Recipe: Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake with Caramel-Bourbon Sauce

SPICED PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH
CARAMEL-BOURBON SAUCE
Source: Bon Appetit/Time For Dessert/November 2005
Makes 12 servings

Notes by the Source:
Make this luscious dessert a day ahead.

Cheesecake basics:
To avoid overbeating the filling, make sure that all of the ingredients are at room temperature.
For best results, use Philadelphia-brand cream cheese.
To get the neatest slices, dip the blade of the knife into a glass of very hot water and wipe the warm blade dry before cutting each wedge of cake.

FOR THE CRUST:
1 1/2 cups pecans, toasted, cooled
3 tablespoons golden brown sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
FOR THE FILLING:
3 packages (8-ounce each) cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel
4 large eggs
1 (15 ounce) can pure pumpkin
1/2 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Large pinch of salt
FOR THE SAUCE:
1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
1/2 cup whipping cream
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 to 4 tablespoons bourbon
1 1/2 cups pecans, toasted, cooled

FOR CRUST:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter 9-inch springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides.

Grind first 4 ingredients in processor until nut mixture sticks together. Press evenly onto bottom of pan.

Bake crust until golden, about 15 minutes. Cool completely. Wrap outside of pan in triple layer of heavy-duty foil.

FOR FILLING:
Using mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, and lemon peel in large bowl until smooth. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, then pumpkin, yogurt, flour, vanilla, spices, and salt. Pour into pan.

Set springform pan in roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into roasting pan to come halfway up sides of cheesecake. Place in oven.

Bake until outer 3 inches puff slightly and center is softly set, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool in water bath 30 minutes. Remove from water. Cut around sides of cake to loosen. Refrigerate in pan until cold, about 4 hours. Cover and chill overnight.

FOR SAUCE:
Bring sugar, cream, butter, corn syrup, and salt to boil in deep medium saucepan, whisking until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium; boil 1 minute without stirring. Remove from heat. Stir in bourbon, then pecans. Cool, stirring occasionally.

TO SERVE:
Remove foil. Cut around pan sides; remove sides. Cut cheesecake into wedges; spoon sauce over.