My favorite part of Christmas as a child was the huge family dinners with our extended family. Both of my parents came from large families, and everyone prepared dish after dish of delicious food. The entire table and a side table would be covered with traditional dishes and my personal favorite, desserts. Yes, I was a dessert fanatic from a young age. Secret family recipes were taken out of hiding and lovingly prepared. I was lucky enough to talk some of my relatives into sharing these recipes and prepare them for my own family. One of my favorites is this Caramel Praline Cheesecake Recipe. It’s not difficult to make, tastes like you fussed and is just as good as a cheesecake from a fancy restaurant. This Thanksgiving I headed out to ALDI, who partnered with me for this post, to pick up supplies and surprise my family with this cheesecake. They were suitably thankful.
Here’s some baking tips I have found to help make sure you create the perfect cheesecake.
Preheat the oven. This helps make sure the cheesecake can begin cooking immediately at the correct temperature.
Lightly grease the pan before adding the cheesecake mixture to prevent sticking. Sometimes I add a piece of parchment paper onto the bottom to prevent the bottom from sticking.
Cool the cheesecake completely before removing the springform pan, but don’t place it in the fridge to cool! This will trap moisture and make the cheesecake soggy.
Begin by making the crust. The easiest way to do this is to use a blender to make the crumbs. Add the sugar into the crumbs and blend again for a few seconds to mix.
Mix the cheesecake batter and only add 1/2 of it to the springform pan. Top this with 1/2 of the caramel and pecan mixture.
Bake for 45 to 50 minutes at 325 degrees or until center is set. I usually dip a knife into the cheesecake to make sure the inside is done and the top springs back when lightly pushed.
After the cheesecake has cooled, spread the remaining pecan and caramel mixture across the cheesecake. Store the cheesecake in the fridge.
- Crust
- 1 cup graham crackers, crushed fine (for gluten free use GF graham crackers)
- 1/2 stick butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- Filling:
- 3 (8 ounce packages) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Caramel Center and Topping
- 1 1/2 cups caramel
- 1 1/2 cups pecans, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Mix graham crackers, butter and sugar together until blended. Spread along the bottom of an 9″ springform pan. Set aside.
- Blend softened cream cheese and sugar together until fluffy. Add eggs, one a time, beating after each addition. Mix in vanilla. Pour 1/2 of mixture over crust.
- Saute pecans in melted butter. Mix pecans and caramel together. Spread 1/2 mixture over the cream cheese mixture. Top with remaining cream cheese mixture. Bake in preheated 325 degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until the center of the cheesecake is firm.
- Allow to cool completely and top with remaining caramel and pecan mixture.
What is your favorite holiday dish?
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This cheesecake recipe looks so delicious. I love that it is gluten free too.
I totally want to make this. Need to get a few ingredients but I might try this over the weekend
When I lived with my family in Florida we used to have HUGE Christmas supper! So many different dishes. I never had space for dessert! That cheesecake looks so good!
I’m glad you posted the recipe. I haven’t made a cheesecake in a good long while!
I am always looking for gluten free recipes to try. I will have to try making this on the weekend. It looks so delicious.
Do you know I have never had a Caramel praline cheesecake! And I have no idea why not because this just looks simply amazing and something that would be a favorite of mine. I am going to make this over the weekend.
This recipe sounds so delicious! I love shopping at Aldi! I may have to add this to the Christmas dinner menu.
This would be a perfect addition to my holiday menu. It looks great.
You had me at cheesecake. It is one of my favorite foods and this sounds like a great way to make it.
You have combined two of my favorite desserts into one. I’ve got to try this.
I saw this on facebook and my mouth watered. This looks so amazingly good. This looks yummy, I can’t wait to give it a try!
My oh my, that looks amazing. I can’t wait to try this.
Ok so this sounds and looks amazing! I need a bite right now!
These look lethal in a good way and I would love to try this. I like the pics on the column of your blog with the snowmen, too!
Oh my goodness! I don’t have words for how amazing that looks. I have never had praline cheesecake but as I love both, I am POSITIVE that I will love it!
🙂
Traci
Well this looks like a treat I need to make this holiday season. Thanks for sharing.
My family loves cheesecake and this looks like a recipe that my family would want me to try to make. My sweet tooth is singing.
This looks incredible and I’m sure would make a perfect holiday dessert! I can’t wait to try the recipe!
My husband is the king of cheesecake making. I’m going to show this to him.
Wow, caramel and praline! This is definitely going on my try it list!
this looks so great, and GF is wonderful, thank you
My goodness this cheesecake looks out of this world! I will have to try this some time.
It does look really good. The caramel on top looks perfect!
Looks amazing! I love pralines. They are totally a weakness of mine, LOL.
Wow that looks so good. Cheesecake is my favorite dessert! This is my ideal gluten-free dessert dish.
Looks dangerously delicious! I’m sure this is also greatly appreciated by any GF people in your life.
Looks so amazing. Pinning so I can make for our Christmas party!!
Oh my goodness, this looks AMAZING! And thanks for the gluten-free option!
Yes, I am sure all the GF folks out there will appreciate that.
Oh yum! We always go to a big bash at my BIL’s house on Christmas eve and this is the perfect thing to bring!