Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe – Raglan Road

Baked Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ingredients

Crust
• 4 oz. digestive biscuits (a common substitute is graham crackers)
• 2 sticks butter, melted
Spiced Topping
• 1 medium pumpkin (3 cups of pumpkin flesh peeled, seeded and chopped. You can substitute canned pumpkin for fresh pumpkin in the same amounts)
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 1/2 cups cream cheese
• 1 1/4 cups solidly packed Demerara sugar Demerara sugar (You can substitute light brown sugar)
• 3 large free-range eggs
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup Baileys cream liqueur
• Honey, for drizzling
• Icing/Confectioner's sugar, for dusting
• Fresh mint sprig, to decorate

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees
2. Break the biscuits up in a crumb like consistency in the food processor or by placing them in a freezer bag and bashing them with a rolling pin.
3. Tip into a bowl and mix in the melted butter.
4. Using a large spoon or a potato masher, press the mixture onto the base of a 8in loose-bottomed spring form tin.
5. Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes, or until just firm. Remove from the oven and allow the mixture to cool down.
6. Place the pumpkin chunks on a baking tray and bake in the oven for 35 to 45 minutes, or until they have softened completely.
7. Transfer to a food processor or blender, then add the spices and blend until completely smooth
8. Leave the blender running for at least 3 minutes.
9. Allow to cool thoroughly.
10. In a large mixing bowl , cream the cheese with the sugar until light and fluffy.
11. Mix in the eggs, spiced pumpkin puree, vanilla extract and Baileys.
12. Make sure the mixture is completely blended together.
13. Pour the mixture on top of the biscuit base and transfer to the oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the mixture is set around the edges but still slightly wobbly in the center.
14. Allow to cool slightly, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours but preferably overnight.
15. Drizzle with just a little honey if you like and slice with a hot sharp knife.
16. A shake of icing sugar and a sprig of fresh mint on each slice will finish it perfectly.