Ultimate Turtle Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 24 OREO Cookies, finely crushed (about 2-1/2 cups)
• 3 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted
• 1 pkg. (11 oz.) KRAFT Caramels
• 6 Tbsp. milk
• 1 cup chopped Pecans
• 3 pkg. (8 oz. each) Cream Cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla
• 3 eggs
• 2 oz. BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 325°F.
2. Combine cookie crumbs and butter; press onto bottom and 1-1/2 inches up side of 9-inch springform pan.
3. Microwave caramels and milk in small microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 to 3 min. or until caramels are completely melted, stirring every 30 sec. Stir in nuts. Pour half the caramel mixture into crust. Refrigerate 10 min. Refrigerate remaining caramel mixture for later use.
4. Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over caramel layer in crust.
5. 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.
6. Microwave reserved caramel mixture 1 min.; stir. Pour over cheesecake. Melt chocolate as directed on package; drizzle over cheesecake.