This caramel turtle cheesecake takes the tasty trio that makes up turtle candies—caramel, pecans, and chocolate—and combines it with wealthy, creamy cheesecake. From the thick chocolate cookie crumb crust to the sleek cheesecake layered with caramel sauce, this pecan-studded magnificence is an indulgent dessert that elicits loads of oohs and aahs from all who’re fortunate sufficient to strive a slice!
You recognize these lovely little confections made up of pecans, caramel, and chocolate, clustered collectively to appear like a bit of turtle? I’ve a recipe for them in my e-book Sally’s Candy Addiction.
Right now we’re reimagining these cute candies as a decadent cheesecake, and it’s every thing you like about each these treats, multi functional dessert. Take into account it the cheesecake model of my caramel turtle brownie pie, or my salted caramel turtle brownies. (Each are extremely popular desserts with my workforce!)
Many Layers to Love in This Caramel Turtle Cheesecake
Each chunk of this layered delight will take your tastebuds on a flavorful experience to Texturetown:
- Oreo Pecan Crust: You’re beginning with a easy 2-ingredient Oreo cookie crumb crust as the bottom of our dessert, identical to we use for caramel turtle brownie pie. I barely cut back the butter, as a result of I discovered the caramel within the cheesecake filling seeped a bit into the crust, and there was merely an excessive amount of liquid. After pre-baking the crust for 10 minutes, sprinkle some roughly chopped pecans over the crust. A lot texture and taste already!
- Caramel Cheesecake Filling: The star of the present is the velvety-smooth cheesecake filling. You’re sweetening it with flavorful brown sugar, and swirling a layer of caramel sauce proper within the center. However I promise it’s not overly candy! This cheesecake filling hits simply the fitting steadiness of tangy cream cheese and candy caramel. Even higher in case you use homemade salted caramel right here, which I do.
- Turtle Topping: Extra pecans + extra caramel + melted chocolate = extra to like!
Right here’s every thing you might want to make this masterpiece:
- Oreos: You want 22 chocolate sandwich cookies—the common form, not Double-Stuf.
- Butter: A little bit melted butter serves to bind the Oreo crumbs collectively to make the crust.
- Pecans: Half the pecans nestle between the crust and the cheesecake filling, and the opposite half will get piled on prime earlier than serving.
- Brick Cream Cheese: Use 32 ounces of full-fat brick-style cream cheese. Be sure to’re shopping for the bricks of cream cheese (you’ll want 4 of them), not cream cheese unfold.
- Brown Sugar: The molasses content material in brown sugar makes for a extra flavorful, caramel-like taste than white sugar. You should use mild or darkish (or a mixture of each!) brown sugar right here, identical to this beloved pecan pie cheesecake.
- Bitter Cream: Makes for a {smooth} and velvety texture, and provides it that calmly tangy taste. With out it, you’ll be consuming baked cream cheese.
- Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract provides taste, particularly homemade vanilla extract!
- Lemon Juice: Lemon juice brightens up the cheesecake’s general taste and retains it from tasting flat. Only a teaspoon gained’t make it style like a lemon cheesecake.
- Eggs: The ultimate ingredient; you want 3.
- Caramel Sauce: You should use store-bought caramel sauce, however I particularly love utilizing homemade salted caramel sauce in and on this turtle cheesecake. You possibly can halve the quantity of salt to make it common caramel sauce.
- Chocolate: You should use semi-sweet or milk chocolate for topping, no matter your chocolate-loving coronary heart needs. Soften the chocolate and drizzle on prime of the chilly cheesecake earlier than serving.
Let’s Begin With the Crust
Is there actually something higher than an Oreo crust? This is identical 2-ingredient crust we use for cookies & cream pie and white chocolate raspberry cheesecake bars, solely with 4 Tablespoons of butter as an alternative of 5. (Once more, due to that buttery caramel.) All it’s important to do is pulse Oreos right into a nice crumb (the complete sandwich cookie, cream filling and all), combine the crumbs with melted butter, and press into your 9-inch springform pan.
You’ll pre-bake the crust for about 10 minutes, then sprinkle pecans over the nice and cozy crust. You possibly can use chocolate chips as an alternative, in case you’d like!
Toasting the pecans is an non-compulsory step you may take if you wish to add a bit of roasty-toasty taste to the buttery nuts. See the Notes part of the recipe card under for particulars on find out how to toast pecans.
Caramel-Swirled Cheesecake Batter
As soon as your crust is able to go, put together the cheesecake batter with a mixer.
Success Tip: Ensure that all the cheesecake batter components are at room temperature so the batter stays {smooth}, even, and combines rapidly. Beating chilly components collectively will end in a chunky over-beaten cheesecake batter. And that’s hardly the best way we need to begin!
One other Success Tip: Beat the eggs in final, separately, till they’re *simply* integrated. Don’t over-mix the batter after you add the eggs. This may whip air into the cheesecake batter, leading to a cracked, deflated cheesecake. No thanks!
Discover the aluminum foil wrapped across the pan? That’s as a result of we’ll bake this cheesecake in a water tub, and people directions are included under. My cheesecake water bath video tutorial is useful.
You’ll have about 6 cups of cheesecake batter. Pour about half of the batter (I simply eyeball it) into the crust, and unfold it right into a {smooth}, even layer. Drizzle about 1/4 cup of caramel sauce excessive, and gently swirl it with a knife. The caramel layer sort of disappears when the cheesecake bakes, so that you gained’t see this ribbon of liquid gold working by a slice, however you’ll nonetheless style it!
Pour the remaining cheesecake batter excessive, and {smooth} it out—an offset icing spatula works rather well for this.
Let’s Cool & Chill
It’s exhausting to attend for the hours to move earlier than you may slice into this magnificence. But when there’s something we’ve realized from turtles, it’s that gradual and regular wins the race! And gradual and regular is certainly the best way to go in terms of cooling a cheesecake.
Cool the cheesecake within the cooling oven. When the cheesecake is completed (edges are set however the heart continues to be a bit jiggly), flip the oven off, crack open the oven door, and depart the cheesecake inside for no less than 1 hour. A drastic and sudden change of temperature isn’t best for cheesecake—from sizzling oven to chill counter—so do your greatest to manage the surroundings by leaving the cheesecake inside. After the cheesecake has cooled within the oven for no less than 1 hour (and even longer), you may take it out and let it end cooling at room temperature.
Chill your cheesecake for no less than 4 hours and even in a single day. The cheesecake will end setting within the fridge, after which you may prime it.
Caramel Turtle Cheesecake Topping
AKA the perfect half! Soften 4 ounces of chocolate, and drizzle over the chilled cheesecake. The chocolate units rapidly, as a result of the cheesecake is chilly. And truthfully, biting into gentle and creamy cheesecake with barely hardened, crisp chocolate on prime is simply… textural bliss.
Pile some pecans within the heart, or throughout, and drizzle every thing with extra of your caramel sauce. Be happy to complete all of it off with flaky sea salt. If you happen to’re searching for sea salt and want a advice, I take advantage of and love Maldon sea salt.
Crisp, crunchy, creamy, tangy, drippy, candy, salted euphoria. That is caramel turtle cheesecake!
Caramel Turtle Cheesecake
Prep Time: 1 hour
Prepare dinner Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Complete Time: 8 hours (contains chilling)
Yield: serves 12-16
Class: Dessert
Technique: Baking
Delicacies: American
Description
The flavors you like in caramel turtle candies come collectively in cheesecake type, with layers of chocolate cookie crust, buttery pecans, and creamy caramel cheesecake. Prime with extra pecans, caramel sauce, and melted chocolate for a really show-stopping dessert. You may make the cheesecake recipe a day upfront, so the cheesecake has time to set within the fridge.
Crust
Cheesecake Filling
Topping
Directions
- Decrease oven rack to the decrease third place and preheat to 350°F (177°C). Wrap aluminum foil across the backside and tightly across the outdoors partitions of an ungreased 9-inch springform pan. See How to Make a Cheesecake Water Bath for extra data.
- Make the crust: In a food processor or blender, pulse the entire Oreos right into a nice crumb. It is best to have about 2 cups (packed) crumbs, or 250g. Mix the Oreo crumbs and melted butter collectively in a medium bowl. Pour the combination into the ready pan. With medium strain utilizing your hand, pat the crumbs down into the underside and partway up the perimeters of the pan; you need to use the flat backside of a small measuring cup to assist {smooth} all of it out if wanted. Pre-bake the crust for 10 minutes. Take away from the oven and place the wrapped springform pan inside a big roasting pan. Sprinkle 1/2 cup pecans or chocolate chips in a single layer on prime of the nice and cozy crust, and put aside when you make the filling.
- Make the filling: Utilizing a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and brown sugar collectively on medium-high velocity in a big bowl till the combination is {smooth} and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the bitter cream, vanilla extract, and lemon juice, after which beat till absolutely mixed. On medium velocity, add the eggs separately, beating after every addition till simply blended. After the ultimate egg is integrated into the batter, cease mixing. To assist forestall the cheesecake from deflating and cracking, keep away from over-mixing the batter as greatest you may. You should have shut to six cups of batter. At this level, get a kettle or pot of water heating up for the water tub. You want 1 inch of sizzling water in your roasting pan for the water tub, so be sure to boil sufficient.
- Pour/spoon about half (simply eyeball it) of the cheesecake batter into the crust, utilizing a spoon or offset spatula to {smooth} it into a good layer. If utilizing homemade caramel, be certain that it’s pourable consistency by warming it within the microwave, because it thickens significantly when made forward and refrigerated. Drizzle about 1/4 cup (75g) caramel sauce excessive, then use a knife to softly swirl it with the batter. Add the remaining batter, once more smoothing the floor into a good layer. The caramel swirl bakes into the cheesecake, so that you gained’t actually see it if you reduce into the dessert.
- Place the complete roasting pan with the cheesecake inside it onto the oven rack. Pour the recent water into the roasting pan, in order that the water is about 1-inch deep. The foil wrapped across the springform pan will forestall water from leaking inside.
- Bake cheesecake for 55–70 minutes or till the middle is sort of set. If you happen to discover the cheesecake browning too rapidly on prime, tent it with aluminum foil midway by baking. I normally bake it for half-hour, tent it with foil, and bake for one more 35 minutes. When it’s achieved, the middle of the cheesecake will barely wobble in case you gently faucet the pan.
- Cool & chill the cheesecake: Flip the oven off and open the oven door barely. Let the cheesecake sit within the oven because it cools down for 1 hour. Take away from the oven, then cool cheesecake utterly at room temperature. As soon as utterly cooled, refrigerate the cheesecake for no less than 4 hours or in a single day.
- Use a knife to loosen the chilled cheesecake from the rim of the springform pan, then take away the rim.
- For the topping: Soften the chopped chocolate, both in a double boiler or the microwave. Microwave in 20-second increments, stirring after every till utterly melted. Drizzle chocolate on prime of the chilled cheesecake. The chocolate will set nearly instantly, as a result of the cheesecake is chilly. Prime with pecans. Once more, if utilizing homemade caramel or any caramel sauce that’s been refrigerated, be certain that it’s pourable consistency by warming it within the microwave. Drizzle the caramel on prime. The caramel helps hold the pecans in place. Lastly, calmly sprinkle flaky sea salt on prime, if desired.
- Utilizing a clear sharp knife, reduce into slices for serving. For neat slices, wipe the knife clear and dip into heat water between every slice.
- Cowl and retailer leftover cheesecake within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
Notes
- Make Forward and Freezing Directions: This cheesecake will be made the day earlier than. It has to sit back for fairly a while earlier than serving. See step 7. One other approach to make this cheesecake forward of time is to freeze it (with out the toppings). Cheesecake will be frozen for as much as 3 months. If you happen to want detailed freezing directions, see my cheesecake put up for a useful How you can Freeze Cheesecake information.
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Food Processor | Glass Mixing Bowl | 9-inch Springform Pan | Electrical Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Silicone Spatula | Large Roasting Pan | Offset Icing Spatula
- Alternate Water Bathtub Technique: Boil a kettle or pot of water. You want 1 inch of sizzling water in your roasting pan for the water tub, so be sure to boil sufficient. Place the cheesecake on the middle oven rack of the preheated oven. Place a big metallic baking or roasting pan (don’t use glass—I normally use a 9×13-inch baking pan or an extra-large forged iron skillet) on the underside rack. Pour boiling water into the empty pan, about 1 inch deep. Instantly shut oven to entice the steam inside. This distinctive water tub provides steam to the oven with out having the cheesecake sit contained in the water itself. No must wrap the springform pan in foil. See How to Make a Cheesecake Water Bath for extra data.
- Pecans: I take advantage of unsalted pecans. Toasting the pecans is an non-compulsory step, which provides an additional scrumptious roasty-toasty taste. Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a big baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Unfold the pecans on prime and toast for 8–10 minutes or till aromatic and calmly browned. Enable to barely or absolutely cool earlier than utilizing.
- Home made Caramel: If you happen to desire common caramel and never salted, cut back salt within the caramel recipe right down to 1/2 teaspoon.
- Chocolate: One of the best chocolate for melting and drizzling is the “baking chocolate” bars discovered within the baking aisle of the grocery retailer. I usually use Baker’s or Ghirardelli manufacturers, both semi-sweet or darkish. They’re normally bought as 4-ounce bars, which is the quantity you want right here. Don’t use chocolate chips as a result of they include stabilizers, which forestall them from melting into the right consistency.
Key phrases: caramel turtle cheesecake
