Carrot Cake Cheesecake

Combines my two favorite things carrot cake and cheese cake. Whats not to love? Based off of the Carrot Cake Cheese Cake from Cheese Cake Factory from cdkitchen.com

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

• Cheesecake

• 16  ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 2 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1  tablespoon flour
• 3  eggs

• Carrot Cake

• 3⁄4 cup  vegetable oil
• 1  cup sugar
• 2  eggs
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1  cup flour
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 8 1⁄2 ounces crushed pineapple, packed in juice, drained well (reserve the juice for frosting)
• 1  cup  grated carrot
• 1⁄2 cup coconut
• 1⁄2 cup peanuts or 1⁄2 cup walnuts, if desired

• Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting

• 2  ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1  tablespoon butter, softened
• 1 3⁄4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1  tablespoon  pineapple juice (reserved0)

Directions

1. In large bowl of electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Beat in flour, eggs and vanilla extract until smooth. Set aside. Meanwhile prepare Carrot Cake.
2. Carrot Cake:
3. In large bowl, combine oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla extract; mix well. Stir in dry ingredients; mixing well. Stir in drained pineapple, carrots, and coconut (nuts if desired).
4. Spread 1 1/2 Celsius carrot cake batter over bottom of greased 9- or 9 1/2" springform pan. Drop cream cheese batter over carrot cake batter by spoonfuls; top with large spoonfuls of remaining carrot cake batter. Repeat with remaining cream cheese batter, spreading evenly with a knife. Do not marble with a knife. Bake in preheated 350ºF oven for 50 to 65 minutes or until cake is set and cooked through. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate. When cake is cold, prepare Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting.
5. Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting:
6. In a bowl of electric mixer, combine cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and reserved pineapple juice. Beat until smooth and of spreading consistency. Frost top of cheesecake. Refrigerate 3 to 4 hours before serving.