Chocolate Ricotta Cheesecake Healthy Baked Food

CHOCOLATE RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In a large ziplock bag, crush the tea biscuits with a rolling pin to get 1 cup of cookie crumbs. You can also use vanilla wafers or graham crackers. You can also pulse the cookies in a food processor.
• Add the sugar, melted butter, cocoa powder and salt to the ziplock bag, close and massage the bag with your hands to mix the ingredients together. (You can also add all these ingredients to the food processor and pulse a few times to combine.)
• Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9 inch round springform baking pan. Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 8 minutes, then cool slightly. If you want to make your crust come up the sides of the cheesecake, make another 1/2 batch of the crumb mixture.
• Meanwhile, mix the softened cream cheese with the granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl. If your cream cheese is softened enough and you're willing to put your arm muscles to good use, you can use a large wooden spoon, but you can most certainly use a standing mixer or a hand mixer. Mix until smooth.
• Add the ricotta, sour cream, eggs and vanilla extract. At this point, I like to switch to a whisk.
• Add the cocoa powder and flour. Mix to combine. Pour the filling into the baking pan over top of the slightly cooled crust.
• Bake in the 325 degrees Fahrenheit preheated oven for about 40 minutes. Turn off the oven, crack the oven door open and let the cheesecake cool gradually until the oven is completely cool. Chill the cheesecake in the refrigerator overnight, or for about 6-8 hours. Take the cheesecake out of the springform pan and transfer to a serving plate or a cake pedestal.
• Make the chocolate glaze.
• Place the cocoa powder, sour cream and sugar in a small saucepan. Whisk everything together until smooth while still cold.
• Cook on medium-low heat until it comes to a boil, simmer for a few minutes, until the sugar dissolves and the glaze thins out to a syrupy consistency. Whisk in the butter.
• Pour the chocolate glaze over the top of the cheesecake. Quickly tilt the cheesecake while swirling it around to distribute it all over the top. Do this quickly, since the cheesecake is cold and the chocolate glaze will set up fast.
• I also spread the glaze on the sides of the cake. Decorate with raspberries. I also use chopped, toasted nuts, chocolate shavings, sprinkles, etc.
• Bring the cheesecake to room temperature before serving.

CHOCOLATE RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For Crust: Preheat oven to 350°
• Mix graham crackers crumbs & sugar. Stir in melted butter until combined.
• Press mixture evenly into lightly greased/springform pan. Bake for about 8 minutes. Cool on wire rack.*NOTE* I line the bottom of the springform pan with parchment paper, overhanging, before I clamp close the pan. I trim the excess on the outside before pressing crumbs in. Then I lightly spray the sides with non-stick cooking spray.
• For filling: Stir together ricotta cheese & sugar in a mixing bowl.
• Add in eggs, stir until combined.
• Stir in cocoa powder, cinnamon & vanilla until combined.
• Add in melted & slightly cooled chocolate, mix until mixture is of even color.
• Pour mixture into springform pan. Bake at 350° for 40 - 45 minutes. Top should be risen & look set.
• Cool cheesecake on wire rack for an 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Then move to fridge, uncovered. Once cheesecake is completely cooled you may serve or cover to serve later.
• Eat as is or serve with fresh berries, whipped cream, berry sauce, chocolate sauce - or top with a ganache.

CHOCOLATE RICOTTA CHEESECAKE (HEALTHY, BAKED)

Steps:

• Lightly grease a 23 cm (9 inches) spring-form pan and line with parchment paper. (I like to line the bottom of the pan and grease the ring and sprinkle with a little flour-see post for more detail). Set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 F/ 180 C/170 C fan/ gas mark 4.
• Melt the chocolate by placing it in a heat proof bowl over a pot of gently simmering water (the water must not touch the bowl). Stir as the chocolate is melting. Remove from the heat when the chocolate has melted almost completely (it will continue melting away from the heat). Set aside.
• In a large bowl gently whip the ricotta, cream cheese and half the sugar until smooth. Gradually add the flour, cocoa and egg yolks and beat until smooth. Gradually pour in the melted chocolate (once cooled) and continue beating until just combined.
• In a separate bowl beat the egg whites until soft peaks start forming. Gradually add the remaining sugar and continue beating until glossy, fluffy and thick.
• Add the egg whites mixture (in 4 goes) into the batter gently folding in using a spatula until just combined. Pour the cheesecake batter into the pan, smooth out the top and bake in the centre of the oven for 1 hour. After 35-40 minutes cover loosely with baking paper or foil to prevent the cheesecake browning too quickly and cracking.
• Turn off the oven, remove the foil covering the cake and leave the oven door slightly open (6-7 inches). After 15 minutes open the door a little more. After 30-40 minutes remove the cheesecake from the oven and set aside to cool completely.
• Run a spatula around the cake and remove the ring (see post for tips on how to safely remove the cheesecake from the pan). Decorate with chocolate shavings (I used a vegetable peeler to make the shavings). Serve with whipped cream or fruit compote. Keep refrigerated. Best served at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• heat oven to 350. prepare graham crust and set aside. in food processor place ricotta cheese sugar and eggs and process until smooth. Add remaining ingredients until smooth. Pour batter into crust. bake 1 hour and 15 minute remove. loosen cheesecake and cool. refrigerate several hours.

HONEY RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 9-inch loose-bottom cake pan or springform pan with a round of parchment paper and grease. Set aside.
• Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat; cook, whisking often, until butter foams and browns, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Add oats, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon salt, and cinnamon to a food processor and process until finely ground, about 30 seconds. Add browned butter to food processor and pulse until mixture resembles moist sand. Press oat mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and firm, about 12 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool while you prepare the filling. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Wipe out food processor. Add ricotta, cream cheese, orange zest and juice, remaining 3/4 cup sugar, remaining 1/4 cup honey, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt to food processor and process until smooth, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add eggs, one at a time, and pulse until just combined; do not overmix. Pour mixture over crust in prepared pan and smooth top with spatula. Wrap bottom and sides of pan in aluminum foil to insulate.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheesecake is golden and set but the center is still jiggly, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Allow to cool for 1 hour inside the turned off oven with the oven door cracked open. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack at room temperature, about 1 hour. Cover with plastic wrap and chill at least 12 hours and up to 48 hours.
• Run a knife around the perimeter of the cheesecake to loosen from pan. If using a loose-bottom pan, place the pan on a large can or cup and pull downward to drop the pan away from the cheesecake. If using a springform pan, remove the rim by pulling the latch.

CHOCOLATE RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325.
• Sprinkle crumbs on bottom of 9" springform pan.
• Process ricotta until smooth in food processor.
• Add yogurt cheese, egg whites, sugar, cocoa, flour and vanilla. Process just until well blended.
• Pour over crumbs.
• Bake 50 minutes or until edges are set.
• Turn off oven. Leave in oven with door ajar for 1 hour.
• Remove from oven.
• Cool.
• Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
• YOGURT CHEESE: line a non rusting colander or sieve with double thickness cheesecloth. Place yogurt in colander over a deep bowl. Refrigerate until liquid no longer drains from yogurt -- about 24 hours. Discard liquid.

RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Mix ingredients together, adding eggs, one at a time at low speed; then mix at medium speed for 20 minutes.
• Grease the bottom and sides of 9-inch spring-form pan.
• Pour in mixture and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour and 5 minutes.
• Turn off oven and allow pan to remain in the oven for 1 more hour.
• Remove and let cheesecake cool to room temperature before you refrigerate. Refrigerate overnight. May also be frozen for up to 4 months.