Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake

Combine your favorite Thanksgiving desserts into one scrumptious cheesecake! A decadently sweet Praline Topping sends this dessert way over the edge.

Ingredients

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/3 cup finely chopped pecans
• 5 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 4 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

Praline Topping

• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup whipping cream
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Stir together first 4 ingredients in a bowl until well blended. Press mixture into bottom and 1 1/2 inches
   up sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
2. Beat cream cheese and next 2 ingredients at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until blended and smooth. Add eggs, 1 at
   a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Add pumpkin and lemon juice, beating until blended. Pour batter into prepared crust. (Pan will be very full.)
3. Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes or until almost set. Turn oven off. Let cheesecake stand in oven, with door closed,
   15 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven, and gently run a knife around outer edge of cheesecake to loosen from sides of the pan. (Do not remove sides
   of the pan.) Cool completely on a wire rack (about 1 hour). Cover and chill 8 to 24 hours.
4. Remove sides and bottom of the pan and transfer cheesecake to a serving plate.

Prepare Praline Topping

1. Bring first 3 praline topping ingredients to a boil in a 1-qt. saucepan over medium heat, stirring often. Boil, stirring occasionally, 1 minute; remove from heat.
2. Gradually whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
3. Let stand 5 minutes, whisking occasionally.
4. Pour slowly over top of the cheesecake, spreading to within 1/4 inch of edge.
5. Garnish, if desired with coarsely chopped Pecan Pie-Glazed Pecans, fresh sage leaves.