CARROT CAKE CHEESECAKE

It's my birthday and combining my two favorites, carrot cake and cheesecake to make a new single favorite!  It is like a bite of heaven!  IT IS ALSO SUPER RICH!  Next time I'm going to try a pumpkin carrot cheesecake.

CARROT CAKE CHEESECAKE

Prep Time: 35 minutes          Cook Time: 1 hour          Total Time: 8 hours, 35 minutes

Yield: 8- 10 servings

CHEESECAKE MIXTURE 
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened well (but not melted)
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream

CARROT CAKE MIXTURE
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups finely grated carrots 
1/3 cup golden raisins (soaked in rum until plump and drained well)

TOPPING
2 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons sour cream
1/2 teaspoon  PURE vanilla extract
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans (optional)

CHEESECAKE MIXTURE

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
• Butter a 9-inch spring form pan and set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoon flour until well combined. 
• Add cream cheese bit by bit using an electric hand mixer set on low speed blending together until smooth. 
• Mix in eggs one at a time, mixing just until combined after each addition.
• Add vanilla. 
• Blend in sour cream. 
• Tap bowl against counter top several times to release the air bubbles and set mixture aside.

CARROT CAKE MIXTURE

• Rinse beaters clean. 
• In a small mixing bowl, whisk together 1 1/4 cup flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
• In a large mixing bowl combine canola oil, applesauce, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla extract and blend mixture using electric hand mixer set on low speed for 1 minute. 
• With mixer running on low speed, slowly add in dry ingredients and mix until well blended. 
• Add carrots and mix until evenly distributed. 
• Fold in raisins by hand.
• Tap bowl forcefully against counter top several times to release large air pockets.

ASSEMBLY

• Pour 1 1/2 cups carrot cake mixture into buttered springform pan and spread into an even layer. 
• Dollop about 1/3 of the cream cheese mixture by the spoonfuls over carrot cake layer (don't spread or swirl). 
• Carefully spoon remaining carrot cake mixture over cream cheese layer, then finish by drizzling by the remaining cheesecake mixture over carrot cake layer, working to cover all of the carrot cake mixture.
• Bake in preheated oven 60 - 65 minutes, until center portion only jiggles slightly.
• Tent with aluminum foil at 40 minutes to prevent excessive browning (tent in a way that the foil doesn't touch cheesecake or it will stick). 
• Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack 1 hour.
• Cover with foil and chill in refrigerator 6 hours.
• Add topping and chill overnight.

TOPPING

• In a mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer, whip together cream cheese and butter until smooth. 
• Add remaining topping ingredients and mix until pale and fluffy, about 4 - 5 minutes. 
• Spread evenly over cheesecake then chill cheesecake in freezer for 20 - 30 minutes. 
• Sprinkle edges with chopped pecans. 
• Store in refrigerator in an airtight container. 
• Enjoy!

Original recipe Source: adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe and Relish