The other last-course offering from Claudia Teague is the Old #3, a sweet potato cheese cake with pecan topping. It’s named after a ginger ale, and it’s not your mama’s sweet potato cake.
Old #3 Sweet Potato Cheese Cake With Pecan Topping
Old #3 Hot-Red Cap ginger ale is made by Blenheim Ginger Ale Company of S.C. It is an old fashion ginger ale with a tradition that dates back to the 1800s.
Ginger Snap Crust
20 Ginger Snap Cookies
2 TBSP Butter (melted)
½ cup Pecan Pieces
Butter 8 spring form pan. Mix ginger snaps, butter and pecans. Press the crust mixture on the bottom and halfway up the side of the pan. Bake at 325F for 10 minutes and cool while mixing the cheesecake.
Sweet Potatoes
2 large Sweet Potatoes
¼ cup Sugar
1 TBSP Butter Nut Flavoring
½ Bottle Old #3 Blenheim Ginger Ale
Peel, cube and place potatoes in medium pot; add other ingredients. Stir and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until liquid has totally reduced. Cool and puree potatoes while warm. Set aside and cool. Two large potatoes typically yield 2 cups of puree.
Cheese Cake
4 8oz.Neufchâtel Cheese
4 large Eggs
1 TBSP Vanilla Extract
½ tsp Ground Ginger
2 cups Sweet Potato Puree*
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
½ tsp Ground Nutmeg
Preheat oven to 350F. Cream sugar and cheese until it is smooth. Beat eggs in a separate bowl, add gradually. Continue by adding sweet potato puree, extract and spices. Be careful not to over mix. Pour batter into prepared pan. Set pan on baking sheet and place in oven. Pour water into the baking sheet to create a water bath. Bake at 300F for 90 minutes. Turn off oven and allow cake to cool. Run a thin knife around the edge of the pan. This extra effort keeps it from cracking and creates a smooth texture.
Pecan Topping
4 TBSP Butter
¼ cup Corn Syrup
½ tsp Cinnamon
½ cup Brown Sugar
1 pinch Salt
1 ½ cups Toasted Pecans
Melt butter in a heavy saucepan. Over medium-low heat, add sugar and syrup. Heat until sugar dissolves; stir 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and add toasted pecans, cinnamon and salt.
On a cool cheese cake, spread the pecan topping with a spatula. Allow 20 minutes for topping to cool before serving.
