Shelly's Recipe

KAHLUA CHEESECAKE

Category: Cheesecake

1 1/2 cups chocolate wafer crumbs (or crushed Oreos)
1/2 cup butter, melted (if using Oreos, reduce butter to 5 tbsp)
6 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese
2 1/4 cups sugar
5 eggs
3 egg yolks
1/2 cup Kahlua

Preheat oven to 350. In a small bowl, combine the cookie crumbs and melted butter. Press into the bottom of a 10-inch springform pan. Bake for 10 minutes, and then cool.

Heat a large pot of water on the stove, and keep warm. Select a baking pan that will snugly hold the springform pan; a 12-inch square or round pan works well. Wrap the bottom and sides of the springform pan in a large piece of heavy aluminum foil. Reduce the oven temperature to 250.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar and beat well. Beat in the eggs and egg yolks one or two at a time, scraping down the sides after each addition. Add the Kahlua and beat until well incorporated. Pour over the crust in the springform pan. Place the springform pan inside the larger pan, place in the oven on the middle rack, and then carefully pour the warm water into the larger pan, 1 inch up the side of the springform pan.

Bake the cheesecake in the water bath for about 3 hours, until the top is golden and the cheesecake is set. Remove the cheesecake from the water bath and cool in the springform pan on a wire rack for 1 hour; then chill for several hours or overnight. Remove the side of the pan before serving.