Creepy Critters Cheesecake

Creepy Critter Cheesecake
CRUST
1-1/2 cups chocolate wafer, crushed
4 Tbsp. sugar
5 Tbsp. butter, melted
FILLING
2 packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp. grated orange zest
1/2 cup sour cream
Yellow food coloring
RATS
8 large strawberries, stems removed
sliced almonds
1 container (7 oz.) dipping chocolate
1/2 cup black sanding sugar, or crushed chocolate wafers
Candy for eyes
Slivered almonds
Black licorice laces
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Preheat oven to 350°. Grease 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom. (I used a 9-inch spring form pan.) In medium bowl, combine cookie crumbs, sugar and melted butter; stir well. Press crumbs evenly onto bottom and sides of prepared pan. Bake 7-10 minutes, or until fragrant and lightly toasted. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Reduce oven temperature to 325°.

In another medium bowl with mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar about 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and making sure to scrape sides of the bowl. Add orange zest and sour cream; beat until just blended.

Add 4 drops yellow food coloring and stir well to blend. Remove 1/2 cup cheesecake batter and place into small bowl. Add 5 drops of yellow food coloring to the 1/2 cup batter and stir well. Spoon into zip-top bag.

Pour light yellow batter onto baked crust and smooth top. Snip very small corner from bag with darker yellow batter. Pipe random spots of batter on top of the tart in a variety of sizes to make the "cheese holes". Bake 30-35 minutes, or until lightly puffed and center is just set. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Refrigerate cheese cake at least 2 hours before serving.

Meanwhile, line baking sheet with wax paper. Trim small piece from 1 side of each strawberry so they can rest horizontally on wax paper. Insert 2 sliced almonds (about 1 inch from pointed end of strawberry and about 1 inch apart) to make rat ears.

Follow heating directions for dipping chocolate. Insert fork into large end of strawberry. Holding strawberry on fork over container of dipping chocolate, spoon chocolate over  strawberry to coat. Allow excess chocolate to drip off, tapping fork lightly. Sprinkle with black sugar or cookie crumbs and transfer strawberry to prepared baking sheet. Add candies for the eyes, slivered almonds for the teeth, and brown candies for the nose. Refrigerate rats until ready to serves.

To serves, with toothpick, make hole in backside of strawberry and insert 1 end of 4-inch piece of black licorice for the tail. Place rats on top of and around cheesecake and serve.

*The recipe called for chocolate covered sunflower seeds. I couldn't find any, so I used red hots instead, but any candy that can look like an eye should be fine.