By Kelly Bogard

I don’t know about you, but I’m a huge fan of cheesecake. I can’t remember ever having one that I didn’t like. And I can’t think of a better time to make one either.

Because it’s National Dairy Month! From ice cream to grilled cheese, dairy lovers can rejoice that there’s a whole month to celebrate it’s creamy goodness. This week’s recipe is rich and creamy with a secret edge. It’s a little bit spicy, too. And when the sweet and savory combine, it makes for an exciting dessert.

For Jalapeño Popper Cheesecake, you will need…JalapenoPopperCheesecake
1-14.4 oz. box graham crackers
6 eggs
6 strips of bacon
2 jalapenos, seeded and diced
3 lb. cream cheese, softened
1/2 lb. butter, melted
2 c. sugar, divided
1 c. pecan
2 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. vanilla extract

This is a Texas twist on a classic recipe. Because in Texas, we like things with a little bit of heat.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then fry the bacon until crisp. Once it’s done cooking, remove it from the pan to cool. Then add the diced jalapenos to the bacon grease and cook until tender. When they are cooked, move them to a lined plate to cool and remove excess grease.
JalapenoPopperCheesecake

Turn your attention to the crust. Combine the graham crackers, pecans, one cup of sugar and four strips of bacon in a food processor. Pulse the mixture until everything is broken down. Then stir in the melted butter.
JalapenoPopperCheesecake

Line the outside of a spring form pan with foil. Move the crust mixture to the pan and press to the sides and bottom.
JalapenoPopperCheesecake

In a large mixer, combine the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Then stir in the lemon juice, vanilla and eggs.
JalapenoPopperCheesecake

Finally, stir in the cooked jalapenos before pouring the mixture into the crust.
JalapenoPopperCheesecake

Place the lined and filled pan into a larger baking dish and add water to the larger dish so it comes up about half way on the pan. This is a water bath and will help your cheesecake cook through. Bake in the bath for one hour.
JalapenoPopperCheesecake

Once cooked, let the cake cool completely. Then cover and refrigerate overnight or for at least six hours. Before serving, top with the remaining bacon crumbles and maybe even some fresh strawberries or strawberry sauce.
JalapenoPopperCheesecake

Dairy is an important part of Texas agriculture and a well balanced diet. Let’s celebrate with a special cheesecake full of it. From all of us at Texas Table Top, enjoy!

Print Recipe
Jalapeño Popper Cheesecake
JalapenoPopperCheesecake
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
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Rate this recipe!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Passive Time 6 hours
Servings
servings
Ingredients
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Passive Time 6 hours
Servings
servings
Ingredients
JalapenoPopperCheesecake
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Fry bacon until crisp and remove from the pan to cool.
  3. Cook diced jalapenos in bacon grease until tender.
  4. Move them to a lined plate to cool and remove excess grease.
  5. Combine graham crackers, pecans, one cup of sugar and four strips of bacon in a food processor.
  6. Pulse the mixture until everything is broken down.
  7. Stir in the melted butter.
  8. Line the outside of a spring form pan with foil.
  9. Press the crust mixture to the pan sides and bottom.
  10. Combine the cream cheese and remaining sugar until smooth in a large mixer.
  11. Stir in the lemon juice, vanilla and eggs.
  12. Stir in the cooked jalapenos.
  13. Pour the mixture into the crust.
  14. Place the lined and filled pan into a larger baking dish.
  15. Add water to the larger dish so it comes up about half way on the pan creating a water bath.
  16. Bake in the bath for one hour.
  17. Once cooked let the cake cool completely.
  18. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for at least six hours.
  19. Before serving, top with the remaining bacon crumbles.
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