PUMPKIN SWIRL CHEESECAKE

Total Time: 5 hr 20 min
16 servings

1/2 cup finely chopped Planters Pecans; 6 tbsp. butter or margarine, melted; 3 pkg. (8 oz. each) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened;
1 cup sugar, divided; 1 tsp. vanilla; 3 eggs; 1 cup canned pumpkin; 1 tsp. ground cinnamon; 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg Dash ground cloves.

Preheat oven to 325°F if using a silver 9-inch springform pan (or to 300°F if using a dark nonstick 9-inch springform pan). Mix ginger snap crumbs, pecans and butter; press firmly onto bottom and 2 inches up side of pan.
Beat cream cheese, 3/4 cup of the sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Reserve 1-1/2 cups of the plain batter. Stir remaining 1/4 cup sugar, pumpkin and spices into remaining batter.
Spoon half of the pumpkin batter into crust; top with spoonfuls of half of the reserved plain batter. Repeat layers. Cut through batters with knife several times for marble effect.
Bake 55 minutes or until center is almost set. Run small knife or spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

Tips:

• To soften cream cheese: place completely unwrapped packages of cream cheese in microwavable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 30 to 45 seconds or until slightly softened.

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