Banana Cream Dream Cheesecake

Ingredients:

• 1 package of vanilla wafer cookies, crushed into fine crumbs (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 2 containers (8oz each) of Norman's Kosher Cholov Yisroel Cream Cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 10 chocolate sandwich cookies, chopped into small pieces
• 1 cup store-bought salted caramel sauce

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a medium bowl, mix the vanilla wafer crumbs and melted butter until well combined. Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
3. In another medium bowl, mix the mashed bananas, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing each one until just combined. Fold in the chopped chocolate sandwich cookies.
4. Pour the mixture onto the crust, smoothing the top with a spatula.
5. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly. Turn off the oven and leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door slightly open for 10 minutes.
6. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and let it cool completely. Then, cover it and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
7. To serve, remove the springform pan ring and drizzle the salted caramel sauce on top of the cheesecake.