I have never been big on the whole baking cakes and cookies...however, last year I thought I'd give it a shot.

I made a Pumpkin Cheesecake for Thanksgiving which calls for an encore appearance at Christmas.

It was easier than I thought it would be...had the grandkids help me with the crust and the mixing. They have already asked if we were making it again this year...could be the start of a new tradition in the house.

The ginger snap crust gives this dessert a good "bite".

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups gingersnap cookie crumbs
3/4 cup ground hazelnuts
3 tablespoons brown sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups canned solid pack pumpkin
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
4 eggs

Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch springform pan.

Using a fork, combine gingersnaps, hazelnuts, 3 tablespoons brown sugar and melted butter. Press mixture onto the bottom and two inches up the sides of the pan to form the crust.

With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the pumpkin. Mix in the cream, maple syrup, cinnamon, allspice and vanilla. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing until smooth.

Pour batter into prepared crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 90 minutes, or until center of cheesecake is set. Allow to cool in pan for 30 minutes, then refrigerate overnight.

"That's Good Cooking!"