Simple Elegant Caramel Cheesecake

Ingredients

Crust

• 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup ground pecans
• * Note you can use 1 cup graham cracker crumbs and no pecans if you wish
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Filling

• 24 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping

Topping

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons margarine
• 1 1/2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping

Directions

Crust

1. Combine all crust ingredients and press into 9-inch springform pan.
2. Bake 10 minutes at 325 degrees F and remove from oven.
3. Turn oven to 450 degrees F.

Filling

1. Combine softened cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla extract, mixing at medium speed until well-blended.
2. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Reserve 1 cup of cheese batter; stir 1/2 cup of caramel topping into this reserved cup of batter.
3. Spoon half of plain batter over crust; cover with the caramel batter, spread remaining plain batter over the caramel layer.
4. Bake 7 minutes at 450 degrees F, then reduce temperature to 250 degrees F and bake 40 to 45 minutes more.
5. Remove from oven and loosen cake from rim, but do not remove rim until cool.

Topping

1. In saucepan, melt brown sugar and margarine; add water and bring to boil abd cook 2 minutes, stir in the 2 tablespoons of caramel ice cream topping.
2. Before serving, drizzle caramel over the cake.