Hot Buttered Rum Cheesecake with Brown Sugar-Rum Sauce

Bring the flavors of a popular hot beverage to a classic cheesecake. A sweet sauce is the crowning touch.

Prep Time

Minutes

Total Time

15:20

Hrs:Mins

Makes

servings

Crust

1 1/4

cups graham cracker crumbs

1/4

cup butter or margarine, melted

Filling

packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened

1 1/4

cups granulated sugar

1/3

cup whipping cream

tablespoons rum

1/4

teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8

teaspoon ground cloves

1/8

teaspoon ground nutmeg

eggs

Sauce

1/2

cup packed brown sugar

1/4

cup butter or margarine

1/3

cup whipping cream

1/4

cup rum

1/4

cup golden raisins, if desired

Heat oven to 350°F. In small bowl, mix crust ingredients. Press firmly in bottom of ungreased 9-inch springform pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool completely. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
While crust is cooling, in large bowl, beat all filling ingredients except eggs with electric mixer on medium speed about 1 minute or until smooth. On low speed, beat in eggs until well blended. Pour over crust; smooth top.
Bake 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes or until edge is set and center is still soft. Turn off oven; leave oven door open about 4 inches. Leave cheesecake in oven 30 minutes. Remove from oven; cool in pan on cooling rack away from drafts 30 minutes.
Without releasing or removing side of pan, run metal spatula carefully along side of cheesecake to loosen. Refrigerate uncovered about 3 hours or until chilled. Cover; continue refrigerating at least 9 hours but no longer than 48 hours.
In 1 1/2-quart saucepan, mix sauce ingredients. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened.
To serve, run metal spatula along side of cheesecake to loosen again; remove side of pan. Serve with warm sauce. Store cheesecake and sauce covered in refrigerator.

Makes 16 servings