Pumpkin Patch Cheesecake

Our whimsical Pumpkin Patch Cheesecake is a ghostly good treat for your haunted Halloween party. This easy cheesecake recipe with its yummy cookie crumb crust is literally to-die-for.

Serves: 12

Chilling Time: 8 hr

Cooking Time: 55 min

Ingredients

• 1 (16.6-ounce) package orange cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies (see Note)
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/4 cups sugar, divided
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
• 1 (16-ounce) container sour cream
• 5 drops red food color
• 10 drops yellow food color

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place 23 cookies in a resealable plastic bag. Using a rolling pin, crush cookies then place crumbs in a medium bowl with the butter; mix well then spread mixture into bottom of a 10-inch springform pan. Chill until ready to fill.
    
2. In a large bowl, with an electric beater on medium speed, beat cream cheese and 1 cup sugar until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then add 1 teaspoon vanilla and mix well.
    
3. Set aside 2 cookies for garnish then break up remaining 8 cookies. Stir cookie pieces into cream cheese mixture then pour into crust.
    
4. Bake 55 to 60 minutes, or until firm. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes.
    
5. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, using a spoon, stir together sour cream, the remaining sugar and vanilla, and the food color until well combined. Carefully spread sour cream mixture over top of cheesecake then bake 5 more minutes.
    
6. Let cool then chill overnight or at least 8 hours. Decorate top of cake by making a pumpkin face using reserved 2 cookies (see photo). Serve immediately, or cover until ready to serve.

Note

Orange cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies are seasonal and can only be found in grocery stores around Halloween.