Pumpkin Cheesecake Goodness

Cred

The scene: Thanksgiving 2009, Washington D.C.
The characters: Elise, B, and B's lovely family all visiting our humble abode in The District
The menu: Turkey dinner, and PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE GOODNESS

So now that you know that I have made this delicacy before you can trust me. It is delicious and I will be making one of these for the festivities this year. And I want to share the recipe with all of you so that you can too (if you want that is!)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups crushed gingersnap cookies
• 1/3 cup butter, melted

• 2 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 cups canned pumpkin, mashed
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, optional
• Whipped cream, for topping

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place 1 piece of pre-made pie dough down into a (9-inch) pie pan (or you can make your own- I just crush up gingersnaps and add butter till its the consistency of crust....) and press down along the bottom and all sides. Pinch and crimp the edges together to make a pretty pattern. Put the pie shell back into the freezer for 1 hour to firm up. Fit a piece of aluminum foil to cover the inside of the shell completely. Fill the shell up to the edges with pie weights or dried beans (about 2 pounds) and place it in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, remove the foil and pie weights and bake for another 10 minutes or until the crust is dried out and beginning to color.

For the filling, in a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer. Add the pumpkin and beat until combined. Add the sugar and salt, and beat until combined. Add the eggs mixed with the yolks, half-and-half, and melted butter, and beat until combined. Finally, add the vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger, if using, and beat until incorporated. 

Pour the filling into the warm prepared pie crust and bake for 50 minutes, or until the center is set. Place the pie on a wire rack and cool to room temperature. Cut into slices and top each piece with a generous amount of whipped cream. 

Enjoy!!!