Chai Spiced Cheesecake With Ginger Crust Food

CHAI-SPICED CHEESECAKE WITH GINGER CRUST

Steps:

• FOR CRUST: Spray 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 3" high sides with nonstick spray.
• Sift flour, ginger, and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in another medium bowl until blended.
• Beat in egg yolk, then flour mixture.
• Stir in crystallized ginger.
• Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk.
• Roll out on floured surface to 9-inch round. Transfer to prepared pan.
• Press onto bottom and 1 inch up sides of pan; pierce all over with fork. Freeze 30 minutes.
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F Line crust with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights.
• Bake until set, about 30 minutes. Remove foil and beans.
• Bake crust until golden brown and cooked through, about 20 minutes. Cool crust completely on rack.
• FOR FILLING: Preheat oven to 350°F Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl until smooth, about 3 minutes.
• Add mascarpone; beat until smooth.
• Beat in whole eggs, 1 at a time, then beat in yolks.
• Add next 6 ingredients; beat until blended. Transfer filling to cooled crust in pan; smooth top.
• Bake cake 1 hour.
• Reduce oven temperature to 200°F Continue baking until cake is set around edges, but center moves slightly when pan is gently shaken (top of cake may crack, about 30 minutes longer.
• Remove cake from oven. Increase oven temperature to 350°F
• FOR TOPPING: Whisk all ingredients in small bowl; spread evenly over top of cake.
• Bake until set, about 10 minutes.
• Run small knife around cake sides. Chill uncovered overnight.
• Remove pan sides. Transfer cake to platter. Cut into wedges and serve.

CHAI SPICED CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For crust:.
• Spray 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 3-inch-high sides with nonstick spray. Sift flour, ginger, and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in another medium bowl until blended. Beat in egg yolk, then flour mixture. Stir in crystallized ginger. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Roll out on floured surface to 9-inch round. Transfer to prepared pan. Press onto bottom and 1 inch up sides of pan; pierce all over with fork. Freeze 30 minutes.
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F Line crust with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake until set, about 30 minutes. Remove foil and beans. Bake crust until golden brown and cooked through, about 20 minutes. Cool crust completely on rack.
• For filling:.
• Preheat oven to 350°F Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add mascarpone; beat until smooth. Beat in whole eggs, 1 at a time, then beat in yolks. Add next 6 ingredients; beat until blended. Transfer filling to cooled crust in pan; smooth top. Bake cake 1 hour. Reduce oven temperature to 200°F Continue baking until cake is set around edges but center moves slightly when pan is gently shaken (top of cake may crack), about 30 minutes longer. Remove cake from oven. Increase oven temperature to 350°F
• For topping:.
• Whisk all ingredients in small bowl; spread evenly over top of cake. Bake until set, about 10 minutes. Run small knife around cake sides. Chill uncovered overnight. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead. Chill until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Remove pan sides. Transfer cake to platter. Cut into wedges and serve.

CHAI SPICE "CHEESECAKE"

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Stir together graham crackers and brown sugar in a small bowl, then drizzle with oil and stir. Add just enough milk to make crumbs stick together. Press very firmly into bottom of pan. Bake 10 minutes. Keep oven at 350 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, blend cheesecake-batter ingredients in a blender until completely smooth and no bits of cashew remain, giving blender a rest every minute or so and scraping down sides with a rubber spatula. Batter should be completely smooth and not grainy: This takes about 1 minute with a high-powered blender (such as Vitamix) or about 5 minutes with a standard blender.
• Spray inside springform pan (above baked crust) with cooking spray. Pour in batter and jiggle to spread evenly over crust. Bake until top is lightly puffed and edges are golden, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Cool to room temperature on a rack, about 1 hour. Chill, covered, at least 3 hours or, even better, overnight.
• Slice cake with a thin, sharp knife dipped in water. Dollop each slice with whipped topping, dust with cinnamon, and sprinkle with candied ginger.

CHAI (SPICED INDIAN TEA)

Steps:

• Place water, half and half, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and cloves in tea pot or saucepot and let reach a low boil. Stir well and let boil 2 more minutes.
• While still boiling, add the tea bags and let it reach desired tea strength (and color).
• Add sugar as desired, and serve hot.