SWEET POTATO CHEESECAKE WITH GINGERSNAP CRUST

Sweet Potato Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust image

Provided by Kardea Brown

Categories dessert

Time 3h25m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

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Nonstick cooking spray
1 1/2 cups crushed gingersnap cookies (about 7 ounces or 32 cookies)
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Pinch of kosher salt
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, cool but slightly softened
1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups cooked dark orange sweet potatoes, mashed until very smooth or pureed in a food processor (about 12 ounces or 2 large sweet potatoes)
1/4 cup half-and-half
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs, at room temperature

Steps:

For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch deep dish pie plate with nonstick cooking spray.
Mix the cookie crumbs, brown sugar, butter and salt together in a medium bowl until well blended. Press the mixture into the pie plate. Bake until set and the crust feels firm, 7 to 10 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
To make the cheesecake filling: In a stand mixer or with an electric hand mixer, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, granulated sugar and salt, mixing at low speed until the mixture is smooth with no lumps, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and eggs.
Add the filling to the crust, smooth the top, and chill in the freezer until the filling is sturdy and set up, at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
For the sweet potato topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt. Whisk in the sweet potatoes, half and half, butter, vanilla and eggs until smooth. Pour slowly over the chilled cheesecake filling.
Place the pie on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F and bake, covering the edges with foil if it browns too quickly, until set along the outside and the center still has a slight jiggle, 55 to 60 minutes. Let cool to room temperature before refrigerating until ready to serve.