Ultimate Turtle Cheesecake

Cheesecakes are one of my favorite desserts! But because they are so rich and heavy, I can only handle them every now and then! This happens to be one of my favorite recipes with the Oreo crust, and the blend of caramel and chocolate! So delicious! But be warned... this is NOT a cheesecake you should keep in your house unless your looking to put on a few pounds...

Ingredients

24 OREO Cookies, finely crushed (about 2 cups)

6 Tbsp .butter or margarine, melted

1 pkg.(14 oz.) KRAFT Caramels

1/2 cupmilk

1 cupchopped PLANTERS Pecans

3 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 Tbsp.vanilla

3 eggs

2 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate

Heat oven to 325°F. Mix crumbs and butter; press onto bottom and 2 inches up side of 9-inch spring form pan.

Microwave caramels and milk in small microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until caramels are completely melted, stirring after each minute. Pour half of nuts into crust. Refrigerate 10 min. Refrigerate remaining caramel mixture for later use.

Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with mixer until well blended. Mix on low speed just until blended. Pour over caramel layer in crust.

Bake 1 hour 5 min. to 1 hour 10 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate 4 hours. 

Microwave reserved caramel mixture 1 min.; stir. Pour over cheesecake. Melt chocolate as directed on package; drizzle over cheesecake