Candy Cane Swirl Cheesecake

Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 42 hershey candy cane kisses, divided
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chip
• 1 tablespoon milk
• sweetened whipped cream
• 1/4 cup candy cane, crushed (optional)
• chocolate curls (optional)
• 1 1/2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, melted

Recipe

• 1 heat oven to 350 degrees.
• 2 prepare cookie crumb crust:.
• 3 stir together cookie crumbs and 1 tbs. sugar in a medium bowl.
• 4 blend in 1/4 cup melted butter.
• 5 press mixture onto bottom and 1/2 inch up side of a 9-inch springform pan.
• 6 bake 8 minutes; cool.
• 7 filling:.
• 8 beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl until nice and smooth.
• 9 add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• 10 remove 1/4 cup batter and set aside.
• 11 add the 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips to the remaining batter in the bowl.
• 12 spread the remaining batter in the prepared crust.
• 13 remove wrappers from candies.
• 14 place 30 candies and milk in a medium microwave-safe bowl.
• 15 microwave on high 1 minute; stir. if necessary, microwave on high 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, until candies are melted and mixture is well blended.
• 16 gradually blend reserved cheesecake batter into candy mixture.
• 17 drop candy mixture by tablespoonfuls onto vanilla batter.
• 18 gently swirl with a knife to create a marbled effect.
• 19 bake 45 to 50 minutes or until the center is almost set.
• 20 remove from oven to a wire rack.
• 21 with knife, loosen cake from the side of the pan.
• 22 cool completely; remove side of pan.
• 23 cover and refrigerate until chilled.
• 24 garnish with sweetened whipped cream, remaining candy cane mint kisses, and crushed candy cane or chocolate curls.
• 25 refrigerate any leftovers (if there are any!).