Turtle Cheesecake

•1 1/4 cups chocolate cookie crumbs (recommended: Oreo)

•1 cup sugar, plus 4 tablespoons

•4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus 3 tablespoons

•2 1/2 pounds cream cheese, softened to room temperature

•1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

•2 tablespoons all purpose flour

•1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, plus 1 cup melted

•1 cup sour cream

•4 eggs
•1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, for topping

•1 cup caramel, for topping (I made my own, recipe below)

•1 cup pecans, for topping

Directions



Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.



Lightly grease the bottom and side of a 9-inch springform pan. In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the cookie crumbs, 4 tablespoons of sugar, and the melted butter and mix together well. Pour the crumbs into the bottom of the pan and press them out evenly. Once completed, set aside.



In a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, the rest of the sugar, and vanilla. Beat together until light and creamy. Add the flour and blend until smooth. With the first cup of chocolate chips, fold into filling. Pour in a melted cup of the chocolate chips and sour cream and mix well. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing each at low speed. Pour the filling into prepared pan, bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the center is almost set. Let cake cool for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the sides and remove rim of the pan. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.



In a small saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons of butter and pour in chocolate chips. Mix together on medium-low heat. Once chocolate and butter is combined, pour warm mixture onto chilled cake. Refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes. Pour slightly cooled caramel-pecan mixture over the top.



Homemade Caramel




2 cups sugar

½ cup water

1 ½ tablespoons light corn syrup

2/3 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature



Put the sugar, water and corn syrup in a medium heavy bottomed saucepan, stir just to combine the ingredients and then put the pan over medium-high heat. Heat, without stirring , until the caramel turns deep amber., 5-10 minutes. Lower the heat a bit and, standing back from the saucepan add the cream and butter. When the spatters are less vehement, stir to calm down the caramel and dissolve any lumps. Stir in pecans, cool for 3 to 5 minutes, and pour over cheesecake