Delight your senses with the ultimate fusion dessert – the Pecan Pie Cheesecake. This luscious masterpiece layers the velvety luxury of cheesecake atop a sweet, nutty pecan pie foundation, creating an irresistible combination that’s sure to captivate any dessert enthusiast. The exact roots of this recipe may be a bit of a mystery, but there’s no doubt that it brings together the heartwarming flavors of pecans and the smooth, rich taste of cheesecake in perfect harmony. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for any event or just a special way to end a meal.
To present this tantalizing Pecan Pie Cheesecake, consider some delightful accompaniments. A dollop of freshly whipped cream adds a cloud-like contrast to the dense cheesecake, while a drizzle of silky caramel sauce or a dash of cinnamon can amplify the dessert’s warm, inviting flavors. Or why not add a scoop of classic vanilla ice cream to juxtapose the indulgent cheesecake with a cool, creamy partner?
Pecan Pie Cheesecake Recipe:
Ingredients:
For the crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
½ cup melted butter
⅓ cup light brown sugar
For the pecan filling:
1½ cups chopped pecans
2 eggs
⅓ cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the cheesecake:
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup sour cream
1½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
For the pecan topping:
1 cup chopped pecans
⅓ cup light brown sugar
¼ cup butter
¼ cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C) and grease a 9-inch springform pan.
Combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and brown sugar for the crust. Press firmly into the pan and freeze.
For the filling, melt butter and combine with sugar, corn syrup, eggs, vanilla, and pecans over medium heat until thick. Pour over the crust.
Beat the cream cheese and sugar for the cheesecake layer until fluffy, then mix in salt, flour, vanilla, eggs one at a time, and sour cream. Layer over the pecan filling.
Set the cheesecake pan in a larger pan, fill with water for a bath, and bake for an hour or until set with a slight jiggle.
Let the cheesecake cool gradually in the turned-off oven, then chill overnight.
For the topping, melt butter with brown sugar, then stir in cream and vanilla. Mix in pecans and spoon over the cheesecake.
To serve:
Slowly loosen the sides of the springform pan. (Hopefully, the topping hasn’t run down and glued the pan together.) If the sides seem stuck, gently run a butter knife around the edges of the cheesecake to loosen it and press the bottom of the pan upwards. Once the sides and bottom of the pan are free of each other, lift the outer ring of the pan to remove it.
Carefully transfer the cheesecake to a serving platter. I recommend freezing the cheesecake for 1-2 hours before slicing. This makes it easier to get neat slices.
Run a sharp knife under hot water and carefully dry the blade. Make a cut in the cheesecake. Repeat with rinsing the blade under hot water, carefully dry it, and make the next cut. Do this for each slice.
If you froze the cheesecake before slicing, let the slices sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.