Pumpkin cheesecake bars in jars

Pumpkin cheesecake bars in jars

Ingredients:
for the crust
8 sheets chocolate graham crackers
1/2 cup raw pecans
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon salt

for the filling
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon bourbon
2 tablespoons turbinado or dark brown sugar
1 cup pumpkin puree*
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon allspice
6-10 grates from a whole a nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt

Special equipment: 6 each 6-ounce to 8-ounce glass canning jars (whatever jars you choose, they need to withstand the heat of an oven.

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F.

For the crust: roughly crumble the graham crackers into the bowl of a food processor. Add the pecans and process until coarse. Pour in the melted butter and pulse until medium-fine. Spoon into the jars, pressing firmly on the bottoms and part way up the sides, leaving a hollow for the filling.

For the filling: combine the cream cheese, sugars and bourbon in a large bowl and mix until smooth and creamy. Add the pumpkin and egg and whisk well to combine. Stir in the vanilla, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and salt.

Spoon the filling into the jars, leaving 1/4″ space at the top of the jar.

Line the bottom of a baking dish with a washcloth and fill with 1/2″ water.** Place the filled jars in the water bath, on the washcloth (which will keep the jars from sliding around the dish), spaced a couple of inches apart. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the jars from the dish and place on a heat-safe, dry surface (a dry towel works great) and allow to cool. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Top with whipped cream.

*Note: the standard 15 ounce can of pumpkin puree contains 1 3/4 cups, so you’ll have extra from the can for this recipe. Puree freezes beautifully — I like to preserve it in zippered freezer bags, which store wonderfully flat. Ditto, if you’re making homemade puree.

**Glass is wonderfully sturdy … but crazy temperature sensitive. Drastic temperature changes will cause glass to crack — baking the pumpkin cheesecake in a water bath will help protect the glass. (In this case, the water bath is strictly for glass protection, not to prevent the cheesecake from cracking. The washcloth prevents the jars from sliding around in the pan.) Take care when removing the hot jars from the water bath — don’t place them on a wet surface. Use a dry towel or dry, wooden cutting board.