Turtles Cheesecake

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Servings: 12
Yield: 12 servings

Description

Pecans, caramel and chocolate all wrapped up in a decadent cheesecake batter, what could be better?

Ingredients

2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
14 ounces individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk
1 cup chopped pecans
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9-inch springform pan.
2 Toast the pecans in the preheated oven for 6 minutes. Remove pecans and set aside. Leave oven at 350 degrees C (175 degrees C). In a small saucepan, melt the unsalted butter.
3 Combine vanilla wafer crumbs with the melted butter then press into the bottom of the prepared springform pan. Place the pan onto a cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove and allow to cool.
4 In a double boiler, or a bowl set over barely simmering water, melt the caramels in the evaporated milk. Stir until smooth. Pour this over the cooled crust. Sprinkle the nuts over the top.
5 In a bowl, combine the cheese, sugar, and vanilla and beat until smooth, scraping down the bowl several times. Add the eggs, one at a time and beat until smooth. Melt the chocolate chips in the double boiler and mix into the cheese mixture. Pour the batter over the caramel layer.
6 Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 40 minutes or until barely set. Chill over night in the refrigerator before serving.