping, add an additional 2 teaspoons of vanilla.
• Eggs: Use giant selection eggs, which might be at room temperature. This recipe requires 3 complete eggs and a couple of egg yolks. You possibly can discard the remaining egg white, or put it aside for a later use.
• Cinnamon: Provides a delicate however heat and comfy spice factor!

In fact you’ll additionally want a baking sheet and a cheesecake pan! This 9″ Springform pan is my absolute favourite. I wish to spray the springform pan with non-stick spray. However you might additionally line the springform pan with parchment paper circle on the underside.

Find out how to Make Pecan Pie Cheesecake

1. Pecan Crust: Use a meals processor to pulse the pecans into wonderful crumbs. Mix the pecan crumbs with the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Add the melted butter and mix. Pat the combination into the ready pan and bake for 10 minutes.
2. Cheesecake Batter: You’ll want a high-power blender, meals processor, stand mixer, or handheld electrical mixer. Beat the softened cream cheese and bitter cream till fully clean. When you add the eggs, beat on low till simply mixed. Pour cheesecake batter on prime of crust.
3. Bake: Place the cheesecake pan in a water bathtub and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Then let the cheesecake sit within the oven, with the oven off however the oven door closed, for half-hour.
4. Chill: When you take away the cheesecake from the oven, take away it from of the water bathtub and place on a wire rack. Permit the cheesecake to chill to room temperature, then place the pan within the fridge and chill for six hours. The longer you let the cheesecake chill, the creamier it’ll be.
5. Pecan Pie Filling: You can also make the pecan pie topping proper earlier than you intend on serving. Or make it as much as 48 hours upfront and retailer within the fridge. It’ll get laborious within the fridge, so that you’ll have to microwave it for a couple of seconds earlier than use.

As soon as your cheesecake has chilled, you may prime it with the pecan pie topping, slice, and serve! Or serve with whipped cream and even ice cream.

Do I’ve to make a Water Tub for this Cheesecake?

Okay, so usually my reply is sure! However for this recipe, I say it’s as much as you! When you don’t use one, it could crack. However because you’re overlaying the highest with pecan pie filling, it actually gained’t matter an excessive amount of. That stated, I at all times use a water bathtub as a result of along with lowering the probability if cracks, it helps the cheesecake bake slowly and evenly. This ensures the proper creamy texture!

If you will use a water bathtub, listed below are a couple of ideas:

• The very best kind of pan to make use of for a water bathtub is a roasting pan or every other giant pan with sides not less than 2 inches excessive. You want a pan with excessive edges so you may put sufficient water into the pan with out it overflowing.
• One of the simplest ways to arrange a water bathtub is to position the wrapped cheesecake pan into the roasting pan, place the pan into the oven, after which – very fastidiously – add 2 inches of water into the pan.
• Since this recipe makes use of a springform pan, you’ll have to wrap the pan first with aluminum foil to stop water from coming via the underside. To cite Mary Berry, “no one likes a soggy backside!”.
• So play it protected and use MULTIPLE layers of heavy responsibility aluminum foil. You’ll wish to deliver the layer all the way in which up the edges of the pan, and in a crisscross sample, for finest outcomes.
• When you’d wish to keep away from making a water bathtub in any respect prices, you may place the roasting pan on the rack beneath the cheesecake. This work about 60% of the time for me. And because you’ll be overlaying this cheesecake with pecan pie topping, a couple of cracks aren’t the top of the world.

Freeze Pecan Pie Cheesecake

Identical to my finest cheesecake recipe and my pumpkin cheesecake recipe, this pecan pie cheesecake freezes nice! Right here’s how you can do it:

1. Bake cheesecake as directed. Then cool fully at room temperature, this will take 2 to three hours.
2. Chill cheesecake – with out pecan topping – within the fridge for not less than 4 hours.
3. Wrap the entire cheesecake, or slices of the cheesecake, in a number of layers of saran wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Place within the freezer for as much as 2 months.

This cheesecake will maintain, saved correctly within the freezer, for 2 months. I do discover this cheesecake freezes finest with out the pecan topping. If you’re able to serve, thaw the cheesecake within the fridge. Then make and prime with pecan pie topping, slice, and serve1

Defrost Pecan Pie Cheesecake

Permit the cheesecake to take a seat at room temperature for 20 minutes earlier than slicing. This may assist improve creaminess.

To defrost the cheesecake, merely thaw the wrapped cheesecake in fridge for 8 hours – or in a single day. By no means try to thaw a cheesecake within the microwave or oven!