My salted caramel cheesecake is perfect for caramel lovers! It has caramel swirled inside and on top, plus plenty of flaky sea salt. Add pecans in the crust for even more flavor! Recipe includes a how-to video!
1cup(236ml)thick caramel sauceroom temperature, divided (click link for homemade caramel sauce, see note)
Flaky sea salt for sprinklingoptional
Instructions
For the crust
In a medium-sized bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, finely chopped pecans, and sugars.
1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs, ⅓ cup finely chopped pecans (see note), 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon firmly packed light brown sugar
Add melted butter to the crumb mixture and mix until crumbs are moistened.
7 tablespoons melted salted butter
Press the mixture evenly onto the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
For the cheesecake
Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C).
In a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and granulated sugar. Use an electric mixer to beat on medium speed until smooth, creamy, and lump-free.
24 oz softened brick-style full-fat cream cheese, 1 cup granulated sugar
Add sour cream and vanilla extract and mix on low speed until combined.
½ cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
In a separate bowl, lightly beat each egg with a fork, then add one at a time to the cheesecake batter, mixing on low speed until just combined. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure all ingredients are well incorporated.
3 large eggs
Pour half of the cheesecake batter into the prepared crust. Drizzle ¼ cup (59ml) of caramel sauce evenly over the batter, then top with the remaining cheesecake batter.
1 cup thick caramel sauce
Place the pan on the center rack of the preheated oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, or until the cheesecake is almost set (center will be jiggly like Jell-O, edges may puff slightly).
Turn off the oven, crack the door several inches, and let the cheesecake cool inside for 1 hour.
Remove from the oven to cool at room temperature until cooled completely then top the cheesecake with the remaining caramel sauce and transfer it to the refrigerator to chill completely (6 hours or overnight).
Once the cheesecake is fully chilled, remove the springform ring, sprinkle the surface of the cheesecake with flaky sea salt if desired, then slice and serve. To store, reattach the springform ring and cover with foil.
Flaky sea salt for sprinkling
Video
Notes
Pecans
You can measure pecans before or after chopping. You can actually chop them, or I’ve also had success placing them in a plastic baggie and smacking them with a rolling pin or the back of a spoon until they’re fine. For nut-free cheesecake, simply omit the pecans, no other changes needed.