Pumpkin cheesecake
This pumpkin cheesecake with caramelized pecans is a terrific alternative to plain pumpkin pie. It is tangier and richer and just as easy to compose. Make one large cake using a 13-inch tart pan or two smaller ones using 8-inch pans.
Crust
Beat butter, sugar and salt in bowl until smooth by hand or in food processor, about 3 minutes.
Add egg and yolk and mix until well-combined. Add flour and mix until evenly blended. Scrape down sides of mixing bowl several times.
Form dough into ball, flatten into disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.
Spray 13-inch tart pan with removable bottom or 2 (8-inch) tart pans or pie tins with vegetable spray.
Roll out dough to at least 16 inches across for large tart. (For 2 standard pies or tarts, divide dough in half and roll dough 9 to 10 inches across and place in pan in same manner as for large tart.) Place dough in tart pan, and trim off excess, leaving 1/2 inch overhang. Fold overhang into side of tart pan so sides are double thick. Use scraps to make decorations for top. Bake decorations separately on baking sheet at 350 degrees 5 to 8 minutes.
Place lined tart pan in freezer while you make filling, or refrigerate at least 1 hour.
Filling
Cream pumpkin, condensed milk, cream cheese, eggs, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg by beating until mixture is smooth. Uncooked filling will have thick liquid texture.
Pour filling into chilled crust. Do not overfill.
Bake at 300 degrees until filling is puffed and firm to touch, 50 to 60 minutes. (If using 2 pie tins, cooking time will be about 10 minutes less.) Cool on rack.
When cool, remove cheesecake from pan and place on serving plate. (If using pie tins, do not remove.)
If desired, decorate with precooked crust cutouts and Caramelized Pecans. Decorate while still warm so decorations will adhere.
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