Salted Caramel Pretzel Cheesecake (Print Version)

Ingredients:

01 - 2 cups crushed pretzels.
02 - ½ cup unsalted butter, melted.
03 - ¼ cup granulated sugar.
04 - 4 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened.
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar.
06 - 1 tsp vanilla extract.
07 - 4 large eggs.
08 - 1 cup sour cream.
09 - ½ cup heavy cream.
10 - 1 cup granulated sugar (for caramel sauce).
11 - 6 tbsp unsalted butter (for caramel sauce).
12 - ½ cup heavy cream (for caramel sauce).
13 - 1 tsp sea salt (for caramel sauce).

Instructions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9-inch springform pan.
02 - In a bowl, mix crushed pretzels, melted butter, and sugar until well combined.
03 - Press the pretzel mixture into the pan and bake for 8-10 minutes, then let cool.
04 - Beat softened cream cheese until creamy.
05 - Slowly add sugar and vanilla, stirring until smooth.
06 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing on low speed, then fold in sour cream and heavy cream.
07 - Pour the filling over the cooled crust and smooth the surface with a spatula.
08 - Bake for 50-60 minutes until edges are set but the center jiggles slightly.
09 - Turn off the oven, crack open the door, and let the cheesecake cool in the oven for an hour.
10 - For the caramel, melt sugar over medium heat until amber, then remove from heat.
11 - Stir in butter slowly, followed by heavy cream, and mix until smooth.
12 - Add sea salt to the caramel and let cool.
13 - Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours or overnight.
14 - Before serving, drizzle salted caramel on top and add more sea salt if desired.

Notes:

01 - A luscious cheesecake with a crunchy pretzel crust and smooth salted caramel topping.