Mini Salted Caramel Pumpkin Cheese Cake

 

 

Mini Salted Caramel Pumpkin Cheese Cake:
Serves 2 very large or 4 smaller portions :)

 

Crust:
1/2 cup walnut crumbs (or gluten free graham crackers)
3 tsp. butter or oil
1 tsp.  xylitol or other sweetener (coconut sugar etc..)

Cheesecake Filling:

1 package cream cheese, softened at room temperature

1/4 cup xylitol or other sweetener (coconut sugar etc..)
1 egg
1 Tbsp.  coconut cream or whipping cream
1/3 cup ounce can pumpkin
Pumpkin pie spice approx 1- 2 Tbsp (add spices to taste!)

OR make your own:

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger

Directions:
Step #1 Take the cream cheese out ahead of time to soften (at least 1 1/2 hours until soft). 

Step #2 Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Melt butter in a saucepan and stir in walnut crumbs. Press into ungreased 4 1/2 inch wide spring form pan and bake 350°F for 5-7  minutes until brown.

Blend cream cheese and sugar, eggs, spices and pumpkin. Pour over crust Bake 350ºF for 1/2 hour or until firm.  Let cool and then refrigerate.  *do not take off spring form until ready to serve

Caramel Sauce

1/2 cup of sugar

3 Tbsp. butter (or coconut butter)

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream or coconut cream
1/2 tsp. fleur de sel (Garnish)
1/2 tsp. pumpkin seeds (Garnish)
 

*Have ingredients ready to go as once the sugar melts the rest happens quickly! Have a hot pad sitting beside the stove to take off heat to add the cream

#1 On medium heat put sugar in saucepan, stir constantly, eventually it will become a caramel brown coloured liquid.  Stir until there are no lumps.

#2 Add  butter and whisk until melted (it will foam).  Take off heat.

#3 Wait for 3 seconds after you take the pot off the stove and then add cream, whisk until smooth.  Let cool for approximately 10 minutes and then pour into a mason jar until ready to serve. You can make it head of time and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.

#4 Take off spring form pan and place on a plate.  Drizzle caramel sauce and sprinkle pumpkin seeds and salt on top.