The Ultimate Turtle Cheesecake

I took the basic cheesecake recipe & added some yummy extras. I love turtles and cheesecake so I decided to try to make a turtle cheesecake. It is awesome!! The recipe calls for a bag of caramels melted with milk but some of the time I just use a bottle of caramel ice cream topping and use it. You can also make your own caramel & use it! :)

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 8-10
• Yields: 1 cheesecake

Ingredients

• 2  cups  crumbled  Oreo cookies
• 6  tablespoons butter
• 1 (14 ounce) bag  caramels
• 1⁄2 cup milk
• 1  cup pecan pieces
• 3 (8 ounce) packages  softened cream cheese
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 1  tablespoon vanilla
• 3  eggs
• 2  squares  semisweet baking chocolate

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Mix cookie crumbles & butter together & then press firmly into a 9 inch springform pan.
3. Put caramels and milk in a small microwavable bowl.
4. Microwave on high for 3 minutes or until caramels are melted completely.
5. Stir the pecans into the caramel sauce.
6. Pour 1/2 of the caramel mixture onto the crust & refrigerate for 10 minutes.
7. Cover & refrigerate the other 1/2 of caramel mixture for later.
8. Beat the cream cheese, sugar, & vanilla with a mixture until well blended.
9. Add the egss, one at a time, mixing on low until well blended.
10. Pour over caramel layer in crust.
11. Bake 1 hour 5 minutes or until center is almost set over a pan of water.
12. When finished baking, refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
13. When ready to serve, microwave remaining caramel mixture for 1 minute.
14. Pour caramel sauce over cheesecake.
15. Melt chocolate as directed by package direction.
16. Drizzle chocolate over cheesecake.
17. Store in refrigerator!