Perfect Pumpkin Cheesecake
CATEGORIES
INGREDIENTS
  • CRUST:
  • 2 cups gingersnaps cookie crumbs (about 32)
  • I substituted some danish butter cookies for the gingersnaps because my husband hates them and the butter cookies were PERFECT!
  • 3/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
  • FILLING:
  • 4 pkgs (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 4 Eggs
  • 1 Cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
DIRECTIONS
  1. Heat over to 300`.
  2. Grease 9-in springform pan with shortening or cooking spray.
  3. In a small bowl, mix cookie crumbs and butter. Press mixture in bottom and up 1 inch side of pan.
  4. Bake 8-10 minutes, or until set.
  5. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with mixer on medium speed just until smooth and creamy; do not overbeat.
  6. On low speed, gradually add sugar.
  7. On low speed, beat in eggs, one at a time, until just blended.
  8. Spoon 3 cups of this mixture into pan.
  9. Spread evenly.
  10. Stir pumpkin, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg into remaining cream cheese mixture; mix unitlsmooth. Spoon over mixture in pan.
  11. Bake 1 hour 25 minutes- 1 hr 30 mins or until edges are set but center of cheesecake still jiggles slightly
  12. Turn off oven; open door at least 4 inches. Leave cheesecake in over 30 minutes longer. Remove from oven; place on cooling rack. Run a knife along side of pan to loosen cheesecake. Cool in pan 30 minutes longer.
  13. Cover loosely; refrigerate at least 6 hours.
  14. Run a knife around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake again; carefully remove side of pan. Store cheesecake covered in refrigerator.
  15. I know this recipe sounds sort of complicated, but if you start enough ahead of time it really isn't
  16. I don't have a photo of my actual cheesecake, but next time I make it I will update this one!
RECIPE BACKSTORY
This recipe is Perfect for the upcoming autumn season!!!! I made this recipe for Thanksgiving in '06 and had sooo many requests for a repeat performance! I got it from the Betty Crocker- Thanksgiving Edition, '06.