Eggnog Cheesecake

I was searching for an eggnog cheesecake 10 years ago and couldn't find one that I really liked, so I took a basic cheesecake recipe from an old cookbook and fiddled with it to my liking, and this is what I came up with. This is a wonderful eggnog cheesecake that's perfect for the holidays. This makes 1-10 inch cheesecake. If you don't like a really thick graham cracker crust, modify it. My family loves a nice, thick graham crust, so I obliged them. :0)

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 8-12
• Yields: 1 cheesecake

Ingredients

• CRUST

• 1 (13 1/2ounce) box graham cracker crumbs, I use only Honey Maid
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1  cup butter, melted
• 1⁄4 cup sugar

• PIE

• 4 (8 ounce) packages Philadelphia Cream Cheese, at room temperature
• 3  large eggs, at room temperature
• 1  large  egg yolk, at room temperature
• 1 1⁄2 cups sugar
• 1  cup sour cream
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons  rum extract
• 2  teaspoons nutmeg
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

1. CRUST:
2. Using a lightly greased, 10 inch Springform pan, combine crumbs, cinnamon, nutmeg and melted butter and press firmly into pan, coming up sides 1-2 inches, depending on how thick you like your crust. Press firmly into and up the sides of the pan using a measuring cup or other flat, round utensil. Chill in freezer while you make the filling.
3. FILLING:
4. Place a full kettle of water on to boil.
5. Beat Philadelphia cream cheese for one minute until smooth and free of any lumps. Scrape bowl.
6. Add large eggs one at a time, beating well in between. Scrape bowl.
7. Gradually add sugar and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Scrape bowl.
8. Add sour cream, extracts and spices and mix well. Scrape bowl making sure all of the ingredients are WELL incorporated.
9. Before filling pan, wrap outside of spring form pan with tinfoil.
10. Pour filling into spring form pan, and tap lightly on counter to remove any air bubbles.
11. Place springform pan into a large baking pan and place it in preheated oven. Then fill baking pan with boiling water, so that it comes up about half way up the springform pan. (It is easier to fill the pan with water after the cheesecake is in the oven than trying to fiddle with getting a baking pan INTO the oven that is full of boiling water).
12. Bake 325 degrees for 75 minutes.
13. When done baking, turn off oven and crack open oven door slightly, and leave it cracked open while oven cools.
14. DO NOT DISTURB CHEESECAKE.
15. Remove the cheesecake when the oven is completely cooled.
16. Remove tinfoil and dry off the outside of the springform pan.
17. Place in refrigerator and chill at least 4 hours before serving.