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Low-Carb Pumpkin Cheesecake

I want to start this out saying - I absolutely HATE pumpkin pie... the gooey mushy texture, the overwhelming pumpkin flavor, just nothing does it for me. Now the crazy thing about this, is that I crave it. I just LOVE the idea of a warm, fresh pumpkin pie. I love the smell of one baking in the oven, the look of that beautiful, rich orange color... topped with some creamy cool whip. But... I just... can't.... do it! One day I went on the hunt for a delicious pumpkin dessert that would satisfy my craving but not be too over the top. (While still being low in carbs, since we eat a very low carb diet in our family) Well, let me tell you - I found it... and it BLEW. MY. MIND! Hands down my new favorite dessert no matter the party, holiday, theme, etc. Its a winning dessert that needs no excuse.

Ingredients:

Crust:
1 ½ cups almond meal
½ teaspoon each of ginger and cinnamon
4 Tablespoons melted butter
4 Tablespoons Splenda
Filling:
3 8 oz packages cream cheese at room temperature
2 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
¾ teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon allspice
¼ teaspoon cloves
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups Splenda
1 can (about 15 oz) pumpkin
1 Tablespoon vanilla
5 eggs, preferably room temperature
½ cup heavy cream

Preparation:

Heat oven to 375 F.
Prepare springform pan: I like to put a piece of parchment paper over the bottom of the pan -- no need to cut it to size, just snap it into place when you put the tighten the sides. Wrap the bottom and sides of the pan in heavy-duty foil. You'll be baking the cheesecake with the springform pan set in a baking pan half-full of boiling water, so you want to protect from leaks.

1) Combine ingredients for crust, and press into the bottom of a springform pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until fragrant and beginning to brown.
2) Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Scrape sides of bowl and beaters. This step will be repeated several times and is important. The mixture will gradually become lighter, and the denser stuff has a tendency to cling to the bowl. You won't be able to incorporate it as well later, so keep scraping.
3) Add spices and sweetener. Beat again, scrape again.
4) Add pumpkin and vanilla. Beat well, scrape.
5) Add 3 eggs. Beat well (about a minute), scrape.
6) Add the other 2 eggs and cream and beat another minute. Pour mixture into pan over crust.
7) Place pan in a baking pan and pour boiling water around the sides, about halfway up. Lower the oven temperature to 325 F. and bake for for 60 to 90 minutes, checking often after an hour. When the cake is firm to touch but slightly soft in the center, or the center reaches 150 to 155 F, remove from oven.
8) Remove sides from pan. Let the cheesecake cool to room temperature, or up to 3 hours. Cover and chill, ideally for another 3 to 4 hours.

Nutritional Information for full fat cream cheese, at 16 servings: Each serving has 4 grams effective carbohydrate plus 2 grams fiber.

We borrowed this recipe from: http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbthanksgiving/r/pumpkncheescake.htm