Chocolate Praline Cheesecake

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 cup chocolate wafer crumbs
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 40 individually wrapped caramels (i used kraft)
• 1/4 cup evaporated milk
• 1 cup toasted pecan pieces
• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate baking squares, melted
• sweetened whipped cream, for garnish
• strawberry, for garnish

Recipe

• 1 mix chocolate wafer crumbs and melted butter and pat onto the bottom of a 10 inch springform pan; set aside.
• 2 place unwrapped caramels and evaporated milk in a small microwaveable bowl and microwave at 50 percent power until melted or melt over simmering water on the stovetop.
• 3 periodically stir until the caramels melt and blend with the milk.
• 4 when mixture begins to look like thick caramel and the milk is incorporated into the melted caramel, remove from heat.
• 5 pour caramel on top of the reserved crust and immediately sprinkle with the toasted pecan pieces.
• 6 preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 7 using a hand mixer, beat cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth.
• 8 add sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, scraping down sides of bowl after each addition.
• 9 add chocolate to mixture; blend until incorporated.
• 10 pour mixture on top of caramel-pecan filling.
• 11 set springform pan on an 18 inch square of heavy-duty aluminum foil;crimp foil sides up to prevent any moisture from seeping into crust.
• 12 place pan in a hot water bath- i use the broiler pan from my oven, place the springform pan in it and fill with hot water to the depth of the filling-and bake for 45 minutes, or until cheesecake is set in the center.
• 13 cool cheesecake to room temperature, about 2 hours, before refrigerating.
• 14 do not remove from springform pan until completely chilled, at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
• 15 loosen cheesecake from sides of pan with a sharp knife, remove from pan sides, and slice with a sharp knife, dipping blade in warm water and wiping it off between slices.
• 16 garnish each slice with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream and a strawberry.
• 17 you can also get really fancy and drizzle some chocolate sauce over the serving plates before setting the piece of cheesecake on the plate!