CARAMEL-PRETZEL CHEESECAKE

Caramel-Pretzel Cheesecake image

This rich, chocolate ganache-topped caramel cheesecake has a delightfully contrasting salted pretzel crust.

Provided by Philadelphia Cream Cheese

Categories Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips Cooking with Philly Canada

Time 6h30m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

2 cups finely crushed pretzels
2 cups white sugar, divided
¾ cup butter, melted
4 (250 g) packages PHILADELPHIA Brick Cream Cheese, softened
3 tablespoons butterscotch-flavoured liqueur
5 eggs
¼ cup caramel sauce
1 ¼ cups whipping cream, divided
1 ¼ cups BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Steps:

Heat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Combine pretzel crumbs, 1/2 cup sugar and butter; press onto bottom and 2 inches up side of 9-inch springform pan.
Reserve 2 tablespoons of the remaining sugar. Beat remaining sugar with cream cheese in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add liqueur; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended; pour into crust.
Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 5 minutes or until centre is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours.
Spoon caramel sauce over cheesecake, spreading to within 2 inches of edge. Bring 1/4 cup whipping cream to boil in small saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate chips; stir until melted. Let stand 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Pour over cheesecake; spread to completely cover top.
Beat remaining cream in medium bowl with mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Add reserved sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. Spoon into pastry bag fitted with star tip; use to pipe whipped cream onto cheesecake just before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 631.7 calories, Carbohydrate 53.7 g, Cholesterol 173.5 mg, Fat 44.7 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 9.4 g, SaturatedFat 26.6 g, Sodium 489.6 mg, Sugar 40 g