In the event you love pecan pie, you HAVE to attempt my pecan pie cheesecake recipe. A pecan crust, brown sugar cheesecake filling, and gooey pecan pie topping, make that is the final word vacation dessert! This crowd-pleasing dessert is scrumptious plain or with whipped cream. And can depart your family and friends hailing you a baking genius!
Finest Pecan Pie Cheesecake
Thanksgiving is just some weeks away! And this 12 months we’re going with a pecan pie theme.
Pecan pie french toast casserole and pecan cinnamon buns for breakfast… and pecan pie cheesecake for dessert! I wouldn’t flip down a slice of brownie pecan pie both. However I had to attract the road someplace!
Right here’s why this recipe is the best possible:
- Buttery and crunchy pecan crust… with only a trace of cinnamon spice
- cheesecake filling options brown sugar, vanilla, and bourbon
- pecan pie topping is crunchy, stick candy, and completely gooey
- make-ahead pleasant, you may make this pecan pie cheesecake recipe as much as 2 months upfront.
Pecan Pie Cheesecake Recipe: Components
This ingredient record is kind of just like my pecan pie cheesecake bars and mini pecan pie cheesecakes. The principle distinction between these recipes is how they’re ready. Right here’s all the pieces you’ll have to make this pecan pie cheesecake recipe.
- Graham Crackers Crumbs: You should use pre-crushed graham cracker crumbs. Or purchase the sleeves of graham crackers from the shop and crush them your self. The best method to do that is by inserting them in a blender or meals processor and pulsing till utterly crushed. Then measure and use the quantity known as for within the graham cracker crust.
- Pecans: You’ll want pecan halves for the pecan crust in addition to for the pecan pie topping. At all times style your pecans earlier than use. Nothing ruins a pecan pie cheesecake sooner than rancid pecans!
- Darkish Brown Sugar: Provides sweetness together with a delicate molasses taste to the creamy cheesecake filling! In a pinch, mild brown sugar will work tremendous.
- Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness to the cheesecake batter. In a pinch you need to use all granulated sugar or all brown sugar. However ideally, use the quantities known as for of every.
- Salt: Helps stability the sweetness and improve the flavors within the cheesecake batter.
- Melted Butter: I at all times favor utilizing unsalted butter, however in a pinch, salted or unsalted butter will work.
- Cream Cheese: On the subject of cream cheese, use full-fat. It’ll provide the greatest style and texture. Block-style cream cheese works greatest, we love Philadelphia model. Carry cream cheese to room temperature earlier than use.
- Bitter Cream: Full-fat works greatest, and also you’ll additionally need this ingredient at room temperature. In the event you can’t discover bitter cream, full-fat Greek yogurt is one of the best substitute.
- Heavy Cream: Often known as whipping cream, this provides richness to the cheesecake batter and pecan pie filling.
- Vanilla Extract: A touch enhances all the opposite flavors on this recipe, and provides its signature wealthy vanilla taste.
- Bourbon: I really like including a splash of bourbon to the pecan pie topping. It provides a wealthy and strong taste, just like pecan pie. You’ll be able to sub whiskey or rum, or just depart it out. In the event you omit the bourbon from the pecan pie topping, add an additional 2 teaspoons of vanilla.
- Eggs: Use massive selection eggs, which can be at room temperature. This recipe requires 3 complete eggs and a pair of egg yolks. You’ll be able to discard the remaining egg white, or put it aside for a later use.
- Cinnamon: Provides a delicate however heat and comfortable spice component!
In fact you’ll additionally want a baking sheet and a cheesecake pan! This 9″ Springform pan is my absolute favourite. I wish to spray the springform pan with non-stick spray. However you might additionally line the springform pan with parchment paper circle on the underside.
Tips on how to Make Pecan Pie Cheesecake
- Pecan Crust: Use a meals processor to pulse the pecans into tremendous crumbs. Mix the pecan crumbs with the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Add the melted butter and mix. Pat the combination into the ready pan and bake for 10 minutes.
- Cheesecake Batter: You’ll want a high-power blender, meals processor, stand mixer, or handheld electrical mixer. Beat the softened cream cheese and bitter cream till utterly easy. When you add the eggs, beat on low till simply mixed. Pour cheesecake batter on high of crust.
- Bake: Place the cheesecake pan in a water tub and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Then let the cheesecake sit within the oven, with the oven off however the oven door closed, for half-hour.
- Chill: When you take away the cheesecake from the oven, take away it from of the water tub and place on a wire rack. Enable the cheesecake to chill to room temperature, then place the pan within the fridge and chill for six hours. The longer you let the cheesecake chill, the creamier it’ll be.
- Pecan Pie Filling: You may make the pecan pie topping proper earlier than you intend on serving. Or make it as much as 48 hours upfront and retailer within the fridge. It’ll get arduous within the fridge, so that you’ll have to microwave it for a couple of seconds earlier than use.
As soon as your cheesecake has chilled, you’ll be able to high it with the pecan pie topping, slice, and serve! Or serve with whipped cream and even ice cream.
Do I’ve to make a Water Bathtub for this Cheesecake?
Okay, so usually my reply is sure! However for this recipe, I say it’s as much as you! In the event you don’t use one, it might crack. However because you’re overlaying the highest with pecan pie filling, it actually gained’t matter an excessive amount of. That mentioned, I at all times use a water tub as a result of along with decreasing the chance if cracks, it helps the cheesecake bake slowly and evenly. This ensures the right creamy texture!
If you will use a water tub, listed here are a couple of suggestions:
- The perfect kind of pan to make use of for a water tub is a roasting pan or every other massive pan with sides at the very least 2 inches excessive. You want a pan with excessive edges so you’ll be able to put sufficient water into the pan with out it overflowing.
- One of the best ways to organize a water tub is to put the wrapped cheesecake pan into the roasting pan, place the pan into the oven, after which – very rigorously – add 2 inches of water into the pan.
- Since this recipe makes use of a springform pan, you’ll have to wrap the pan first with aluminum foil to stop water from coming by way of the underside. To cite Mary Berry, “no one likes a soggy backside!”.
- So play it protected and use MULTIPLE layers of heavy responsibility aluminum foil. You’ll wish to deliver the layer all the best way up the edges of the pan, and in a crisscross sample, for greatest outcomes.
- In the event you’d wish to keep away from making a water tub in any respect prices, you’ll be able to place the roasting pan on the rack beneath the cheesecake. This work about 60% of the time for me. And because you’ll be overlaying this cheesecake with pecan pie topping, a couple of cracks aren’t the tip of the world.
Freeze Pecan Pie Cheesecake
Similar to my greatest cheesecake recipe and my pumpkin cheesecake recipe, this pecan pie cheesecake freezes nice! Right here’s easy methods to do it:
- Bake cheesecake as directed. Then cool utterly at room temperature, this will take 2 to three hours.
- Chill cheesecake – with out pecan topping – within the fridge for at the very least 4 hours.
- Wrap the entire cheesecake, or slices of the cheesecake, in a number of layers of saran wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Place within the freezer for as much as 2 months.
This cheesecake will hold, saved correctly within the freezer, for 2 months. I do discover this cheesecake freezes greatest with out the pecan topping. Once you’re able to serve, thaw the cheesecake within the fridge. Then make and high with pecan pie topping, slice, and serve1
Defrost Pecan Pie Cheesecake
Enable the cheesecake to take a seat at room temperature for 20 minutes earlier than slicing. This can assist enhance creaminess.
To defrost the cheesecake, merely thaw the wrapped cheesecake in fridge for 8 hours – or in a single day. By no means try and thaw a cheesecake within the microwave or oven!
