Pumpkin Cheesecake With Bourbon Sour Cream Topping

This recipe, originally from November 1990 Gourmet Magazine is posted by request.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 3⁄4 cup graham cracker crumbs or 3⁄4 cup  crumbled  ginger snaps
• 1⁄2 cup  finely chopped pecans
• 1⁄4 cup  firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1⁄4 cup granulated sugar
• 1⁄4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 1⁄2 cups solid pack pumpkin
• 3  large eggs
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  freshly grated nutmeg
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 cup  firmly packed light brown sugar
• 24  ounces cream cheese, cut into bits and,softened
• 1⁄2 cup granulated sugar
• 2  tablespoons heavy cream
• 1  tablespoon cornstarch
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1  tablespoon  bourbon  liqueur or 1  tablespoon Bourbon, if desired
• 2  cups sour cream
• 2  tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1  tablespoon  bourbon  liqueur or 1  tablespoon Bourbon, to taste
• 16  pecan halves, for garnish

Directions

1. Make the crust:
2. In a bowl combine the crumbs, the pecans, and the sugars, stir in the butter, and press the mixture into the bottom and 1/2 inch up the side of a buttered 9-inch springform pan.
3. Chill the crust for 1 hour.
4. Make the filling:
5. In a bowl whisk together the pumpkin, the egg, the cinnamon, the nutmeg, the ginger, the salt, and the brown sugar.
6. In a large bowl with an electric mixer cream together the cream cheese and the granulated sugar, beat in the cream, the cornstarch, the vanilla, the bourbon liqueur, and the pumpkin mixture, and beat the filling until it is smooth.
7. Pour the filling into the crust, bake the cheesecake in the middle of a preheated 350°F oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until the center is just set, and let it cool in the pan on a rack for 5 minutes.
8. Make the topping:
9. In a bowl whisk together the sour cream, the sugar, and the bourbon liqueur.
10. Spread the sour cream mixture over the top of the cheesecake and bake the cheesecake for 5 minutes more.
11. Let the cheesecake cool in the pan on a rack and chill it, covered, overnight.
12. Remove the side of the pan and garnish the top of the cheesecake with the pecans.