Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin Cheesecake
by: Paula Deen, 2007

I made this cheesecake this Thanksgiving for the second time! Last year in Macedonia was my first time making it and I was so pleased! It is incredibly delicious!! This is now a traditional recipe that I want to have every Thanksgiving on the menu.

Ingredients
Crust:

* 1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
* 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1 stick melted salted butter
*

Filling:

* 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
* 1 (15-ounce) can pureed pumpkin
* 3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk
* 1/4 cup sour cream
* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg (optional)
* 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
* 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

For crust:

In medium bowl, combine crumbs, sugar and cinnamon. Add melted butter. Press down flat into a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.

For filling:

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pumpkin puree, eggs, egg yolk, sour cream, sugar and the spices. Add flour and vanilla. Beat together until well combined.

Pour into crust. Spread out evenly and place oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.

Oreo Cheesecake

Oreo Cheesecake

Crust:

24 crushed Oreos
¼ cup Sugar
1/3 cup butter

Pull apart and scrape out the filling from 24 cookies; crush those cookies and mix with butter and sugar. Press firmly onto the bottom of a spring form pan. Bake five minutes at 350 degrees.
Stand remaining 14 cookies around the edge of pan, firmly pressing bottom edge of each cookie into crust.

Filling:
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
¾ Cup sugar
2 Large Eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon Vanilla
2 tablespoons Cornstarch
1 Cup Sour Cream

Beat together cheese and sugar until light and smooth. Beat in eggs, vanilla and cornstarch only until thoroughly mixed. Stir in sour cream until mixture is well blended. Pour into crust. Bake cheesecake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven and place in refrigerator to cool immediately. This prevents cracks from forming in the cake.

Mira’s Cheesecake

For many years now, my mother, Teresa has baked a delicious cheesecake. She is often asked to bake a cheesecake for family gatherings. Here's the recipe she uses. It's from a lady named Mira from Ila, Georgia (my hometown). I have used this recipe many times. I even used it while living overseas. I just had to make a few substitutions but it still turned out delicious. This is a must-try recipe!!!

Mira’s Cheesecake

Crust:

2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
¼ cup Sugar
1/3 cup butter or oleo (melted)

Mix melted oleo with cracker crumbs and sugar. Press on bottom and sides of 10” spring form pan. Bake five minutes at 350 degrees.

Filling:
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
¾ Cup sugar
2 Large Eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon Vanilla
2 tablespoons Cornstarch
1 Cup Sour Cream

Beat together cheese and sugar until light and smooth. Beat in eggs, vanilla and cornstarch only until thoroughly mixed. Stir in sour cream until mixture is well blended. Pour into crust. Bake cheesecake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven and place in refrigerator to cool immediately. This prevents cracks from forming in the cake.