Friday, January 2, 2009

PUMPKIN STREUSEL CHEESECAKE SQUARES


This is my from-scratch version of my prize-winning recipe. I'm not gloating -- I still can't believe that such a non-creative recipe won anything.
I'm not a big fan of boxed mixes. Yes, they're convenient, but they also contain ingredients that I don't want to eat. Even graham crackers contain partially hydrogenated ingredients, so I try to avoid those, too. And you won't miss them in this flavorful crust.
My drizzles were a bit thick -- I was in too much of a hurry to finish -- but they tasted great.
This recipe will work in a 9x12 pan; but I used an 8x8 pan (which has been eaten) and two 4-1/2" springform pans (which were frozen).
Pumpkin Streusel Cheesecake Squares (From-Scratch Version)
Source: Judy's Kitchen
INGREDIENTS:
Crust: 1/2 cup quick oats
1/2 cup broken gingersnaps (I used my homemade gingersnaps.)
1 cup flour (I used King Arthur white whole wheat)
1/3 cup pecans
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter diced
Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9x12 pan with parchment paper that hangs a bit over the short sides.
Place all ingredients except butter in work bowl of food processor. Pulse to combine with 2 quick pulses. Add butter and pulse in quick, short motions until butter is worked in but still visible. Reserve 1 cup of mixture for topping; press remaining on bottom of pan. Bake about 10 minutes, or till mixture is set and starting to brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Filling: 1 cup pumpkin, canned or fresh roasted (I used roasted butternut squash that I had frozen)
1 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 Tbsp. rum
2 (8-oz) pkgs. Neufchatel cheese
2 large eggs
2 Tbsp. flour
2 Tbsp. heavy cream
AdditionalTopping: Purchased or homemade caramel sauce
Purchased or homemade chocolate sauce
In small saucepan, cook pumpkin, sugar, and spice over medium heat till sputtering, stirring often. Continue to cook till excess liquids evaporate. (The entire process should only take about 5 minutes, depending on which kind of squash you use -- canned pumpkin tends to have less liquid than fresh and will not take as long.) Transfer pumpkin mixture to work bowl of food processor. Add rum and cheese and pulse till combined and smooth, scraping down sides as needed. Add eggs, one at a time, pulsing till combined after each. Add flour and cream and pulse just till combined. Pour mixture over crust; sprinkle with reserved topping and bake 35-40 minutes, or till center is set. Cool on wire rack completely, then refrigerate several hours or overnight. Before serving, drizzle with chocolate and caramel sauces. Yield: 24 servings


9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love all things pumpkin!

Thanks for the recipe!

Sara said...

Looks great - I'm not into boxed mixes either, I'm wary of ingredients that I can't pronounce. It's great that you won the contest, I always want to enter those but can't think of anything creative enough.

Foodqueenja said...

I can't find where you add in the extra topping. Am I just missing it? Just found your blog. It looks great!

Mar Varela said...

Me too, I love pumkin, and your recipe is delicious.
A kiss

Judy said...

Foodqueenja -- Not understanding your question. The caramel and chocolate sauces are listed in the ingredients. At the end of the directions it says to drizzle them over the baked cheesecake. Does that answer it?

Katrina said...

Congrats, Judy! They look prize-winning to me. Printed off this recipe for the next time I have some pumpkin!

Foodqueenja said...

It's the 1 cup reserved topping mixture. I'm assuming you drop it over the filling. I'm going to feel really dumb if it's in there, and I just can't find it!

test it comm said...

These sound like a great way to enjoy some pumpkin.

Judy said...

Thanks, Foodqueenja for keeping me straight! I edited the recipe. Yes, you sprinkle the reserved topping over the cheesecake before baking.