by Dawn Lewis

Created on: March 09, 2009   Last Updated: March 10, 2009

Are you a fan of the dessert candy "turtles?" If so, then you will love the recipe I am about to share for Chocolate Turtle Cheesecake. The taste is so sweet and the flavors of pecan and caramel blend so well in this cheesecake, it will take you back to the turtle candies that have been a big part of our lives for generations.

This cheesecake recipe is so easy to make and so delicious that it might just become your favorite cheesecake recipe of all time. How can you go wrong with chocolate, pecans, caramel and vanilla! Enjoy this recipe!

Ingredients:

2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels

1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk

1 cup chopped pecans

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a large bowl, mix together the cookie crumbs and melted butter. Press into the bottom of a 9 inch spring form pan. To make your cheesecake easier to serve, you can place a piece of parchment paper in the bottom and press the cookie crumbs onto that. When you remove the spring form cover, the parchment will help the cheesecake to slide onto your serving plate for easier serving.

In a heavy saucepan over low heat, melt the caramels with the evaporated milk. Heat and stir frequently until smooth. Make sure that when you are melting the caramels you stir and keep the bottom from burning. Pour caramel sauce into crust, and top with pecans.

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla; beat well until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Melt the chocolate, and blend into cream cheese mixture. Pour chocolate batter over pecans.

Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes or until filling is set.

Loosen cake from the edges of pan, but do not remove rim until cooled to prevent the top from cracking.

Chill in refrigerator for 4 hours, or overnight. Serve with whipped cream. Makes 16 servings.

You can vary this recipe by using a prepared graham cracker crust, or by using graham crackers or chocolate cookie pieces in place of the vanilla wafers. Each one will give you a different taste treat with the filling ingredients.

You can also add more caramel flavoring using a caramel extract in addition to the vanilla, or you can add a more nutty flavor by using more pecan extract in your recipe.

If you like dark chocolate flavor or milk chocolate, you can substitute milk chocolate, white chocolate or dark chocolate pieces for the semi-sweet. This recipe is only limited by your imagination and creativity in the kitchen. Enjoy!

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