Mascarpone Cheesecake With Blueberry Compote And Minty Whipped Lemonade Food

BLUEBERRY MASCARPONE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and position a rack in the middle. Butter a 9-by-2-inch round cake pan or a 9-inch springform pan and dust with sugar, tilting the pan to coat and discarding any excess.
• In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the mascarpone, cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon of the lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth, about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl once. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Turn the mixer to low and add the flour, scraping the bowl to make sure it is incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the pan. Bake until the top of the cake is a deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let the cake cool in its pan on a rack for 15 to 20 minutes. Run a knife around the sides of the cheesecake. If using a cake pan, invert a serving plate over the pan and reinvert the cheesecake on the plate. If using a springform pan, remove the sides and set the bottom on a serving plate. Let cool completely.
• In a medium bowl, mix the blueberries with the 2 tablespoons sugar and the remaining 1 teaspoon lemon zest. If using fresh berries, crush a few with the back of a spoon to encourage juices to form. (Taste the fruit; if it's too tart, add another teaspoon of sugar.)
• When ready to serve, dust the cheesecake with confectioners' sugar, if using, and spoon the blueberries over the cheesecake. Cut and serve with a dollop of whipped cream or creme fraiche, if you like.

WHIPPED CHEESECAKES WITH PISTACHIO CRUST

Steps:

• For the pistachio crust: Blend the pistachios, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture clumps together. Distribute the mixture among 6 to 8 serving glasses, then use a muddler or the back of a spoon to pack it down firmly. Set aside while you make the filling.
• For the cheesecake: Beat together the cream cheese and powdered sugar with an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on high speed until smooth. Beat in the vanilla, almond extract and salt, then add the yogurt. Beat on high until combined and smooth, a few seconds. Add the heavy cream and beat on high until the mixture holds stiff peaks, about another minute. Distribute the mixture among the serving glasses, then chill for 1 hour or up to overnight.
• For the raspberries: Add 1 cup raspberries to a medium bowl along with the granulated sugar and lemon juice. Muddle slightly with the back of a wooden spoon or muddler, then add the remaining raspberries and mix to combine. Allow to sit for 30 minutes for a juicy sauce or serve immediately. Spoon 2 tablespoons over each cheesecake and serve.

MASCARPONE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan., In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom of prepared pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 325° for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., For filling, in a large bowl, beat the cheeses, sugar, lemon juice and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour over crust. Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan., Bake at 325° for 50-60 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer., Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. Before serving, prepare topping mix according to package directions. Garnish cheesecake with whipped topping; drizzle with caramel. Refrigerate leftovers.

MASCARPONE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch springform pan or 2 (12-count) mini cheesecake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Wrap the outside of the pan with aluminum foil.
• Add the cookies in a large resealable bag. Cover the bag with a kitchen towel and crush with a rolling pin until the cookies are coarsely ground. In a medium bowl, mix together the cookie crumbs with the melted butter. Press the mixture into the bottom and 1-inch up the sides of the prepared springform pan or mini cheesecake pans. Put on a sheet pan and bake for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool before adding the cheesecake filling.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• In bowl of a food processor combine the cheeses with the sugar until mix until completely blended. Add the eggs, 1 at time, incorporating completely after each addition. Add a pinch of salt, the almond extract, and orange zest and blend for 10 seconds. Pour the filling into the prepared pan with crust. Put the springform pan into a roasting pan and pour in enough hot water to come 3/4 of the way up the sides the springform pan. If using a springform pan bake for 1 hour, if using mini cheesecake pans bake until completely set, about 25 to 30 minutes. Carefully remove the roasting pan from the oven and transfer the springform pan from the water bath to the counter and let cool completely before removing the cake from the pan. Slice and serve.

MASCARPONE CHEESECAKE WITH ALMOND CRUST

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Tightly wrap the outside of a 9-inch diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides with 3 layers of heavy-duty foil. Finely grind the almonds, cracker crumbs, and sugar in a food processor. Add the butter and process until moist crumbs form. Press the almond mixture onto the bottom of the prepared pan (not on the sides of the pan). Bake the crust until it is set and beginning to brown, about 12 minutes. Cool. Decrease the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• For the filling: Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, and sugar in a large bowl until smooth, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat in the lemon juice and vanilla. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
• Pour the cheese mixture over the crust in the pan. Place the springform pan in a large roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the springform pan. Bake until the center of the cheesecake moves slightly when the pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour 5 minutes (the cake will become firm when it is cold). Transfer the cake to a rack; cool for 1 hour. Refrigerate until the cheesecake is cold, at least 8 hours and up to 2 days.
• For the topping: Combine the chocolate-hazelnut spread and cream in a small bowl. Heat in the microwave until warm, stirring every 20 seconds to blend, about 1 minute.
• Cut the cake into wedges. Drizzle the chocolate sauce over the wedges and serve.

MASCARPONE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter bottom and side of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Stir together cookie crumbs and butter in a bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup crumb mixture for sprinkling over cheesecake, then pat remainder onto bottom and 1 1/2 inches up side of springform pan (about 1 inch thick). Put pan in a shallow baking pan and bake until golden, about 10 minutes. Cool completely on a rack, about 25 minutes. Leave oven on.
• Make filling while crust bakes:
• Beat cream cheese, mascarpone, and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium high speed until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla, lemon juice, and salt and mix at low speed until combined. Pour into cooled crust and bake until cake is set and puffed around edge but still trembles slightly when pan is shaken gently, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool slightly in springform pan on rack, about 20 minutes. (Cheesecake will continue to set as it cools.) Leave oven on.
• Make topping:
• Stir together sour cream, sugar, vanilla, lemon juice, and salt in a small bowl and spoon over cheesecake, spreading gently and evenly, leaving a 1/4-inch border around edge.
• Bake cheesecake until topping is set, about 10 minutes. Run a thin knife around edge to help prevent cracking. Sprinkle top with reserved crumbs and cool completely in pan on rack, then chill, loosely covered, at least 8 hours.