Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin Cheesecake in a Gingersnap Crust

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups gingersnap cookie crumbs*
3/4 cup ground hazelnuts (i used pecans)
3 tablespoons brown sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups canned solid pack pumpkin
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
4 eggs

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour 9 inch springform pan.
2. Using a fork, combine gingersnaps, hazelnuts, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, and melted butter. Press mixture into the bottom and two inches up the sides of the pan to form the crust.
3. With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the pumpkin. Mix in the cream, maple syrup, cinnamon, allspice, and vanilla. Beat in the eggs, one at a time until smooth.
4. Pour batter into prepared crust. Place pan on a baking sheet, the crust will release some butter. Bake in the preheated oven for 90 minutes, or until center of cheesecake is set. Allow to cool in pan for 30 minutes, then refrigerate overnight.

*Use a food processor if you have one, makes this step much easier.