Gluten Free Raspberry Cheesecake Food

GLUTEN-FREE RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Grease and line a 22/23cm loose-bottomed tin with baking parchment. Then in a small pan gently melt the butter.
• While the butter is melting, put the digestives biscuits into a plastic food bag and crush to crumbs using a rolling pin. Transfer the crumbs into a bowl. (Tip: I used a standard sandwich bag. Just fit a handful of biscuits into the bag so there is room to seal and bash.)
• Pour the melted butter over the biscuit crumbs and mix thoroughly until all the crumbs are well coated in the butter. Then pour into your lined tin and press firmly down into the base to create an even layer. Place tin in fridge to chill.
• While your biscuit base is chilling, remove the seeds from the vanilla pod and place into a large mixing bowl. (To remove seeds, slice the vanilla pod length ways in half and gently scrap the tip of a knife down the inside. This will pick up tiny little black seeds. Do this several times until the vanilla pod looks bare).
• Add to the mixing bowl containing the vanilla seeds the cream cheese and icing sugar. Using an electric mixing or spoon mix together until smooth.
• Then add the double cream and juice from half a lemon. Mix until combined and smooth.
• The raspberries: (keep a handful bag to one side) Place your raspberries in a separate bowl and with the back of a fork mash roughly. Then combine your raspberries into your cheese mix and fold in until the mixture has a hint of pink.
• Remove your prepared tin from the fridge and spoon your cream cheese mixture on top of the biscuit base, working from the edges in wards and making sure there are no air bubbles.
• Smooth the top of the cheesecake down with the back of a spoon or spatula. Leave to set overnight in the fridge.
• For the decoration: Place some baking parchment on to a plate and then melt some dark chocolate. Once the chocolate is melted, half coat the raspberries you have left and gently place on the parchment paper. Place the plate in the fridge over night.
• Next day, before serving: Remove your cheesecake from the fridge and carefully remove from tin, placing onto a nice plate. Using the half coated chocolate raspberries, place around the edge and/or in centre to your liking.

RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE TRIFLE (GLUTEN FREE)

Steps:

• In a chilled bowl, whip the whipping cream until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1 cup of white sugar and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and remaining white sugar.
• Beat in roughly 4 tbsp of the juice from the thawed raspberries. You may adjust this according to your desired consistency and colour.
• Fold in 2 cups of the whipped cream from step #1. Set aside.
• Slice the white cake into thin strips.
• Assemble in a large clear bowl or trifle dish in the following manner: 1/2 the cake pieces, 1/2 the raspberries, 1/2 the raspberry cream cheese mixture, 1/2 the whipped cream. Repeat layers.
• Cover with plastic wrap and chill overnight.

NO-BAKE RASPBERRY CHEESCAKE (CAN BE GLUTEN-FREE)

Steps:

• Spray and line a 20 cm springform round pan.
• Process biscuits in a food processor until finely crushed. Add 3/4 of the melted butter and mix to combine, If the biscuit mixture is not moist enough -- continue to add in more butter. Or you may add a small amount of water.
• Press the biscuit crumb in to the base of the prepared pan. Place in the fridge.
• Place the boiling water in a bowl and then sprinkle over the gelatine. Stir to dissolve the gelatine and set aside to cool. Do not allow to set.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the softened cream cheese with the caster sugar in a bowl until smooth. Add the cream and beat until well combined.
• Add the gelatine mixture and the lemon juice. Beat.
• Fold in the 200 grams of berries.
• Pour the mixture in the prepared pan and smooth over the surface. Return to the fridge.
• Process the remaining berries in a food processor until smooth. Pass through a fine sieve into a small saucepan. Stir in the lemon juice and caster sugar.
• Combine the cornflour/cornstarch and cold water in a cup or small bowl. Add to the pan and stir over a medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until the mixture boils and thickens. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
• Spread the berry topping over the cooled cheesecake. Spread evenly.Return the cheesecake to the fridge to set.
• Cheesecakes generally require at least 4 hours to set fully or leave overnight.