Butterscotch Blondie Cheesecake

Step 1

Pre-heat the oven to 325°. Place sugar in 9"x13" glass pan. Place in oven.

Step 2

Bake for 2 hours, until it darkens to sandy tan color with a coarse texture, stirring every 30 minutes. Be very careful! Despite looking like cool sugar, it reaches a high temperature.

Step 3

Removed from oven. Allow to cool completely. Store in airtight container at room temperature (just like regular sugar).

Step 4

Preheat oven to 350°. Next, we're going to make the pan waterproof since the cheesecake will bake in a water bath.

Step 5

Lightly grease the inside cheesecake pan. Take a piece of parchment paper. Cut a circle with 2" excess (larger than the bottom of the pan) on each side. Press parchment paper into the bottom and up the sides of the pan.

Step 6

Lay out a large piece of extra-wide foil. Place pan in the middle. Fold the foil up all sides. Crimp the excess at the top.

Step 7

Mix the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Step 8

Whip the softened butter and brown sugar until well-mixed and slightly light and fluffy.

Step 9

Add egg and vanilla. Mix well.

Step 10

Slowly add flour while blending on low speed after each addition.

Step 11

Press mixture into the bottom of the cheesecake pan. (It will be sticky). Don't worry if it's not 100% even...it will settle slightly as it bakes.

Step 12

Bake in oven for 10 minutes. (It won't be completely done cooking, we're just prepping it).

Step 13

Remove from oven and let cool. Turn oven down to 300°.

Step 14

Place a large roasting pan in oven. Set a large pot of water on the stove and bring it to a boil while making cheesecake.

Step 15

Cut cream cheese into chunks and place in stand mixer. Beat on medium to medium-high speed for approximately 4 minutes, until absolutely no lumps and well whipped. Scrape down.

Step 16

Add sugar and salt. Beat another 2 minutes. Scrape down.

Step 17

From this point forward, treat the mixture gently and only mix on lower speeds. Add eggs one at a time, blending on slow speed after each addition. Scrape down.

Step 18

Blend in sour cream, heavy cream, and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Scrape down.

Step 19

Mix on low speed an additional 2 minutes.

Step 20

Pour cheesecake into pan over prepared crust.

Step 21

Place cheesecake in large pre-heated roasting pan. Carefully pour boiling water around the cheesecake pan into the roasting pan. (Water bath for the cheesecake). Add until water reached approximately half-ways up the pan.

Step 22

Cook for 1 & 1/2 hours. Turn the oven off and prop open the door about half-ways. Allow to sit in slowly cooling oven another hour.

Step 23

Remove from oven and place on counter. Remove tin foil. Allow to cool completely. Place in fridge and chill overnight.

Step 24

In a medium saucepan, bring the butter, sugar, cream, and dark corn syrup to a boil over medium heat.

Step 25

Lower heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring about once a minute. Do NOT stir constantly.

Step 26

When it's done, there should be no graininess left. Test by pressing a spoon with a small bit of sauce and scrape against a plate.

Step 27

Remove from heat. Stir in bourbon. (It will bubble! This is normal). Keep stirring and let alcohol burn off.

Step 28

Stir in vanilla and salt. Allow to cool.

Step 29

Remove cheesecake from fridge. Carefully snap open cheesecake pan. Remove sides.

Step 30

Place plate on top of cheesecake. Flip over. Remove bottom of pan and parchment paper. Place plate on bottom of cheesecake. Flip again. Remove top plate.

Step 31

Serve with a generous amount of butterscotch sauce poured over the top.