Banana Cheesecake

• Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Line the bottom of a 9" cake pan or springform pan with a parchment paper round. If you're using a spring form pan wrap the outside of the pan with a piece of aluminum foil to cover the bottom and sides.

To make the Crust

• Combine 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs, 2 oz granulated sugar and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Pour 3 oz butter (melted) over the crumbs and toss to combine. Dump the crumbs into the cake pan and press to an even layer. Bake the crust for 10 minutes until fragrant and lightly browned. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 °F.

Make the cheesecake batter

• Combine the softened 16 oz cream cheese and 6 oz granulated sugar in a mixing bowl. Mix on medium speed to combine the ingredients, scraping the bowl and beaters often to avoid lumps.
• Once the mix is smooth, add 8 oz sour cream, 8 oz very ripe bananas, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and the seeds from ½ vanilla bean. Scrape the bowl. Add the eggs in three stages, scraping well after each addition. Mix just until the eggs are combined, do not over mix.
• Pour the batter into the cake pan. Set the pan into a sheet pan or roasting pan. Set the pan into the middle rack of the oven and pour water to come at least ½ way up the side of the cake pan.
• Bake until the cake softly jiggles as a mass when the pan is shaken, about 45-50 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes. Run a thin sharp knife that has been moistened with warm water around the sides of the cake to release it from the pan (this will prevent the cake from cracking while it cools). Refrigerate several hours or overnight.

Assembly

• Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Line a half sheet pan with parchment paper. To make the topping, combine 4 oz brown sugar, 2 tablespoons dark rum, seeds from ½ vanilla bean and 2 oz butter in a small saucepan. Heat to melt the ingredients together. Toss the sauce with 4 medium bananas (sliced).
• Roast the bananas on the prepared sheet pan until the bananas have softened slightly and the sauce is caramelized and bubbly (about 10 minutes).
• Remove the cold cheesecake from the refrigerator. If you used a spring form pan run a knife around the edges of the cake and release the pan.
• If you used a regular cake pan, set the cold cake into a bowl of very hot water for 20-30 seconds to release the sides. Run a warm knife around the sides of the cake. Place a plate or cardboard cake circle on top of the cake pan. Immediately flip the cake over and remove the pan and the parchment circle. Flip the cake over onto a serving plate
• Arrange the roasted bananas onto the cake in concentric circles.