1 A flat pan such as a broiler filled with warm water
1 9-inch springform pan
1 piping bag
1 large star tip
Ingredients
Crust Ingredients
1 cuppecans, finely chopped(substitute graham crackers for nuts if desired - but do not use if cake is to be gluten-free)
2tablespoonsbutter, melted
2 ½tablespoonssugar
¼teaspoonsalt
Cheesecake Ingredients
1 ½ cupspurple or orange cooked sweet potatoes(approximately 2 pounds of uncooked sweet potatoes)
(3)8-ouncepackages cream cheese, softened
¾ cup plus 2 tablespoonsgranulated sugar
½teaspooncinnamon
⅓cupsour cream
¼cupheavy whipping cream
1teaspoonvanilla
3largeeggs, room temperature
Caramel Sauce Ingredients
¾cupbrown sugar, packed
¼cupbutter
Pinch of salt
¼cupheavy whipping cream
Brown Sugar Cream Ingredients
4ouncescream cheese, softened
⅓ cup brown sugar, packed
½cupheavy cream
Pinch of salt
Instructions
Directions for Crust
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix the pecans, sugar, and salt together in a mixing bowl until well blended. Pour in the butter and mix well. Press the crust into the bottom of a greased 9-inch springform pan until smooth and evenly distributed.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the nuts are lightly brown. Cool completely.
Directions for Cheesecake
Scrub the sweet potatoes and cut out any spots. Do not peel. Place in a pan and cover potatoes with water. Boil for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain water and let cool.
Peel potatoes and puree until smooth. Measure out 1 and 1/2 cups and set aside.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place a large flat ovenproof pan filled with warm water on the lowest oven rack. This water will add humidity, helping keep the cheesecake from cracking as it cooks.
In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Add the pureed sweet potato and mix well.
Add the sour cream and heavy whipping cream and beat until well mixed.
Lightly beat the eggs by hand, then add one at a time to the cream cheese mixture, beating with the mixer to blend.
Pour the mixture into the prepared crust. Bake at 350°F for 1 hour. Turn off the oven and let the cake cool for 2 to 3 hours with the door ajar. Store the cheesecake in the refrigerator.
Directions for Caramel Sauce
Melt butter on low heat in a saucepan. Add sugar and stir until it dissolves. Bring to a boil and add cream. Be careful, it will spatter. Stir until the cream is well mixed.
Immediately pour over cheesecake. Let cool.
Directions for Cream
Beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and salt for 2 minutes. Add the heavy cream and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes until thick and creamy.
Fill a piping bag that has a star tip with the cream mixture. Pipe large stars on top of the cheesecake around the outside edge to form a large circle, or choose your own piping pattern.
Notes
Topping
The caramel sauce and brown sugar cream steps are optional. You can serve the cheesecake plain or with just caramel sauce.
Storage
Refrigerate this cake before and after serving. The caramel sauce hardens upon refrigeration.