Memo to Cheesecake Factory

Dear Sirs,
Sorry, your recipes can't compete with this one from our good friend, Carroll.

Ultimate Turtle Cheesecake

(one 9” cheesecake)

2 cups Oreo cookie crumbs (I used Famous Amos pecan chocolate chip cookies)
6 Tbsp. butter, melted (could use less, esp. if using Oreos)
8 oz. (about) Marzetti’s caramel dip
¾ cup coarsely chopped pecans, toasted at 300º about 10 min. & lightly salted
1/3 cup chocolate chips (2 oz. or so)
3 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
¾ cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs
Glaze (see below) plus toasted pecan halves to garnish

Mix cookie crumbs and melted butter and press on bottom and 1-2” up sides of greased 9” round springform pan. Bake about 10 min. at 325º (if using dark pan, 300º). Cool.

Dollop caramel over crust; sprinkle with pecans and chocolate chips (chips are my addition, but a good one).

Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla on medium speed till well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition, just till blended (don’t overmix – too much air will tend to make cheesecake crack). Pour over caramel layer in pan.

Place pan on cookie sheet and bake 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes, till cake looks dull and set except for center, which will still be a little wobbly and won’t test done… but take out of oven anyway!!! Cake will continue to cook after removing and will be nice and creamy, rather than dry. Run knife around side of pan to loosen crust. Cool to room temp, then refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

Glaze:
Heat ¼ cup heavy cream just to near-boiling; add ½ cup bittersweet chocolate chips or 3 oz. dark chocolate bar, chopped (I used Lindt 50% cocoa bar). Remove from heat and let sit a minute, then gently stir till melted and incorporated into thick glaze. If necessary, set aside to firm up, but should be thick enough to pour over cold cheesecake immediately. Remove sides of pan and pour over cake. Decorate with pecan halves and chill till glaze is set. Remove from fridge half-hour or so before serving for best flavor.