SPICED PUMPKIN PECAN CHEESECAKE WITH CARAMEL-BOURBON SAUCE

SPICED PUMPKIN PECAN CHEESECAKE WITH CARAMEL-BOURBON SAUCE image

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 28

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Crust:
3/4 cups ginger snap cookie crumbs
3/4 cup ground toasted pecans
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Filling:
3 8-ounce packages cream cheese
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel
4 large eggs
1 15-ounce can pure pumpkin
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon groun nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon allspice
Large pinch of salt
Sauce:
1 cup (packed) brown sugar
1/2 cup whipping cream
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons bourbon
1 1/2 cups pecans, toasted, cooled

Steps:

For crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 9-inch springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Grind first 4 ingredients in processor until mixture sticks together. Press evenly onto bottom of pan. Bake crust until golden, about 15 minutes. Cool completely. Wrap outside of pan in triple layer of heavy-duty foil. For filling: Using mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, and lemon peel in large bowl until smooth. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, then pumpkin, sour cream, flour, vanilla, spices, and salt. Pour into pan. Set springform pan in roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into roasting pan to come halfway up sides of cheesecake. Place in oven. Bake until outer 3 inches puff slightly and center is softly set, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool in water bath 30 minutes. Remove from water. Cut around sides of cake to loosen. Refrigerate in pan until cold, about 4 hours. Cover and chill overnight. For sauce: Bring sugar, cream, butter, corn syrup, and salt to boil in deep medium saucepan, whisking until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium; boil 1 minute without stirring. Remove from heat. Stir in bourbon, then pecans. Cool, stirring occasionally. Remove foil. Cut around pan sides; remove sides. Cut cheesecake into wedges; spoon sauce over.