Pumpkin Caramel Pecan Cheesecake

It's almost "everything pumpkin" season.   Light, fluffy, and delicious.  I love the mixture of caramel, pumpkin and pecans together.   

PUMPKIN CARAMEL PECAN CHEESECAKE

(serves 16)

Crust Ingredients:

*1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs

*3/4 cup ginger snaps 

*3/4 cup granulated sugar

*1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

*1/2 cup butter, melted

Cheesecake Ingredients:

*3 (8 ounce) cream cheese, room temperature 

*1 (29 ounce) can pumpkin puree

*3 large eggs, room temperature 

*3/4 cup light brown sugar

*1 teaspoon pure maple syrup (can use vanilla extract if you prefer)

*1/2 teaspoon salt

*1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

*1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

*1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

*1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Topping Ingredients:

*1 cup sour cream

*1/4 cup granulated sugar

*1 teaspoon pure maple syrup (can use vanilla extract if you prefer

*1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

*1/2 cup pecans chopped (optional)

*Caramel Sauce (for drizzling over cheesecake)

Crust Directions:

~In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, gingersnap crumbs, granulated sugar and butter together until well mixed.

~Press mixture into a 8-inch springform pan, pressing along the bottom and half way up the sides (sometimes I just spread it along the bottom).

~Refrigerate until ready to fill with filling.

Filling Directions:

~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

~Place a couple layers of paper towels on a plate.

~Place pumpkin puree on paper towels.

~Gently wrap the pumpkin with the paper towels to remove excess liquid.

~Allow to sit wrapped in paper towel for 1 hour.

~In a large mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese until smooth.

~Add egg one at a time, mixing well between each addition.

~Add in brown sugar, maple syrup, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves and mix until smooth.

~Pour filling into prepared crust.

~Bake for 30 minutes. 

~Reduce temperature to 325 degrees and bake for another 30 minutes (cheesecake will be slightly jiggly in the center.

~Remove from oven and set aside.

~In a small bowl, whisk sour cream, granulated sugar, maple syrup, and cinnamon together until combined.

~Spread evenly over cheesecake.

~Return to oven and bake for 10 minutes.

~Remove from oven and cool completely.

~Before serving drizzle with caramel sauce.