Awesome Turtle Cheesecake

Have you ever been to The Cheesecake Factory? I would have to say that it's my favorite restaurant. Everything on the menu is delicious (at least what I've tried) and I can never leave without getting a slice of yummy cheesecake to go.

This cheesecake recipe is so delicious and it's as pretty as the ones you get at the restaurant. Can you tell that I not only like my food to be good, but I also like it "pretty"? If you love cheesecake, you must try this recipe. It's really easy, just a little time consuming.

Turtle Cheesecake
Crust:
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 12 full crackers)
1/3 cup melted butter or margarine

Filling:
3 (8 oz) pkgs cream cheese, softened (I used light cream cheese)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla
3 Tbsp lime juice (I used the juice from 2 limes)
3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips, melted

Topping:
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
Caramel sauce
Whipped cream

For crust: Combine crumbs and butter. Press into a greased 9" spring form pan, pressing up the sides.

For the filling: Beat cream cheese and milk till smooth. Lightly beat in sugar, eggs, vanilla, and lime juice till blended. Melt 3/4 cup of chocolate chips and cool slightly. Stir in about 1 cup of the cheesecake batter till well combined. Pour the plain batter into the crust. Drop spoonfuls of the chocolate batter randomly over the plain batter. Swirl with the handle of a wooden spoon. Bake in a 350° oven for 65-75 minutes. Cool completely, then chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Before serving, sprinkle chocolate chips and pecans over the top and drizzle with caramel sauce. Decorate with whipped cream if desired. Serve additional caramel sauce drizzled on individual slices.

****When I baked mine, I checked it at 68 minutes and it was already a little too done. My oven bakes hot, so just watch yours. You want it a light, golden color and when you touch it it springs back. It's not done if it wiggles in the middle.