Pumpkin Caramel Swirl Cheesecake

In light of the holiday season, I decided to try something new, hence the pumpkin twist on a classic. This cheesecake came out so light and creamy, yet so flavorful. To go a step further, I incorporated a caramel swirl before and after baking, with a gingersnap crust to compliment the pumpkin spices. This cheesecake should be part of any holiday feast. Enjoy =]

Caramel Sauce-


Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Mix the water and sugar in a saucepan. Cover and cook on low until the sugar has dissolved, stirring occasionally. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove the cover and boil till the mixture turns golden brown, about 5-7 minutes. Watch carefully or it might burn. Add the cream and vanilla, and simmer till the caramel dissolves. Set aside and allow to cool.

Gingersnap Crust-

Ingredients

• 14 oz gingersnap cookie crumbs (1 package)
• 2 tbs brown sugar
• a pinch of salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, melted

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Completely wrap a baking pan (9x13) with foil. Mix together all the ingredients until uniform. Press into the bottom of the pan and the sides if possible, trying to put an even amount of crust everywhere. Bake the crust for about 7 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove and cool completely. 

Caramel Swirl Pumpkin Cheesecake- 

Ingredients

• 32 oz softened cream cheese, room temp
• 1/2 white sugar
• 1/2 light brown sugar
• 15 oz can pumpkin puree
• 4 eggs, room temp
• 2 1/2 tbs heavy cream
• 1 tbs vanilla extract
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp allspice
• 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Directions

Reduce oven to 325 F. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Beat together the cream cheese and sugars until light and creamy in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add the pumpkin slowly on low. Mix in each egg on at at a time, and beating in between each until fully incorporated. Add the heavy cream and vanilla until combined. Stir in the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and pumpkin pie spice until everything is combined. Pour the batter onto the prepared crust. Using a fork, swirl around the caramel on the cheesecake to your liking. Tap the pan on the counter to release any air bubbles. Place the pan into a bigger baking pan, and pour the boiling water until the water level is about halfway up the cheesecake. Bake for about 1 hour, or until the edges have set but the middle is able to jiggle. Remove from the oven and water bath, and allow to cool for 2 hours. Refrigerate over night, or at least 6 hours prior to serving.

Ultimate Cookie Dough Stuffed Chocolate Fudge Brownies

Yes, the name says it all. This is by far the best brownie I have ever had, ever. Usually, homemade brownies dont have the moistness that a mix can produce, but this brownie was not only moist but fudgey as well. To go a step farther, I sandwiched a cookie dough inside the brownie, which is prepared first. Stop looking for an amazing  chocolate dessert, because nothing will beat this! Enjoy =]

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough-

Ingredients

• 1 cup minus 1 tbs cake flour
• 1 plus 1/3 cup ap flour
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp plus 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, room temp
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, room temp
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbs sour cream
• 10 oz dark chocolate (60%) chopped into various sizes

Directions

Sift together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until fully incorporated. Slowly add in the dry ingredients, and then the sour cream. Mix until everything is combined. Take the bowl off the mixer and fold in the chocolate pieces. Refrigerate until needed. 

Brownies-


Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup ap flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbs cocoa powder
• 4 oz milk chocolate
• 4 oz 70% dark chocolate
• 4 oz 60% dark chocoalte
• 1 1/4 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1 tsp instant coffee or espresso powder
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 4 eggs, room temp
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Sift together the flour, salt, and cocoa powder. Set aside. Make a double broiler, and melt the chocolates, butter and powder until totally mixed. Make sure that the water in the pot is not boiling or touching the bottom of the bowl, or the chocolate might seize. Turn the heat off once the mixture is smooth and add the sugar, stirring till its dissolved. Take the bowl off the pot and allow the chocolate to cool down. Whisk in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated. Stir in the vanilla lightly. Add in the flour mixture in small additions, and stir in between until the mixture is smooth. Pour about half of the batter into the baking dish. Next, take pieces of the cookie dough and place on top of the batter in small patties to create the cookie layer. Start from the middle and work your way out. Pour the remaining brownie batter on top, and spread around with a knife to coat the cookie dough. Bake for about 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool before cutting.

Ferrero Roche Cupcakes

As a welcome for the cold winter months ahead, I decided to make Ferrero Roche Cupakes to warm my taste buds up =]. I had to special order the hazelnut extract because apparently local stores don't carry it. Whereas most roche cupcakes had a chocolate hazelnut base, mine is strictly hazelnut. I baked an actual Ferrero Roche into the cupcakes, made a deep chocolate ganache topping, and sprinkled crushed hazelnuts on top. Enjoy =]

Hazelnut Cupcake-


Ingredients

• 1 cup cake flour, not self rising
• 1 cup a.p flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 stick unsalted butter, room temp
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 eggs, room temp
• 1 cup sour cream or buttermilk
• 1 tbs heavy cream
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp hazelnut extract
• 3 tbs crushed hazelnuts
• 24 frozen Ferrero Roche

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 F. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy-about 3 minutes. Add an egg one at a time and mix till fully incorporated. Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Alternating between adding the flour mixture and the sour cream or buttermilk to the batter in 3 parts ending with the flour. Mix until homogenous. Add in the extracts, hazelnuts, and heavy cream and mix for another minute. Pour batter into prepared cupcake tins, and add in the Ferrero Roche. Bake for about 20 minutes, and rotate the tins about halfway through. Allow to cool in the pans for 5 minutes before removing completely. 

Chocolate Hazelnut Ganache-

Ingredients

• 5 oz bittersweet chocolate (60%)
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 tbs butter, cut into quarters
• crushed hazelnuts

Directions

Chop the chocolate into small pieces, and place into a bowl with the butter. Bring the heavy cream to a boil, and pour over the chocolate and butter. Stir the contents of the bowl only from the middle, going at a semi fast pace until all the chocolate and butter have melted and there is a glossy sheen to the ganache. Dip the cupcakes into the ganache either once or twice. Sprinkle the crushed hazelnuts on top while still wet. Allow to completely set before serving. Enjoy