Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe for @Pink

One year ago this weekend, I was in San Francisco at an Over The Rhine concert with World Vision.  P!nk happened to be in the audience and showed her true colors by sponsoring several children that night.  Very cool lady…

On Twitter, she makes me hungry on a regular basis posting her food porn on a regular basis.  Tonight, P!nk just asked for the world’s best cheesecake recipe and I think ours is pretty fantastic.  P!nk, thanks for your heart for children in need and for tempting Twitter food porn.  This is my way of returning the favor.  if you try it, let us know what you think!

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Crust

2 cups Lorna Doone cookies

2 Tablespoons sugar

1/2 cup melted butter

Mix crust ingredients and press into a greased spring form pan.  Place spring form pan on a lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.

Filling

4  8oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened (Philadelphia, of course!)

1 1/4 cup sugar

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree

1/4 cup whipping cream

3/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger

Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add sugar and beat until smooth.  Add eggs one at a time until mixed.  Beat in remaining ingredients until smooth.

Bake at 350 degrees for approx. 1 hour.  Turn the oven off and let sit for 1 hour.  Cool completely in the refrigerator.  Top with whipped cream.