Best Salted Caramel Cheesecake Recipes

PUMPKIN GINGERSNAP CHEESECAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• For the pumpkin gingersnap cheesecake: In a food processor or blender, grind the gingersnaps until fine. Pour into a bowl and stir in the pecans, melted butter, brown sugar and salt. Press into the bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• To make the filling, beat the cream cheese in a stand mixer until soft, scraping the sides once. Mix in the pumpkin, scraping the sides once or twice. Add the eggs 1 at a time, allowing them to mix in, then add the sour cream and mix. With the mixer on low, add the granulated sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg. Thoroughly scrape the bowl and mix to ensure everything is smooth and mixed in.
• Pour the filling into the pan, smoothing the top. Set the pan on a baking sheet and bake until the filling is no longer soupy but still slightly jiggly, about 50 minutes. Turn off the oven, open the door just a hair and let the cheesecake sit in the oven for 15 more minutes. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool for 30 minutes, then cover it with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge to chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• For the salted caramel sauce: Mix the brown sugar, heavy cream, butter, vanilla and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-low to medium heat. Cook, while whisking gently, until thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool, then refrigerate until needed. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Slice the cheesecake and top with the salted caramel sauce, whipped cream and chopped pecans.

SALTED CARAMEL CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter a 23cm springform cake tin and line the base with baking parchment. Tip the biscuits into a food processor, blitz to crumbs and pour in the melted butter. (You could also tip the biscuits into a bag, bash with a rolling pin into crumbs and mix in the butter.) Press the biscuit mixture into the base of the tin - the easiest way to do this is by flattening it with your hand under a sheet of cling film. Place the tin on a tray and bake for 10 mins, then remove from the oven to cool.
• Meanwhile, scrape the cream cheese into a bowl with 3 tbsp of the caramel sauce, the vanilla, sugar and flour, and beat until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until you have a thick, smooth custard consistency. Tip over the base, scraping the bowl clean, and bake in the oven for 10 mins. Reduce the temperature to 140C/120C fan/gas 1 and continue to bake for 25-30 mins until there is a slight wobble in the centre. Turn off the heat and leave the door just slightly ajar - a tea towel holding the door open is ideal. This should leave you with a completely smooth top, but if there are a couple of small cracks, don't worry. Leave the cheesecake in the oven until completely cool (overnight is fine), then chill until needed. Will keep in the fridge for two days.
• On the day, loosen the sides of the cheesecake from the tin with a knife and remove the base (although I usually serve it straight from the tin base). Add a large pinch of flaky sea salt to the rest of the caramel sauce, then spoon it over the cake and swirl with the back of the spoon. The cheesecake will sit happily on a stand at room temperature for a couple of hours. Just before serving, sprinkle with extra sea salt, if you like.

SALTED CARAMEL CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Wrap outside bottom and side of 9-inch springform pan with heavy-duty foil to prevent leaking. Grease inside bottom and side of pan with shortening. In small bowl, mix crust ingredients. Press in bottom of pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. Cool crust 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese and 1 cup brown sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs, one at a time, just until blended. Add 3/4 cup whipping cream and 1/4 cup coffee syrup; beat until blended. Pour filling over crust.
• Bake at 300°F 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes or until edge of cheesecake is set at least 2 inches from edge of pan but center of cheesecake still jiggles slightly. Turn oven off; open door 4 inches. Let cheesecake remain in oven 30 minutes. Run small metal spatula around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake. Cool in pan on cooling rack 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.
• In 2-quart saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter over medium heat. Add 1 1/4 cups brown sugar and 2 tablespoons coffee syrup. Heat to boiling; cook and stir 1 minute until sugar dissolves. Stir in 1/2 cup whipping cream; return to boiling. Remove from heat. Cool 10 minutes.
• To serve, run small metal spatula around edge of springform pan; carefully remove foil and side of pan. Cut cheesecake into slices. Drizzle caramel sauce over slices; sprinkle with salt. Cover; refrigerate any remaining cheesecake.

SALTED CARAMEL CHEESECAKE SQUARES

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch rectangular baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
• Place the graham crackers and pecans into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the mixture becomes crumbs. Add the butter and vanilla and pulse again until combined. Pour into the prepared pan and press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. If they come up the sides, that's okay!
• For the filling: Beat the cream cheese, granulated sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Add the sour cream and mix again.
• Pour the mixture into the crust, smooth the top and bake for 50 minutes. Turn off the oven and open the door, leaving the cheesecake to sit in the oven with the door open for 15 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool for an hour.
• For the caramel topping: Add the brown sugar and butter to a pan, set over medium heat and cook, stirring, until the butter is melted and the sugar is dissolved. Add the condensed milk, corn syrup and vanilla and bring to a boil, stirring continuously.
• Place a candy thermometer in the caramel mixture and continue to boil until the caramel reaches 225 degrees F. Turn off the heat and let the caramel cool for about 5 minutes before pouring over the cheesecake.
• Allow to set for 2 hours, then cut into squares with a sharp knife. Arrange on a plate and garnish each square with a pinch of sea salt.

SALTED CARAMEL NO-BAKE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Tip the digestive biscuits into a food processor and pulse to fine crumbs. Pour in the butter and caramel sauce and pulse again until damp and sandy. Tip the mixture into a 20cm springform cake tin and use a spoon to press it into an even layer in the base of the tin. Chill for 30 mins.
• For the filling, mix together the soft cheese, salted caramel sauce, sugar and vanilla extract. Once the base is cold and has firmed up, spoon over the filling and smooth the top with the back of the spoon. Chill for at least 4 hrs. If making ahead, wrap the cheesecake and freeze for up to three months instead. Leave in the fridge overnight to defrost.
• To serve, carefully remove the cheesecake from the tin and put onto a serving platter or cake stand. Scatter over the shop-bought chocolates, crushing a few of the malted milk balls, then drizzle with the salted caramel sauce before cutting into slices.

SALTED CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE CRISP

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, stir together cookie mix, oats, 1/4 cup of the brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon. Add melted butter; mix until crumbly. Set aside.
• In small bowl, beat cream cheese, granulated sugar and vanilla until smooth. Set aside.
• In large bowl, toss apples with remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar and remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Distribute apples evenly in baking dish.
• Spoon tablespoonfuls of cream cheese mixture randomly over apples. Sprinkle with cookie mixture.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until crumble topping is golden brown and apples are tender. Serve warm drizzled with salted caramel topping. Cover and refrigerate any remaining dessert.

JD'S APPLE PIE CHEESECAKE LOG WITH SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix diced apple, cold water, and lemon juice together in a small bowl; soak for 10 minutes. Drain.
• Stir cream cheese, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice together in a bowl until smooth. Fold the diced apple into the cream cheese mixture.
• Spoon the cream cheese mixture onto the center of a sheet of plastic wrap. Use the plastic to shape the cheese mixture into a log, wrap the plastic around the log, and refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.
• Cook and stir white sugar in a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat until melted, smooth, and taking on an amber color, about 10 minutes; add butter and stir quickly with a whisk until the butter is melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Immediately remove saucepan from heat. Slowly stream heavy cream into the sugar mixture while continually stirring with the whisk to incorporate fully; add sea salt and stir. Transfer the caramel sauce to a glass bowl and set aside to cool.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Roll out pie pastry on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thick. Cut dough into rectangles about 2 inches long. Arrange dough strips onto the prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops of the dough strips with beaten egg. Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar over the strips.
• Bake dough strips in preheated oven until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool completely.
• Spread pecans into a shallow dish. Unwrap cheese log and roll in the pecans to coat. Place coated log onto a plate and drizzle caramel sauce evenly over the log. Serve with the pie crust chips.

GLUTEN-FREE HAZELNUT CHEESECAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL GLAZE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 325. Make the crust: Combine all the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until mixture looks like coarse pea-size crumbs, about 10 to 15 seconds.
• Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch or 10-inch springform pan. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15 minutes; set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, combine all ingredients for the filling in the bowl of the food processor and purée until smooth. Pour the mixture into the cooled crust and bake for 1 hour, or until set in the center, up to 15 minutes longer. Let cool and then chill until fully set, preferably overnight.
• Make the glaze: put the sugar and the water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and allow the sugar to caramelize. When the mixture is a medium-amber color, about 8 minutes, pull the pot off the heat and add the heavy cream. When the bubbles subside, add the butter. Continue stirring until all the butter has been incorporated; add salt to season and let cool.
• Remove the cake from the refrigerator and release from the pan. Pour the warm glaze over it to serve.

VANILLA BEAN CHEESECAKE FUDGE BROWNIES WITH SALTED CARAMEL

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom only of 9-inch square or 11x7-inch pan with shortening or cooking spray.
• In large bowl, beat Brownie ingredients with whisk as directed on box until smooth. Pour batter into pan; spread evenly.
• In small bowl, beat cream cheese, eggs and vanilla seeds with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Spoon over brownie batter in pan. Use knife to cut cheesecake mixture into brownie batter, creating slight swirl pattern.
• Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until brownies pull away from sides of pan. Cool 10 minutes.
• Spread caramel sauce over brownies. Sprinkle with sea salt. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• For bars, cut into 4 rows by 3 rows.

SALTED CARAMEL CAPPUCCINO CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan., Place the first 5 ingredients in a food processor; cover and pulse until fine crumbs form. Gradually add melted butter, pulsing until combined. Press mixture onto the bottom and 2 in. up sides of prepared pan., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in sour cream, Kahlua, flour and espresso powder. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Pour into crust. Place springform pan in a larger baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan., Bake 55-65 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove springform pan from water bath; remove foil. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack 10 minutes; loosen sides from pan with a knife. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight, covering when completely cooled., Pour caramel topping over cheesecake. Refrigerate at least 15 minutes. Remove rim from pan. Sprinkle with sea salt just before serving.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL AND GINGERSNAP CRUST

Steps:

• (or water will get inside and cause the crust to be soggy). Bake cheesecake in water bath until just set, approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. Whisk together the sour cream, sugar and vanilla in a bowl. Spread the sour cream mixture on top of the cheesecake and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Remove cheesecake from water and set aside to cool, approximately two hours. Remove foil. Run a sharp knife between cake and side of the pan. Chill the cheesecake until cold, then cover and chill overnight. Release pan sides and transfer cheesecake to platter. (At least an hour before serving the cheesecake) Make the Salted Caramel: In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, water and corn syrup. Bring to a boil and cook over medium-high heat until a golden brown caramel forms, approximately 6-8 minutes. If you notice the syrup edges turning browner than the center, tilt the saucepan and gently swirl the caramel around. Keep close watch because the caramel can burn quickly. Remove the saucepan from the heat and carefully whisk in the cream, butter and salt. Let the caramel cool to room temperature. When the caramel has cooled, taste. Whisk in more salt if desired (1/4 teaspoon at a time). The caramel can be made up to two weeks in advance and stored, covered, in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before using. Assemble and Serve Cheesecake: Generously drizzle salted caramel on top of cheesecake. Cut the cheesecake into wedges. When serving, drizzle more caramel on the individual plates.

SALTED CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE BITES

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 325°F Line 24 mini muffin cups with mini foil or paper baking cups. Microwave butter in small microwave-safe bowl on HIGH 30 seconds or until melted. Stir in gingersnap crumbs and 2 tablespoons sugar until evenly moistened. Divide evenly into prepared baking cups using about 1 1/2 teaspoons for each. Press to form an even layer.
• BEAT cream cheese in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in juice concentrate, 2 tablespoon topping, apple pie spice and remaining 2 tablespoon sugar until smooth. Beat in egg just until blended. Spoon over crusts until baking cups are almost full. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until set. Cool in pans 15 minutes. Chill 1 hour or overnight.
• REMOVE foil baking cups from cheesecake bites, if desired. Spoon desired amount of remaining topping onto centers of cheesecake bites. Cut apple wedges crosswise into small triangles for garnish. Insert tip of triangle into topping. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt, if desired.
• Nutritional information (amount per servings): Total Calories: 100. Sodium 130mg. Fat: 6g. Carbohydrates: 10g. Cholesterol: 20mg. Protein: 1g. Fiber: 0g.

SALTED-CARAMEL BROWNIE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Line 9-inch square pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides; spray with cooking spray. Also, spray 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Prepare brownie batter as directed on package; pour evenly into prepared pans.
• Bake 25 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out with fudgy crumbs. (Do not overbake.) Cool 30 min.
• Microwave caramels, cream and 3/4 tsp. salt in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. or until caramels are completely melted and sauce is well blended, stirring every 20 sec. Remove 1/4 cup caramel sauce; pour into separate microwaveable bowl, then refrigerate until ready to serve cheesecake. Cool remaining caramel sauce 15 min.
• Heat oven to 325°F. Beat cream cheese and sugar in medium bowl until creamy. Blend in remaining caramel sauce. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended.
• Use foil handles to remove brownie from square pan; cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Reserve 1 cup brownie pieces for later use. Gently stir remaining brownie pieces into cream cheese mixture; pour over brownie layer in springform pan.
• Bake 55 min. or until center of cheesecake is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours.
• Top cheesecake with reserved brownie pieces. Microwave reserved caramel sauce 15 sec. or just until warmed; drizzle over cheesecake. Sprinkle with remaining salt.

PUMPKIN SPICE CHEESECAKE & SALTED CARAMEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350ºF
• Grease a 7-inch springform pan.
• In a small bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Stir in the melted butter. Pour the mixture into the springform pan. With your hands or the bottom of a cup, press the crumbs flat against the bottom and then slightly up the sides of the pan (1/2 inch). Place the pan into the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove and let cool while you prepare the filling. Reduce the oven heat to 325ºF.
• Arrange the oven racks so that one is on the bottom and the other is in the middle. Place a large casserole dish filled with hot boiling water into the oven on the bottom rack.
• Combine the pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and salt into a small saucepan on low-medium heat. Bring to a slow boil. Once boiling, cook for 5 minutes stirring continuously.
• Remove the pumpkin from the heat and place into a food processor. Pulse until smooth, 1 minute. Drizzle in the cream and pulse until combined, 10 seconds. Add the cream cheese and pulse until combined, 20 seconds. Add the eggs and pulse until combined, 15 seconds. Do not over mix the filling or you will incorporate too much air and the cheesecake will rise too high during baking, and then fall, leaving a crater in the middle.
• Pour the filling into the springform pan. Place in the oven on the middle shelf and bake for 1 1/2 hours. Resist the urge to open the oven door. Once the cheesecake has cooked, turn off the oven, open the door and let the cheesecake cool for 60 minutes in the oven. Do not touch it. Remove the cheesecake from the oven, and gently remove the edge of the springform pan. Let it cool on the counter until room temperature. Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
• To make the caramel sauce, place the sugar and water in a small saucepan on medium heat. Whisk to dissolve the sugar. Once dissolved, do not stir until you add the cream. Let the sugar mixture boil until 350ºF or until it turns a caramel color, roughly 10 minutes. Turn the heat to low and slowly whisk in the cream and salt. Let the caramel bubble on the heat for a minute or two to thicken. Transfer to a storage container to let cool.
• To make the candied pecans, heat the butter and sugar in a frying pan on medium heat until it starts to bubble. Add the pecans and cook until they brown. Place onto a piece of parchment paper to cool.
• To make the whipped cream, add the heavy cream and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer that has been chilled. With the whisk attachment, whip until stiff peaks. Store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use.
• To assemble the cheesecake, remove it from the bottom of the springform pan and transfer to a serving plate or stand. Drizzle the cheesecake with the salted caramel. You may need to heat it up in the microwave for 10 seconds to get it to a more pourable consistency. With a whipped cream dispenser, a piping bag or a spoon, decorate the cheesecake with whipped cream. Place half of the candied pecans in the middle of the cake. Cheesecake can be stored in the fridge for 4 days.

SALTED CARAMEL CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
• Mix baking crumbs and butter; press onto bottom or a 9-inch springform pan.
• Beat cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with mixer until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 40 to 45 min. or until centre is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool completely before removing rim. Refrigerate 4 hours. Spread caramel sauce over top just before serving and sprinkle with sea salt.

SALTED CARAMEL DULCE DE LECHE CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Coat 13x9x2-inch metal baking pan coated with nonstick spray. Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and cinnamon in medium bowl. Add melted butter; stir until coated. Transfer crumb mixture to pan. Press evenly onto bottom of pan. Bake until crust is light golden, about 10 minutes. Cool completely on rack. 2. Blend the cream cheese and sugar together until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Add the eggs 1 at a time, blending for 3 to 5 seconds each time until incorporated. Add in the dulce de leche and vanilla and blend until just mixed - about 10 seconds. Spread the batter evenly over the cooled crust and bake until the cheesecake mixture is just set in center and the edges are puffed and slightly cracked, about 38 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool completely. 3. Once the cheesecake bar is cooled, pour 2/3 cup dulce de leche sauce and a the 3 tablespoons of whipping cream in a glass measuring cup. Microwave at 10 second intervals stirring between each interval. Do this until the mixture is smooth and combined. Next, take about 10 caramel chews and heat them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds until just melted. Quickly dump the melted caramel chews into the dulce de leche mixture and stir continuously until combined. The consistency should be pourable, but not too liquid. You want the caramel topping to be soft and gooey, but not too runny that is pours down the side of your bar once you cut it. Cover and chill. 4. Lastly - (and this is the best part!) when you're ready to serve the bars sprinkle the caramel glaze lightly with some fleur de sel. *Fleur de sel is a light and flaky sea salt, with a less salty and bitter taste than regular table or sea salt.

SALTED CARAMEL-PRETZEL CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Salted Caramel Sauce:
• Combine the sugar and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-low heat; continue to cook, without stirring, until the sugar has dissolved (about 4 min.).
• Increase the heat to medium-high, then cook until the caramel has turned to a deep golden color (about 6 to 7 min.).
• Remove from heat. Add the heavy cream and whisk to incorporate, being careful as the heavy cream will bubble heavily.
• Return the saucepan to the heat. Add the butter and salt; stir. Cook for another minute.
• Turn off the heat and let the caramel sauce cool down before using. (The caramel will get thicker after it cools down but it won't harden at room temperature.)
• Pretzel Crust:
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Line a 2-inch-deep 8x8-inch pan with parchment paper.
• In a small bowl, combine the pretzel crumbs, sugar and butter.
• Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan and bake for 12 min. or until golden brown.
• Cheesecake:
• Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F.
• In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
• Add the eggs, one at time, and mix until just blended.
• Stir in the vanilla and flour just until combined.
• Pour the cream cheese batter over the crust. Add ½ cup of the salted caramel sauce and swirl it into the cream cheese batter. Bake for 30 min. or until the center of cheesecake is set.
• Let the cheesecake cool completely at room temperature.
• Pour the remaining 1 cup salted caramel sauce over the cooled cheesecake, then refrigerate overnight (or at least 4 hours).
• Before serving, decorate with whole pretzels and salted caramel popcorn.

SALTED CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE CRISP RECIPE - (4.6/5)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In large bowl, stir together cookie mix, oats, 1/4 cup of the brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon. Add melted butter; mix until crumbly. Set aside. In small bowl, beat cream cheese, granulated sugar and vanilla until smooth. Set aside. In large bowl, toss apples with remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar and remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Distribute apples evenly in baking dish. Spoon tablespoonfuls of cream cheese mixture randomly over apples. Sprinkle with cookie mixture. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until crumble topping is golden brown and apples are tender. Serve warm drizzled with salted caramel topping. Cover and refrigerate any remaining dessert.

SALTED CARAMEL CHEESECAKE BLONDIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet. Bake until toasted, about 8 minutes. Let cool, then chop.
• Coat a 9-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. Line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang; coat the parchment with cooking spray.
• Make the cheesecake batter: Beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes. Beat in 1 egg and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until combined; set aside.
• Make the blondie batter: Whisk the flour, baking powder and fine salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the melted butter and brown sugar in a large bowl; whisk in the remaining 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla until combined. Fold in the flour mixture with a rubber spatula until just combined. Stir in 3/4 cup pecans.
• Spread half of the blondie batter in the prepared pan. Top with half of the cheesecake batter in spoonfuls. Warm the caramel sauce in the microwave, then drizzle between the spoonfuls of cheesecake batter. Top with the remaining blondie batter, then the remaining cheesecake batter in spoonfuls. Using the tip of a butter knife, gently swirl together to create a marbled effect.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes in the pan, then lift the blondies out of the pan using the parchment and transfer to a rack. Drizzle with more caramel sauce and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup pecans and the fleur de sel. Refrigerate until completely cooled, about 2 hours. Cut into squares.

VANILLA BEAN CHEESECAKE WITH CHOCOLATE CRUST AND VANILLA SALTED CARAMEL RECIPE - (4.6/5)

Steps:

• Bake the cookies following Smitten Kitchen's recipe or buy them. If you choose to bake them, make sure you roll out the dough as thin and evenly as possible before baking. I divided the batch in half and then rolled the dough out to 1/4 inch thick onto a silpat with plastic wrap on top (this keeps the dough from sticking to the rolling pin). The cookies can be baked the day before. Break them into pieces and store covered. Put the cookies or cookie pieces into a food processor and pulse until they are fine crumbs. Remove the crumbs from the bowl, measure out 4 cups of crumbs, and put them back into the food processor. Add the flour and pulse to combine. Add the melted butter and pulse until the cookie crumbs have the consistency of wet sand. Press about 2 cups the crust into the bottom of the 9′" springform pan and then the rest up the sides of the pan to the top edge. You should use all of the crust mix. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Put the milk in a small pot. Split open the vanilla bean and scrape out the seeds inside. Put both into the pot with the milk. Heat the milk until it's hot, but not boiling. Turn off the heat and let the vanilla and milk steep for 15 minutes. Remove the vanilla pod and if it's softened more by being in the milk, you may be able to scrape out more seeds. If so, whisk them into the milk. For the filling, put the cream cheese into a mixing bowl (I use a KitchenAid stand mixer, but you can use a hand mixer if you have one). Add in the sugar and beat until combined with the cream cheese and very smooth. Crack the eggs into a separate bowl, and with the mixer on, slowly beat in the eggs one at a time. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides with a spatula. Turn it on again and add in the milk with the vanilla beans, beat until it's all combined and there are no lumps. Pour the filling into the pan with the crust. Place the pan on a cookie sheet lined with foil (sometimes the butter in the crust melts and runs from the pan). Bake for 55 min-1 hour at 325 degrees until set but still soft and jiggly in the center. While the cheesecake is cooking, mix together the sour cream, sugar and vanilla. When the cheesecake is done, remove from the oven for 10 minutes, but leave the oven on. After 10 min, spread the sour cream topping on the cheesecake and return to the oven for 10 more minutes. Remove, place on a cooling rack and allow to cool for 1 hour. Refrigerate before serving for at least 4 hours. The cheesecake can be made up to two days in advance. Caramel topping: In a small, heavy bottomed pot, melt the sugar with water. Cook over high heat until deep amber in color. Remove from heat, and carefully whisk in the cream (it will bubble up). Whisk in the butter, and if the caramel has cooled too much to melt the butter, return to a low heat and whisk until it is all incorporated. Whisk in the 1 tsp fleur de sel. Allow the caramel to cool and pour over the top of the baked and cooled cheesecake. Garnish the top with flakes of fleur de sel. Note; If you are making the cheesecake in advance, I recommend you save the salt garnish until right before serving because if refrigerated, the moisture in the refrigerator will melt the salt.