One variation I’ve seen is making this a layered cheesecake.  To do this, you make up the batch of cheesecake mix without the pumpkin.  Pour half of this into the crust in the springform pan.  Put this in the refrigerator to chill while you do the next step.  Then add in the pumpkin to the remaining cheesecake mix and pour on top.  A wonderful taste with a great presentation.

Regardless of how you make it, you’ll definitely please everyone with this favorite from The Cheesecake Factory™.  If you’re not into pumpkin, you can always make up a patch of their original cheesecake.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 5 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon sugar

Filling

• 1 cup sugar
• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice

Topping

• whipped cream

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine the graham cracker crumbs with 1 Tablespoon of sugar and then drizzle the melted butter over the top.
3. Mix this together well enough to cover all of the crumbs with the butter. Do not let it turn into a paste.
4. Press the crumbs onto the bottom and about two-thirds of the way up the sides of the springform pan. It’s ok if it doesn’t go all the way up the sides.  You want part of the cheesecake to extend above the crust.
5. Bake for 5 minutes, then chill it in a refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
6. Combine the cream cheese, 1 C sugar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.
7. Mix until smooth using an electric mixer (remove the lumps but don’t over-mix).
8. Add the pumpkin, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice and continue beating until smooth and creamy.
9. Pour the mixture into the graham cracker crust.
10. Bake for 60-70 minutes.
11. The cake will rise and turn a nice golden brown on top.
12. Remove from the oven and allow to cool at room tempurature.
13. When the cheesecake has come to room temperature, put it into the refrigerator (The Cheesecake Factory™ will let it chill for 24 hours to help bring all of the flavors together.  You may not be able to wait that long, but it IS worth it).
14. When the cheesecake has chilled or you’ve lost all will-power, release the spring and romove the sides of the pan.
15. Cut the cake into 8 equal pieces and garnish with generous amounts of whipped cream (you could even lightly dust with some of the spices).

If you’re a little nervous about making a cheesecake, this should reassure you.  My 8 year old daughter shows you exactly how in this video:

My wife and I recently ate at The Cheesecake Factory™ and decided to split and entree and then order our own desserts.  We both walked out completely stuffed.  The portions at The Cheesecake Factory™ will blow you away.

Unfortunately, as large as the serving is, it’s still almost $10 for a slice of cheesecake.  For that amount of money, you could cook and entire cheesecake at home and server it to your family.  Please don’t be intimidated by the idea of cooking a cheesecake.  It’s not as hard as you’ve heard.  Just follow the instructions step-by-step and you’ll be fine.  Then take one to work and share it with your friends.  They’ll be begging for more.

The Recipe

Ingredients

Crust:

1/4 cup pecans chopped fine
1/4 cup walnuts chopped fine
1/4 cup almonds chopped fine
3/4 cup crushed vanilla wafers
2 tablespoons melted butter

Filling:

1 1/2 lbs cream cheese (do not use low fat)
1 1/3 cups sugar
5 large eggs
16 ounces sour cream
1/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons lemon juice (or try using 1 tsp of lemon zest)

Directions:

Let all of the cheesecake ingredients sit out on the counter while you’re making the crust.  This will allow them to get to room temperature before you begin working with them.

Crust:

1. Place all of the nuts along with the vanilla wafer crumbs into a large bowl.
2. Drizzle the melted butter over the top of the mixture and mix by hand.
3. Lightly butter a 9″ springform pan
4. Press the crust mixture into the pan making sure you don’t let it get too think in the corners.
5. Do your best to make the sides even, about 1 1/2″ up the sides of the pan and then set aside.

Cheesecake:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees.
2. Using an electric mixture on LOW (this is very important) beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy.
3. Continue mixing on LOW while you slowly add the sugar to the cream cheese.
4. Continue mixing on low while you add one egg at a time, beating after each egg.
5. Add flour, vanilla and lemon juice (or zest) and mix on low.
6. Add in the sour cream and mix on low until completely blended.
7. Pour the mixture into the springform pan.
8. Bake the cheesecake on the top rack of the 325 degree oven for 1 hour 15 minutes.
9. Once the timer goes off, prop your oven door open, turn off the oven and let the cake sit inside the oven for 1 hour.
10. Remove from the oven and let your cheesecake cool in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
11. Keep in mind, the longer you let this sit in the refrigerator, the better it’s going to taste.  So don’t rush it.

I’m not a Tiramisu expert, but I’ve heard many people say that the Olive Garden™ recipe is one of the better ones you’ll find.  I had some Tiramisu at a little Italian bakery in the Little Italy part of San Franscisco.  It was amazing, but i think the atmosphere had a lot to do with it.

When you make this recipe, make sure you add plenty of sugar to keep it from that “cheese taste”.  This is a dessert, not an appetizer, so don’t be afraid to sweeten it up.

One of the restaurant recipes floating around uses sponge cake.  One trip to The Olive Garden and you’ll know it’s made with lady fingers, not sponge cake.  The following is the real deal.

Recipe:

• 3 egg yolks
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 1 cup grandulated sugar
• 3 cups mascarpone cheese (this is an Italian cream cheese)
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 20 – 24 lady fingers
• 1/4 cup cold espresso
• 1/4 cup Kahlua coffee liqueur
• 2 teaspoons cocoa powder

Directions:

1. Fill a medium saucepan halfway with water and bring it to a boil over medium/high heat, then reduce heat so that the water is simmering. Whisk egg yolks, milk and sugar together in a medium metal bowl, then place the bowl on top of the saucepan (you can also use a double boiler for this step). Stir the mixture often for ten minutes. After the sugar dissolves the mixture should begin to thicken and turn light yellow. Remove it from the heat to cool.
   
2. Use an electric mixer to combine mascarpone, cream cheese and vanilla in a large bowl. Mix until mostly creamy, but with a few small chunks remaining.
3. Add egg yolk mixture to the cheese mixture and mix just until well-combined.
4. Combine espresso and Kahlua in a small bowl. Pour this mixture onto a dinner plate. One-by-one touch the bottom of each lady finger in the espresso. The lady finger will quickly soak up the espresso/Kahlua mixture, but you don’t want the lady finger soaked — just a dab will do ya. The top half of each lady finger should still be dry. Arrange the soaked lady fingers side-by-side on the bottom of an 8×8-inch serving dish or baking pan.
   
5. Spoon about half of the cheese mixture over the lady fingers, then add another layer of soaked lady fingers on top of the cheese mixture.
   
6. Spoon the remaining cheese mixture over the second layer of lady fingers and spread it evenly.
   
7. Put two teaspoons of cocoa powder in a tight-mesh strainer and gently tap the side of the strainer to add an even dusting of cocoa powder over the top of the dessert.
   
8. Cover and chill for several hours. To serve, slice the dessert twice across and down creating 9 even portions (the first serving is always the hardest to get out).