Gingerbread Cheesecake

This dessert takes the rich, spicy flavors of gingerbread and transforms them into a soft, creamy cheesecake

Gingersnap Cheesecake Recipe

Gingersnap Cheesecake

Crust:   2 cups finely ground gingersnaps

6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

2 Tbsp. sugar

Filling:   4 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

½ cup packed light brown sugar

½ cup sugar

4 eggs

½ cup sour cream

½ cup molasses

2 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. ground cloves

Topping:   1 cup heavy whipping cream

½ cup powdered sugar

1 Tbsp. rum, if desired

Heat oven to 300 F.  Line outside of 9 inch springform pan with heavy-duty foil.  Combine crust ingredients in medium bowl.  Press into bottom and halfway up sides of pan.  Refrigerate 30 minutes or until chilled.

Pulse cream cheese, brown sugar and ½ cup sugar in food processor 30 seconds or until smooth and creamy.  Add eggs one at time, pulsing after each addition.  Add all remaining filling ingredients; pulse to combine.  Pour into crust.

Place pan in large baking or broiler pan.  Add enough hot water to baking pan to come halfway up sides of springform pan.  Bake 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes or until edges are puffed and top is dry to the touch.  Center should move slightly when pan is tapped but should not ripple s if liquid.  Remove cake from water bath; remove foil.  Cool on wire rack 1 hour.  Refrigerate, uncovered, overnight.

Beat whipping cream and powdered sugar in large bowl at medium-high speed until soft peaks form.  Beat in rum until firm but not stiff peaks form.  Spread over top of cake.  Sprinkle with finely ground gingersnaps or ground cinnamon or nutmeg, if desired.

 

(Recipe for Gingerbread Cheesecake is from Cooking Club, Winter 2014)