sweet potato cheesecake w/a gingersnap crust

Name: Sweet Potato Cheesecake w/a Gingersnap Crust
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 16
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ## CRUST (RESERVE 2 TABLESPOONS FOR TOPPING); 2 cup(s) gingersnap crumbs (i use a mini food processor. alternative: graham crackers w/spices & sugar); 3 tablespoon(s) butter, melted (or margarine) adjust accordingly; ## ALTERNATIVE CRUST (RESERVE 2 TABLESPOONS FOR TOPPING); 1 2/3 cup(s) graham crackers crumbs (fine); 1/3 cup(s) white granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon(s) ground ginger; 1 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon; 1/8 teaspoon(s) ground cloves; ## FILLING; 24 ounce(s) 3-8 oz packages, cream cheese, softened; 1/2 cup(s) butter, softened (or margarine); 1 1/3 cup(s) white granulated sugar; 2 cup(s) cooked and mashed sweet potatoes (fresh or canned); 3/4 tablespoon(s) ground nutmeg (adjust to your taste); 3/4 tablespoon(s) ground cinnamon (adjust to your taste); 3 tablespoon(s) maple extract (adjust to your taste) *alternative flavorings; 1 tablespoon(s) pure vanilla extract (or imitation); 4 - whole eggs, large (best is @room temperature); ## TOPPING (AFTER BAKED); 8 ounce(s) dairy sour cream; 1 teaspoon(s) maple extractmaple extract *alternative flavorings; 3 tablespoon(s) white granulated sugar; 2 tablespoon(s) sprinkle w/reserved gingersnap crumbs; ## *ALTERNATIVE FLAVORINGS; 3 tablespoon(s) bourbon (original recipe); 3 tablespoon(s) rum extract; ## YIELD; - extra batter may be used to fill custard cups for individual servings

(2 RATINGS)

293 Pinches 1 Photo

Carolyn Elliott

Columbus, OH

Updated on May 25, 2011

Sweet Potato Cheesecake w/a Gingersnap Crust has been a signature dessert of Carolyn Elliott's since 1999 as she is a connoisseur of baked cheesecake recipes. "I began baking New York Cheesecakes in the 80's. My favorite flavor though, was of the Sweet Potato Pie. I looked on the Internet one day and found a Sweet Potato Cheesecake recipe with a Ginger Snap crust. I baked it but couldn't wait to share it with my neighbor a couple doors down. It was slightly warm by then, and I decided to slice it up, anyway. Oh, my my my! It was smooth and tasty. A HIT! It's been my signature recipe for going on 10 years, now. Enjoy as our membership church has, many times." ~Carolyn

Rate

prep time 20 Min

cook time 1 Hr 20 Min

method Bake

yield 16 serving(s)

Ingredients

CRUST (RESERVE 2 TABLESPOONS FOR TOPPING)
2 cups gingersnap crumbs (i use a mini food processor. alternative: graham crackers w/spices & sugar)
3 tablespoons butter, melted (or margarine) adjust accordingly
ALTERNATIVE CRUST (RESERVE 2 TABLESPOONS FOR TOPPING)
1 2/3 cups graham crackers crumbs (fine)
1/3 cup white granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
FILLING
24 ounces 3-8 oz packages, cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened (or margarine)
1 1/3 cups white granulated sugar
2 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes (fresh or canned)
3/4 tablespoon ground nutmeg (adjust to your taste)
3/4 tablespoon ground cinnamon (adjust to your taste)
3 tablespoons maple extract (adjust to your taste) *alternative flavorings
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract (or imitation)
4 - whole eggs, large (best is @room temperature)
TOPPING (AFTER BAKED)
8 ounces dairy sour cream
1 teaspoon maple extractmaple extract *alternative flavorings
3 tablespoons white granulated sugar
2 tablespoons sprinkle w/reserved gingersnap crumbs
*ALTERNATIVE FLAVORINGS
3 tablespoons bourbon (original recipe)
3 tablespoons rum extract
YIELD
- extra batter may be used to fill custard cups for individual servings

How To Make sweet potato cheesecake w/a gingersnap crust

Step 1

In a large bowl, combine the crust ingredients and stir to mix well.

Step 2

Press crumb crust into bottom and 1 inch up sides of a buttered 10 1/2-inch spring form pan.
Step 3

Bake crust in a 350 degree oven, 8-10 minutes until just starting to deepen in color. Remove from oven and set aside.
Step 4

In a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and butter; beat with an electric mixer until smooth.
Step 5

Beat in sugar, scraping bowl occasionally. Add mashed sweet potatoes; beat to combine.
Step 6

Add nutmeg and cinnamon. Add flavoring of your choice and vanilla. Mix until thoroughly combined and smooth.
Step 7

Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing just until combined after each.
Step 8

Pour batter into prepared crust to approximately 1 - 1 1/2" before you reach the top of the pan. Extra batter can be used to make an additional smaller-sized cheesecake or individual custard cups can be used with the crust being 1 gingersnap cookie or cupcake pans with paper.
Step 9

Bake in a 350 degree oven 20 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees and continue baking 35 minutes more.
Step 10

Reduce oven temperature again to 250 degrees and continue baking 20-30 minutes more until cheesecake is set around the edges and barely juggles at the center. Use a timer or the timer on your stove works great!
Step 11

Remove cheesecake from the oven and increase oven temperature to 350 degrees.
Step 12

Meanwhile, for topping whisk together the sour cream, sugar, and flavoring.
Step 13

Carefully spread topping evenly over cheesecake. Sprinkle with additional crumbs, if desired. Bake for 5 additional minutes to just set the topping.
Step 14

Remove from oven and allow to cool 5 minutes. Run a thin-bladed knife around the edge of the pan and allow to cool completely.
Step 15

Chill several hours. I don't cover at this point, because the condensation on plastic wrap or an inverted plate, will drip onto the topping.
Step 16

Remove from pan and plate. Run long knife in between spring form pan bottom and cake and slide back onto plate.
Step 17

To pre-slice: Heat long knife in hot tap water, cut into +, then wipe blade and heat again and cut into eighths, then wipe blade and heat again and cut into sixteenths. Serves 16 slices. Reduce number of cuts for larger slices.
Step 18

Cover and refrigerate until time to serve.
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