Praline-Crusted Cheesecake

Submitted by Juenessa

"This was featured in Southern Living magazine as "Dessert of the Month". It is described as a buttery cookie-and-praline crust beneath a dense, creamy filling. I would agree. I love cheesecake and it is one of the best I have made. It was also very beautiful. I know that this is a pretty detailed recipe, but it is worth the effort for a special occasion."

 

• Ready In: 3hrs
• Ingredients: 20
• Serves: 12

ingredients

• Cheesecake

• 2 cups crushed shortbread cookies (about 28 cookies)
• 3 tablespoons butter or 3 tablespoons margarine, melted
• 4 pralines, coarsely crumbled
• 5 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 3⁄4 cups sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 1⁄3 cup whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh lemon rind
• 2 (8 ounce) containers sour cream
• 1⁄3 cup sugar

• Pralines

• butter
• 3⁄4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 3⁄4 cup half-and-half
• 3 tablespoons butter or 3 tablespoons margarine
• 1 1⁄4 cups coarsely chopped pecans
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract

directions

1. Cheesecake: Combine cookie crumbs and butter.
2. Press into bottom and up sides of a greased 10-inch springform pan.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for approx 8 minutes.
4. Cool on a wire rack.
5. Sprinkle coarsely crumbled pralines over crust.
6. Beat cream cheese at medium speed with a heavy duty electric mixer until creamy.
7. Gradually add 1 3/4 cups sugar, flour, and vanilla, beating until smooth.
8. Add eggs and egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears.
9. Stir in whipping cream and lemon rind.
10. Pour in crust.
11. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet.
12. Bake at 350 degrees on lower oven rack 10 minutes.
13. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees, and bake 1 hour and 20 minutes or until almost set.
14. Cool on wire rack 1 hour.
15. Stir together sour cream and 1/3 cup sugar; spread over cheesecake.
16. Bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes.
17. Cool on wire rack.
18. Cover and chill 8 hours.
19. Remove sides of pan.
20. Garnish, if desired with pralines.
21. Pralines: Butter bottom of a heavy 3-quart saucepan.
22. Cook brown sugar and next 3 ingredients in saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugars dissolve; stir in pecans.
23. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes or until a candy thermometer registers 238 degrees (soft ball stage).
24. Remove from heat.
25. Stir in vanilla; let stand 3 minutes.
26. Beat with a wooden spoon 3 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken.
27. Working rapidly, drop by tablespoonfuls onto wax paper.
28. Let stand until firm.