If you happen to 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 last word vacation dessert! This crowd-pleasing dessert is scrumptious plain or with whipped cream. And can go away your family and friends hailing you a baking genius!
Finest Pecan Pie Cheesecake
Thanksgiving is only a few 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 very best:
- 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 can also make this pecan pie cheesecake recipe as much as 2 months prematurely.
Pecan Pie Cheesecake Recipe: Substances
This ingredient checklist is sort of just like my pecan pie cheesecake bars and mini pecan pie cheesecakes. The primary distinction between these recipes is how they’re ready. Right here’s the whole lot you’ll must make this pecan pie cheesecake recipe.
- Graham Crackers Crumbs: You should utilize pre-crushed graham cracker crumbs. Or purchase the sleeves of graham crackers from the shop and crush them your self. The best manner to do that is by inserting them in a blender or meals processor and pulsing till fully crushed. Then measure and use the quantity referred to 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. All the time style your pecans earlier than use. Nothing ruins a pecan pie cheesecake quicker than rancid pecans!
- Darkish Brown Sugar: Provides sweetness together with a delicate molasses taste to the creamy cheesecake filling! In a pinch, gentle brown sugar will work positive.
- Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness to the cheesecake batter. In a pinch you should use all granulated sugar or all brown sugar. However ideally, use the quantities referred to as for of every.
- Salt: Helps stability the sweetness and improve the flavors within the cheesecake batter.
- Melted Butter: I all the time choose utilizing unsalted butter, however in a pinch, salted or unsalted butter will work.
- Cream Cheese: In the case of cream cheese, use full-fat. It’ll provide the greatest style and texture. Block-style cream cheese works greatest, we love Philadelphia model. Convey 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. If you happen to can’t discover bitter cream, full-fat Greek yogurt is one of the best substitute.
- Heavy Cream: Also called 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 like including a splash of bourbon to the pecan pie topping. It provides a wealthy and sturdy taste, just like pecan pie. You’ll be able to sub whiskey or rum, or just go away it out. If you happen to omit the bourbon from the pecan pie topping, add an additional 2 teaspoons of vanilla.
- Eggs: Use giant selection eggs, which might be at room temperature. This recipe requires 3 entire eggs and a couple of egg yolks. You’ll be able to discard the remaining egg white, or reserve it for a later use.
- Cinnamon: Provides a delicate however heat and comfortable spice aspect!
After all you’ll additionally want a baking sheet and a cheesecake pan! This 9″ Springform pan is my absolute favourite. I prefer to spray the springform pan with non-stick spray. However you could possibly additionally line the springform pan with parchment paper circle on the underside.
Methods to Make Pecan Pie Cheesecake
- Pecan Crust: Use a meals processor to pulse the pecans into positive 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 fully clean. 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. Permit 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 prematurely and retailer within the fridge. It’ll get exhausting within the fridge, so that you’ll must microwave it for a couple of seconds earlier than use.
As soon as your cheesecake has chilled, you possibly can 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 Tub for this Cheesecake?
Okay, so usually my reply is sure! However for this recipe, I say it’s as much as you! If you happen to don’t use one, it could crack. However because you’re masking the highest with pecan pie filling, it actually received’t matter an excessive amount of. That stated, I all the time use a water tub as a result of along with lowering the chance if cracks, it helps the cheesecake bake slowly and evenly. This ensures the proper creamy texture!
If you’ll use a water tub, listed here are a couple of ideas:
- The perfect sort of pan to make use of for a water tub is a roasting pan or every other giant pan with sides a minimum of 2 inches excessive. You want a pan with excessive edges so you possibly can put sufficient water into the pan with out it overflowing.
- One of the simplest ways to arrange a water tub is to position the wrapped cheesecake pan into the roasting pan, place the pan into the oven, after which – very fastidiously – add 2 inches of water into the pan.
- Since this recipe makes use of a springform pan, you’ll must wrap the pan first with aluminum foil to stop water from coming via the underside. To cite Mary Berry, “no one likes a soggy backside!”.
- So play it secure and use MULTIPLE layers of heavy obligation aluminum foil. You’ll need to deliver the layer all the way in which up the perimeters of the pan, and in a crisscross sample, for greatest outcomes.
- If you happen to’d prefer to keep away from making a water tub in any respect prices, you possibly can place the roasting pan on the rack beneath the cheesecake. This work about 60% of the time for me. And because you’ll be masking this cheesecake with pecan pie topping, a couple of cracks aren’t the tip of the world.
Freeze Pecan Pie Cheesecake
Identical to my greatest cheesecake recipe and my pumpkin cheesecake recipe, this pecan pie cheesecake freezes nice! Right here’s find out how to do it:
- Bake cheesecake as directed. Then cool fully at room temperature, this could take 2 to three hours.
- Chill cheesecake – with out pecan topping – within the fridge for a minimum of 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 maintain, saved correctly within the freezer, for 2 months. I do discover this cheesecake freezes greatest with out the pecan topping. If 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
Permit the cheesecake to take a seat at room temperature for 20 minutes earlier than slicing. It will assist improve 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!
