Chocolate Cheesecake with homemade Graham Cracker crust and Praline Topping
I had such a great time making this cheesecake! First off, I made my first batch of Graham Crackers. Then I made my Cheesecake! And now there’s this amazing caramel and pecan topping that was to die for!
I loved all three bites that I had.
My husband thought it was too rich… Bah! What do guys know about desserts anyway?
How is it possible to have a cheesecake that is too rich? I mean, have you ever been to Cheesecake Factory? My cheesecake is boring compared to their mega-monster creations. This was simple and almost humble when you think about the uber-cheesecakes that are filled with cake and cookies and cheesecake and whip cream AND 1,300 calories!
I’m not saying mine is “diet” anything, but come on hubby… too rich?
I guess since caramel isn’t his favorite thing, maybe this wasn’t the best dessert to ask him to taste test. My girlfriend who took half of this cake really enjoyed it. She did the total girl thing trying not to pig out with it. She would walk by and take a small taste then walk away. A few minutes later she was back for another small bite. Then come back again to it and decide she had to “hide the evidence” of the taste testing by evening out the fork marks and just cut a sliver off.
By the next morning she was so sad to see so much of it gone. Not from her picking, but from her husband and four kids picking as well! Lol! That’s life.
As I am writing this post the Martha Stewart Blogger “hubbub” is in full swing. A little back story – Ms. Stewart was interviewed and basically said “bloggers are NOT experts”. I’d like to say that I am not an expert at baking. I fully admit that I have not been to culinary school and I do not have staff members try out and test any recipes before I make them. I, in fact, rely on so many other bloggers, books, magazines, and websites for recipes and inspiration.
I hope that I INSPIRE you to try to go above and beyond your comfort level in baking. I am just a normal mom with normal issues who tries to make amazing recipes. I hope you are not {too} intimidated by the recipes. I’ve done my best to break them down over three days so as not to overwhelm and scare you.
I think that if I can make an amazing dessert, then so can you. There is no need to be an “expert” to bake something wonderful.
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
- 1½ sticks unsalted butter
- ¾ cup dark brown sugar
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups pecans (8 ounces)
- Remove your cheesecake from the fridge. Leave it covered to prevent condensation from forming on the cake and let it come to room temperature as you make your topping.
- Preheat the oven to 350°.
- Combine the butter and brown sugar in a medium sized saucepan and cook over medium low heat. Stir until it's smooth. Add in the heavy cream and salt and bring to a boil. Simmer just until slightly thickened. Do not let it cook for more than 3 minutes or it will harden as it cools instead of staying soft. Let the caramel cool.
- Coarsely chop the nuts and spread them on a rimmed baking sheet and toast for about 8 minutes, until they are lightly browned and fragrant. Transfer the pecans to a work surface and let them cool then stir them into the cooled caramel.
- Top your cheesecake and impress your family and guests.
Find the Graham Cracker Recipe HERE
For the Cheesecake Recipe click HERE
Looks yummy yummy!!! What will you make when I visit??!! I’m a very very good taste tester!!
hmmm… I don’t know… what would you like?
looks delish!
It was We enjoyed it a LOT.
Karyn, I’m absolutely drooling over these gorgeous pictures!! So loving this combo
Thanks so much, Becca! I loved the orange! I was happy with the results.
OMG, I REALLY wish that I could eat that cheesecake! I think I would be willing to risk it, it looks that good!! {I am lactose intolerant}
Lisa, my husband it too, but that’s nothing a little pill can’t take care of!
This looks really good for sure. It reminds me of a southern delight.
Southern Delight? What is this? Off to search for that. Thanks so much
“There is no need to be an “expert” to bake something wonderful.”… I LOVE this so much!!! Thank goodness it’s true or I’d have to eat plain old un-wonderful food all the time! Haha! I enjoyed looking over your recipe and it DID inspire me! I may have to try my hand at my very first real (adult) cheesecake too! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks so much for your kind words. I was pleasantly pleased the way it turned out. Everyone enjoyed it.
Just decadent and beautiful!!
Thanks so much. It was decadent!
Holy cow,this looks like something you’d find at the cheesecake factory!
Found you at the linkup!
WOW! What a compliment! Thanks so much. I’m thrilled
Yum! Your photos are wonderful! I’ve had to, just HAD to, share this on facebook and have also pinned it. You know, I just start to like Martha, then she goes and shows how arrogant she really is and how much disdain she has for all us common folk, and that’s it! Takes awhile for me to like her again. I don’t know where she gets that arrogance from, tho’. She comes from common stock, just like the rest of us.
I think she just had a bee in her bonnet that day. I’m sure there was an incident that we don’t know about and she just let it get the better of her. I know she works with a lot of bloggers and has them on as guests from time to time.
This praline topping is amazing! I have made this a couple of times already & it has been a big hit. Thanks for the recipe, you’ve made me a hero!! The praline topping pairs perfectly with the chocolate cheesecake – love at first bite.
Awesome! We loved it as well! So glad you enjoyed it. It’s easy to make and makes a huge impression!