PEAR-HAZELNUT CHEESECAKES WITH PEAR-RASPBERRY SAUCE

Pear-Hazelnut Cheesecakes with Pear-Raspberry Sauce image

Yield Makes 4

Number Of Ingredients 17

For sauce
1 cup frozen unsweetened raspberries, thawed
1/4 cup pear nectar
3 tablespoons (packed) golden brown sugar
For crust
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
1/2 cup hazelnuts, toasted, husked
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons melted butter
For filling
1 10-ounce pear, peeled, cored, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
2/3 cup pear nectar
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
3 tablespoons sugar
1 large egg
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Fresh mint (optional)

Steps:

Make sauce:
Purée all ingredients in blender. Strain into small bowl. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover; refrigerate.)
Make crust:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line four 3/4-cup soufflé dishes or custard cups with foil; spray lightly with nonstick spray. Finely grind nuts and sugar in processor. Add butter; blend until mixture holds together. Press 1/4 of nut mixture onto bottom of each prepared dish. Place dishes on baking sheet; bake crusts until slightly darker in color, 8 minutes. Set aside. Maintain oven temperature.
Make filling:
Combine pear and nectar in small saucepan. Boil over medium heat until mixture resembles chunky sauce, stirring occasionally, about 18 minutes. Cool completely.
Beat cream cheese and sugar in medium bowl until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Beat in 2/3 cup chunky pear sauce (reserve any remaining sauce for another use). Divide filling among crusts.
Bake cakes until center is set and slightly puffed, about 30 minutes. Cool in dishes on rack. Cover; chill overnight.
Using foil as aid, lift cakes from dishes. Peel foil from sides. Slide spatula under crusts and transfer cakes to plates. Spoon pear-raspberry sauce around cakes. Garnish with mint, if desired.