Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups crushed shortbread cookies
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
• 1 jar (12-1/4 ounces) caramel ice cream topping
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 5 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
• 1-3/4 cups sugar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
• SOUR CREAM TOPPING:
• 2 cups (16 ounces sour cream
• 1/3 cup sugar

Directions

• In a small bowl, combine cookie crumbs and butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a greased 10-in. springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until set. Cool on a wire rack.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir 1/4 cup flour into the caramel topping. Set aside 1/3 cup caramel mixture and 2 tablespoons pecans for garnish. Drizzle remaining caramel mixture over crust; sprinkle with remaining pecans.
• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar vanilla and remaining flour until smooth. Beat in eggs and yolks just until combined. Stir in cream.
• Pour over crust. Bake at 325° for 65-70 minutes or until center is almost set.
• In a small bowl, combine sour cream and sugar; carefully spread over warm filling. Bake 10-12 minutes longer or until topping is set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer.
• Chill for 8 hours or overnight. Remove sides of pan. Just before serving, drizzle with reserved caramel mixture and sprinkle with reserved pecans. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 12 servings.

Caramel Pecan Cheesecake published in Country Woman Christmas Annual 2003, p47