Eggnog Cheesecake

Vanilla wafer crust topped with cheesecake filling prepared from cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, dark rum, vanilla extract and nutmeg. Cheesecake is baked, chilled and topped with pecan caramel sauce.

Ingredients -
1/4 cup Butter, melted
1-1/4 cups Vanilla Wafer Crumbs
1/4 cup White Sugar
3 (8 ounces each) packages Cream Cheese, softened
1 (14 ounces) can Sweetened Condensed Milk
3 Eggs
1/4 cup Dark Rum
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/2 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1 tablespoon Cornstarch
1 cup Water
2 tablespoons Butter, melted
1/3 cup Packed Light Brown Sugar
2 tablespoons Dark Rum
1/2 cup Pecans, chopped
 
Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.

2. Combine 1/4 cup butter, wafer crumbs, and white sugar in a large bowl.

3. Press firmly onto the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan.

4. Beat the cream cheese until fluffy in a large bowl.

5. Gradually beat in the sweetened condensed milk until smooth.

6. Mix in the eggs.

7. Stir in 1/4 cup rum, vanilla extract, and nutmeg.

8. Pour into the prepared pan. v

9. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the center of the cake springs back when lightly touched.v

10. Allow to cool, then chill.

11. In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in 1 cup of water.

12. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan.

13. Stir in the brown sugar and the cornstarch mixture.

14. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.

15. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

16. Remove it from the heat, and add 2 tablespoons of dark rum.

17. Allow to cool.

18. Just before serving, stir the pecans into the sauce.

19. Remove the sides of the springform pan from the cooled cheesecake.

20. Serve with the Pecan Caramel Sauce.

 



Cheesecake Making Tips -
Freezing Cheesecake

To freeze cheesecake after baking, place on wire rack to cool for one hour, than wrap loosely and place in refrigerator for 4 to 5 hours to completely set. Wrap cheesecake in plastic wrap and wrap in foil before freezing.


Cheesecake Making Tips -
Vanilla

Vanilla extract is produced from chopped vanilla beans, ethyl alcohol and water. The combination is percolated or macerated in large steel containers. The process takes two days after which the extract is filtered off and bottled.