Chocolate Praline Dessert

A friend gave me this recipe from Taste of Home recently. It is an absolutely delicious torte/cheesecake dessert with layers of cookies crumbs, cheesecake, pecans, caramel and chocolate ganache. I made it for a dinner party and it was really great! It is a little time consuming to make because each layer has to chill before the next can be added, but it is well worth the wait. Warning: Slice it small because it is extremely rich!

Chocolate Praline Dessert

Crust:

2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs (i.e. Oreo)

1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup chopped pecans

Combine cookie crumbs and butter in a small bowl. Press onto the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Sprinkle with pecans.

Praline:

1 1/2 cups butter, cubed

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring butter and brown sugar to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 8 minutes or until the soft ball stage on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Pour over pecans. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until set.

NOTE: The first time I made this dish I over cooked the praline layer. It was still delicious but it was extremely hard...too hard to cut through with a fork. It was like a Werther's candy in the middle of a soft and creamy dessert. I never make it now without the candy thermometer and it always turns out fine.

Filling:

2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

In a large mixing bowl, beat filling ingredients until smooth. Spread over praline layer. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until set.

Ganache:

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup heavy cream

For ganache, in a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips with cream; stir until smooth. cool slightly; spread over filling. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until set. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; remove sides of pan. Garnish with pecan halves.

This post is linked to Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays and Tuesdays at the Table.