PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH WALNUT-GINGER CRUST AND CARAMEL SAUCE

Pumpkin Cheesecake With Walnut-Ginger Crust and Caramel Sauce image

A wonderful choice for your holiday meal! You will never make just a plain old pumpkin pie again! The cheesecake can be made the day before and actually tastes better if made ahead.

Provided by Lvs2Cook

Time 2h

Yield 8-10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

2 cups gingersnap crumbs
2/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
3 tablespoons sugar
3/4 cup sugar
6 tablespoons butter, melted
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
5 large eggs
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
1/4 cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup butter
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 cup whipping cream
toasted walnut halves

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place cookie crumbs, walnuts, and 3 tablespoons sugar in a food processor and pulse 3 or 4 times until combined; add butter and pulse 4 or 5 times, or until crumbly. Wrap the outside of a 10-inch springform pan with aluminum foil, then press cookie mixture into the bottom and 1 inch up the sides. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Cool crust completely on a wire rack. Reduce oven heat to 325 degrees.
Beat cream cheese with an electric mixer at medium speed 3 minutes, or until creamy. Gradually add brown sugar and the remaining 3/4 cup sugar, beating 4 minutes, or until blended.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until yellow disappears. Add pumpkin, whipping cream, and pumpkin-pie spice. Beat on low speed of an electric mixer just until blended. Do not overbeat. Pour batter over prepared crust.
Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until almost set (it will still jiggle in the center). Remove from oven; run a knife around edge of pan. Cool on a wire rack 1 hour. Chill 8 hours or overnight. Garnish with walnut halves and serve with Caramel Sauce.
Caramel Sauce: Melt butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat; add brown sugar and corn syrup, then cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Gradually add cream, stirring constantly. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1196.7, Fat 72.6, SaturatedFat 37.4, Cholesterol 293.9, Sodium 838.8, Carbohydrate 128.2, Fiber 2.3, Sugar 86.8, Protein 14.9