Lavender Brownie Cheesecake Food

LAVENDER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F
• Coat the sides of a 9-inch springform pan with a couple tablespoons of butter or use non-stick spray.
• Combine the graham cracker crumbs and sugar in a large bowl and add the melted butter and toss with a fork until evenly moistened. The mixture should look like damp sand and clump together when squeezed.
• Tip the crumbs into the prepared pan and press them evenly up the sides, then spread the remaining crumbs over the bottom. Press down firmly with the flat bottom of a measuring cup or the flat bottom of a glass.
• Transfer the pan to the hot oven and bake the crust for 10 minutes. Remove and set on a cooling rack while preparing the custard.
• Once the pan has cooled, set the pan inside a slow-cooker liner or turkey roasting bag, roll the top of the bag down to the edge of the pan so that the top of the cheesecake is not covered. Tie the bag snuggly around the top with a twisty wire. The oven-proof bag will prevent water from seeping into the springform pan. Set the prepared water-proof pan inside a larger, deep-sided pan such as a roasting pan.
• Chop or grind the dried lavender buds and reserve. (See Notes)
• Add the cream cheese and sugar to a mixing bowl, a stand mixer if possible, and beat on medium-low speed for 1 minute until smooth. Add the cornstarch, salt, sour cream and vanilla. Beat on medium-low speed for another minute until creamy. Stop the motor and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula.
• With the mixer speed still on medium-low, beat for another minute while adding the eggs and yolks, one at a time, mixing well between each addition. Do not over mix.
• Fold in the chopped lavender buds with a spatula, tasting for flavor.
• Pour the custard into the cooled crust, transfer both pans to the oven. Pour hot water into the outside pan until it reaches 2/3 up the springform pan. Bake the cheesecake for 50-55 minutes, then turn off the oven and crack the door open or prop it open with a wooden spoon. Let the cheesecake cool slowly for 1 hour then carefully transfer both pans from the oven and lift the cheesecake from the water bath. Remove the oven bag from around the springform pan.
• Let the cheesecake cool for another 30 minutes.
• Increase the oven temperature to 400°F
• Combine the sour cream, sugar, and vanilla until the sugar has been dissolved. Spread the sour cream mixture evenly over the top of the cheesecake. Transfer to the oven and bake for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 1-2 hours then cover with plastic and refrigerate overnight. (See notes)
• To remove from the pan, run a thin sharp knife around the inside of the pan, loosen the metal side ring and transfer the cake to a serving plate.
• To serve, use a thin sharp knife dipped in hot water then wiped dry, slice into wedges.

LAVENDER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F, and grease a 9-inch springform pan. Whisk graham cracker crumbs, margarine, salt and 1/4 cup of the sugar together in a medium bowl until combined. Press firmly onto bottom of the pan (or up the sides, if desired). Bake for 10 minutes, then remove and let cool. Reduce oven heat to 325 degrees F.
• Once the pan reaches room temperature, carefully wrap the outside of the pan in 2 layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil, being sure that there are NO gaps where water could seep through. Place the pan in a large roasting dish (or any pan larger than the springform), and bring a tea kettle or pot of water to boil in preparation for the water bath. Set aside.
• Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese on medium speed for 3 minutes until smooth. Add the remaining 1-1/4 cup sugar and beat for an additional minute until well blended. Add Greek yogurt, vanilla and lavender (and earl grey tea, if using), and beat for an additional minute, stopping partway to scrape the bottom of the bowl with a spatula. Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until blended. Do not overbeat! Pour into crust.
• Place the double pans in the oven on a shelf on the bottom third of the oven. Very carefully use a tea kettle (or large measuring cup) to pour the boiling water in the larger pan to form a water bath around the springform, so that it comes up about 1-inch around the springform.
• Close the oven door, and bake about 1 hour 40 min, or until center is almost set. (The center of the cake should still jiggle ever so slightly.) Turn oven off, and open oven door slightly. Let cheesecake set in oven 1 hour. Then remove cheesecake from oven, carefully run a knife around the edges of the cake, and then let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Remove springform rim, and top cheesecake with whipped cream just before serving. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.
• To make earl grey homemade whipped cream, first bring the heavy cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add a tea bag and steep for 4 minutes, then remove the tea bag. Refrigerate cream until cool. Then follow these simple instructions for how to make homemade whipped cream.

LAVENDER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• To make crust, crumb the graham crackers.
• Stir in the powdered sugar and butter until well blended.
• Press mixture into 9" springform pan, going halfway up the sides.
• Bake crust at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes, let cool before filling.
• To make lavender syrup, mix sugar and water in a saucepan.
• Add lavender to water (you don't need to use the whole package, I used about 3/4 pkg).
• Simmer until you have a heavy syrup (approx reduced by half).
• Remove lavender buds (place buds on a plate to cool and crystallize for use as decoration if desired). You now have the lavender syrup used in later steps.
• To make filling, soften the cream cheese in a large mixing bowl (it helps to remove from refrigerator a little beforehand).
• Add sugar 1/2 cup at a time, mixing in well after each addition.
• Mix in sour cream.
• Mix in vanilla and lavender syrup.
• Whisk eggs and yolks in a small bowl.
• Add egg mixture to batter and mix in until just mixed.
• Fold in whipped cream taking care not to over mix.
• Pour into cooled crust.
• Bake at 450 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 225 degrees and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Turn off heat and open oven door slightly, let cool in oven 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let cool on the counter 30 minutes.
• At this point it should be cool enough to run a knife around the outside to make sure it has separated from the pan and remove the springform side.
• Leave on pan bottom and refrigerate for 3 hours.
• To make frosting, mix sour cream and sugar, sweetening to taste.
• Spread on top of chilled cheesecake to make a smooth flat surface, quantity of sweetened sour cream may need to be adjusted depending on amount of shrinkage in the middle.
• To make piping, whisk together lavender syrup and cornstarch in a saucepan.
• Add lemon juice and water.
• Stir over medium heat until mixture thickens.
• Color with food dye to desired shade of purple (or whatever you prefer).
• Let cool before decorating.

BROWNIE BOTTOM CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the brownies: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 10-inch springform pan with nonstick baking spray.
• Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder and salt in a medium bowl. Melt the butter and chocolate in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until completely melted, then let cool for 10 minutes. Stir in the sugar and eggs. Add the flour mixture, and stir to combine. Pour brownie batter into the prepared pan and tap the pan gently to ensure the batter is even. Bake until the top is set and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a baking rack.
• For the cheesecake: Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the sour cream and mix until just incorporated. Stir in the eggs and vanilla extract by hand, one by one, taking care not to overmix or your cheesecake will turn into a souffle.
• Wrap the bottom of the pan and up the sides with foil and place in a roasting pan. Pour the cheesecake batter on top of the brownie layer and spread it evenly on top. Fill the roasting pan with water until it reaches halfway up the side of the springform pan. Bake until the center is jiggly but the surface is set, about 1 hour. Turn off the oven and leave the cheesecake inside for 30 minutes.
• Remove the cheesecake from the oven and run a sharp knife around the edges of the cake to release from the pan. Let rest on a baking rack until completely cool. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or up to overnight before serving.
• Slice and garnish each slice with chocolate syrup and whipped cream.