Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl

Chocolate. Pumpkin. Cream cheese. Need I say more? This is a very easy food processor recipe.

Ingredients:

• 8 chocolate graham crackers
• 2 tbsp sugar (for crust)
• 4 tbsp melted butter
• 2 - 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 cup sugar (for filling)
• 1 cup pumpkin puree (canned or learn how to make fresh here)
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 tsp each of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt
• 3 tbsp flour
• 4 oz bittersweet chocolate
• roasted pumpkin seeds for garnish (optional; see how to roast seeds here)

Preheat oven to 350. Make the crust. In a food processor, process the graham crackers and 2 tbsp sugar. Add the melted butter and process just until mixed.

Butter an 8x8 dish. Line with parchment paper. I always butter the dish before laying the parchment paper because the paper sticks to the butter and makes it easier to work with.

Line the bottom and sides with the crust. Press firmly. Bake for 12-15 minutes. The crust will be firm. Set aside and let cool completely before you add the filling.

Now the yummy filling. Process the cream cheese.

Add the sugar, eggs, spices, salt, flour, and pumpkin. Process until mixed.

Roughly chop the chocolate and melt in a double boiler. Don't worry, you can make a double boiler with a pot and a bowl!

Fill the pot with a couple inches of water.

Put your bowl in the water. You want the bowl to float so it doesn't touch heat directly (if possible), if it doesn't get a lighter bowl and / or add more water. Heat on med-low until the chocolate melts, stir often. It only takes a couple minutes.

Pour the filling in the cooled crust. 

Drop spoonfuls of chocolate in the filling. Random pattern. Next, take a knife and cut through the batter to swirl the chocolate (just the filling, don't cut the crust).

Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes. It will set like a cheesecake. It is done when the middle is almost set (so a little jiggly, but not runny). Let it cool completely. Put it in the fridge for a couple hours before you cut into it. Lift it out of the pan by the parchment paper. The paper will slide right off.

 

Garnish with roasted pumpkin seeds.