Fried Cheesecake Bites Aka The Ultimate Comfort Food

DEEP-FRIED CHEESECAKE BITES

Steps:

• For the cheesecake mixture: Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Beat the cream cheese until smooth in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the sugar, vanilla and graham cracker crumbs and beat until well combined. Scoop 1-tablespoon balls of the cheesecake mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Freeze for about 30 minutes.
• For the strawberry sauce: Meanwhile, combine the strawberries, sugar and lemon juice in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring often, until the sugar is dissolved and the berries begin to break down and to give off their juices, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the seeds. Set aside.
• For the batter: Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a deep, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat until the oil registers 350 degrees F on a deep-frying thermometer. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the milk and whisk until smooth.
• When the oil is ready, remove the cheesecake balls from the freezer. Working in batches, add the cheesecake balls to the batter a few at a time, turning to coat. Remove from the batter, allowing excess to drip off, and then carefully add to the oil. Fry, turning occasionally, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per batch (allow the oil to return to temperature between batches). Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on the paper towels.
• Serve warm, with strawberry sauce.

DEEP-FRIED CHEESE BITES

Steps:

• Place 1/4 cup flour in a large resealable plastic bag. Add cheese curds, a few pieces at a time, and shake to coat. , In an electric skillet or deep fryer, heat oil to 375°. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk beer and remaining flour. Dip cheese curds, a few at a time, into batter and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

FRIED CHEESECAKE BITES (AKA THE ULTIMATE COMFORT FOOD)

Steps:

• *Note - If you cannot find Cats Cookies from Trader Joes, simply use animal crackers and mix 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon with the crumbs.
• Empty the cheesecake filling into a large mixing bowl. Stir in the lemon zest, Grand Marnier, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 teaspoons of sugar. Mix until all ingredients are well blended.
• Prepare a cookie sheet lined with foil or parchment paper. With two spoons or with your hands make little balls using the cheesecake mixture. The size should be about the size of a cherry tomato (not grape tomato!).
• Place the balls in rows on the cookie sheet -- as many as you can fit. Don't worry about crowding them, just don't let them stick together. Put the sheet in the freezer for 2 - 3 hours.
• In the meantime, prepare your cookie crumbs. Place cookies (and cinnamon if using) in a large plastic zip top bag. Use a rolling pin or glass to crush cookies and make crumbs. Place crumbs in bowl and set aside.
• Close to the time you will remove the sheet from the freezer, prepare the batter using the flour, baking powder, egg, milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 teaspoons sugar. Whisk until mixture is well blended and mostly lump free.
• Heat a large deep pot with oil -- enough to go up the sides by about 3 - 4 inches. The oil should be heated to about 360 degrees. Use an attachable thermometer to ensure that this temperature is reached. If the oil is not hot enough, the balls will fall apart and melt everywhere. If too hot, they will brown very quickly and may burn.
• Make an assembly line of the cookie sheet, followed by the bowl of cookie crumbs, and then the batter.
• Pick up a cheesecake ball and gently roll it in the cookie crumbs, to cover most of the cheesecake, but not all. Then dip the cheesecake ball in the batter (you can use 2 spoons or your hands) and shake off excess gently.
• Drop ball in hot oil and wait for a very light brown color to appear. Roll the ball around to ensure even browning on all sides.
• Remove from oil with a slotted spoon and place cooked cheesecake balls on a plate lined with paper towels.
• Repeat until all are cooked. Then sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar and remove paper towels if you'd like a prettier presentation.
• Serve with a side of blueberry syrup. (RECIPE: One pint blueberries in a saucepan with 1/3 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cook over medium heat for a few minutes until dark and shiny, constantly keeping berries moving by gently stirring or shaking the pan. Strain out the fruit and pour remaining syrup in a container).

TEMPURA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Cut cheesecake slices into smaller portions (about 4-6 portions per slice). If the cheesecake is too soft, place it in the freezer for a while to harden it up and then try cutting it.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or in a small, deep pot to about 340 degrees Farenheit.
• Making the tempura mix: in a container, combine the wheat flour, rice flour, corn starch, baking powder, and salt. Mix with a fork. Then add the egg and cold soda water. Mix with the fork to produce a lumpy batter.
• If you are using a pot for the frying, test the oil temperature by dropping a tiny bit of tempura batter into the oil. It should descend slightly beneath the surface then rise up. If it goes too far down to the bottom, then rises, it is not hot enough.
• Once the oil is at the proper temperature, dip cheesecake pieces into the batter. Then dip into the panko breadcrumbs if you are using them, then carefully place them in the oil. Fry for about 5-7 minutes. Make sure that between frying batches you store the batter in the freezer to keep it cold. The colder the batter, the crispier the cheesecake bites will be.
• Arrange fried cheesecake bites in bowls with an optional scoop of ice cream per bowl. Enjoy!

FROZEN CHEESECAKE BITES

Steps:

• Line the bottom of a 9-in. springform pan with parchment; coat paper and sides of pan with cooking spray. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, vanilla and salt until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into prepared pan. , Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 325° for 40-45 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Cover and freeze overnight. , Remove from the freezer and let stand for 30 minutes or until easy to handle. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate with cream; stir until blended. Remove from the heat. Transfer to a large bowl; cover and refrigerate until mixture reaches spreading consistency, stirring occasionally. , In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and remaining sugar. Using a melon baller, scoop out 1-in. balls of cheesecake; place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Top each with a heaping teaspoonful of chocolate mixture. Sprinkle crumb mixture over half of the balls and toffee bits over the remaining balls. Cover and freeze for 2 hours or until firm.

FRIED CINNAMON CRUNCH CHEESECAKE BITES RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and vanilla with an electric hand mixer until smooth, then add the sugar and beat to incorporate.
• Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, then add the heavy cream. Beat on high speed for about 2 minutes, or until the batter is thick and smooth.
• Freeze for 45 minutes.
• Use a small ice cream scoop to scoop out balls of batter and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Freeze for 2 hours.
• Add the cinnamon crunch cereal to a food processor and blend until super-fine crumbs form.
• Place the cinnamon crunch crumbs, flour, and eggs in 3 separate shallow bowls.
• Take a cheesecake ball and toss it in the flour. Tap off any excess flour, dip in the eggs, and then toss it in the cinnamon crunch crumbs. Dip it back in the egg again, then again in the cinnamon crunch crumbs.
• Repeat with the remaining cheesecake balls, placing them back on the baking sheet. Return to the freezer while the oil heats up, about 15 minutes.
• Heat the oil in a large pot until it reaches 350°F (180°C).
• Fry the cheesecake balls, 4 at a time, until golden brown, about 1 minute.
• Drain the cheesecake balls on a wire rack or paper towels.
• Sprinkle powdered sugar over the cheesecake bites and serve warm.
• Enjoy!