Pecan Cheesecake

Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 60 min
Servings: 16
Yield: 16 servings

Description

This pecan cheesecake has a rich and creamy pecan liqueur filling and a sweet and crumbling pecan-cinnamon topping for a great holiday dessert.

Ingredients

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 1/4 cups white sugar
3 eggs, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup pecan liqueur
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon pecan liqueur
1 cup ground pecans
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup pecan halves

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2 Combine 2 cups graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, 1/2 cup white sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon together in a large bowl. Press mixture firmly into the bottom of a 10-inch springform pan.
3 Beat cream cheese and 1 ¼ cups white sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, blending well. Add vanilla extract. Add 1/2 cup liqueur and blend for 5 minutes. Pour the filling on top of prepared crust.
4 Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and filling has risen to the top of the pan, about 1 hour. Turn the oven off, and let cheesecake cool completely in the oven, about 2 hours. When cool, remove the rim of the springform pan.
5 Mix sour cream, confectioners' sugar, and 1 teaspoon liqueur together; spoon on top of cooled cheesecake.
6 Combine finely ground pecans, finely ground graham cracker crumbs, 1 1/2 tablespoons white sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl; sprinkle on top of cheesecake and gently press into sides. Garnish the top and sides of the cheesecake with pecan halves.