EGGNOG CHEESECAKE
EGG NOG CHEESECAKE:
Yield: Makes 1 cheesecake
Gingerbread Crust:
1 1/2 cups gingerbread men cookie crumbs or gingersnap crumbs
¼ cup granulated sugar
5 tablespoons butter, melted and slightly cooled
Eggnog Cheesecake Filling:
24 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs
1 cup eggnog
Ingredients:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Line bottom and sides of a 9 or 10” springform pan with parchment paper by cutting out a circle for the bottom and strips for the sides; set aside.
Gingerbread Crust:
In a large bowl stir together cookie crumbs and melted butter until combined. Add sugar and salt and stir until evenly combined. Transfer to prepared springform pan and press crust into the bottom and halfway up the sides with the back of a flat-bottomed cup; freeze until filling is done.
Eggnog Cheesecake:
In a large mixing bowl, using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat cream cheese, sugar, and flour just until combined no lumps remain. Add nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, and rum and stir to combine. Add one egg at a time and mix just until combined before you add the next egg. Scrape down the bowl and add eggnog and mix until smooth and combined. Pour filling into the crust. Spread evenly.
Boil a large pot of water or tea kettle and fill roasting pan with about 1 inch of water. Wrap aluminum foil around springform pan. Place pan inside of a large roasting pan. Pour cheesecake batter on top of the crust. Use a rubber spatula or spoon to smooth it into an even layer. Carefully pour hot water inside of pan and place in oven.
Bake cheesecake for 55–70 minutes or until center is almost set and slightly jiggly. Turn oven off and let the cheesecake sit oven in the water bath as it cools down for 1 hour. Remove from oven and water bath, then cool cheesecake completely uncovered at room temperature for another hour. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Garnish with egg nog whipped cream and decorate with Gingerbread Men Cookies, if desired.
