Melissas Pumpkin Cheesecake With Vanilla Mousse Food

NO-BAKE PUMPKIN MOUSSE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the crust: Spray the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick spray. Line the bottom with a round of parchment paper.
• Combine the cookie crumbs, pecans, brown sugar and salt in a food processor and pulse until fine. (Alternatively, you can crush the cookies very finely in a resealable gallon-size bag and chop the nuts as finely as possible; combine them in a bowl with the sugar and salt.) Add the melted butter and vanilla and pulse until evenly moistened. Press the mixture about 2 inches up the sides of the springform pan, then press to cover the bottom evenly. Place in the freezer while you prepare the filling.
• For the filling: Pour 3 tablespoons cold water into a small microwave-safe bowl and sprinkle the gelatin over the top. Set aside to bloom.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Scrape the bowl and beat 1 minute. Beat in the pumpkin puree and vanilla, blending about 30 seconds.
• Place the bloomed gelatin in the microwave and microwave until the gelatin melts and the mixture is clear, 10 to 12 seconds. Stir a spoonful of the cream cheese mixture into the hot gelatin, then add the gelatin mixture to the mixing bowl and beat on medium speed until combined, about 15 seconds.
• Mix in the heavy cream on low speed until combined. Scrape the bowl, then whip at high speed for about 1 minute. Spread over the prepared crust. Smooth the top of the cream, as desired. Refrigerate, uncovered, 8 hours to overnight (or top with a plate, domed-side up, so it doesn't touch the surface of the cheesecake).
• For finishing: Unlatch and remove the sides of the springform pan. Before serving, sprinkle the edges of the cheesecake with the pecans and chocolate chips.

MINI PUMPKIN CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line 18 muffin cups with paper liners. Place 1 whole cookie in the bottom of each lined cup.
• 2. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon fine salt on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides, reduce speed to low and beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, until combined. Beat in 1/3 cup sour cream and heavy cream. Stir in the pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice until smooth. Divide evenly among cookie-lined paper cups, filling almost all the way to the top.
• 3. Bake until the filling is just set, 40 to 45 minutes. A sharp knife inserted into the center will come out moist, but clean. Top each cheesecake with some of the remaining 1 1/4 cup sour cream, about 1 heaping tablespoon, using a spoon to gently spread. Cool completely in tins on a wire rack. Refrigerate until cold, 4 hours, or overnight. Top with a dusting of pumpkin pie spice.

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Toss the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar in a medium bowl until well combined. Firmly press into the bottom and 1 inch up the side of a 9-inch round springform pan. Bake until firm and a few shades darker, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely. Reduce the oven temperature to 300˚ F.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and slightly fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the heavy cream until combined. Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl as needed. Beat in the lemon juice and vanilla. Pour the filling into the cooled crust.
• Bake until the cheesecake is set around the edges but the center still jiggles slightly, 1 hour to 1 hour 25 minutes. Turn off the oven. Keep the cheesecake in the oven with the door ajar slightly, 20 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the oven and run a knife around the edge of the cheesecake to loosen. Transfer the pan to a rack and let the cheesecake cool completely, then refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours or overnight. Remove the springform ring, then slice the cheesecake.
• Drain two 14.5-ounce cans tart cherries, reserving 1/3 cup liquid. Combine the drained cherries, 1 cup bottled tart cherry juice, 2/3 cup sugar, 1/2 vanilla bean (add the pod and the seeds) and a pinch of salt in a saucepan. Simmer until syrupy, 20 minutes. Whisk 2 tablespoons cornstarch into the reserved cherry liquid, then pour into the saucepan. While stirring, bring to a boil and cook 1 more minute. Remove from the heat and stir in 1/4 teaspoon almond extract; let cool. Discard the vanilla bean. Refrigerate until chilled.
• Heat 2/3 cup heavy cream and 1/2 cup malt powder in a saucepan over medium heat, whisking, until the powder is dissolved and the mixture is steaming. Pour over 6 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate in a bowl; let stand 3 to 5 minutes. Stir until smooth, then let stand until thickened, 20 to 40 minutes. Pour over the cheesecake and spread with the back of a spoon. Sprinkle with chopped malt balls. Let set about 20 minutes.
• Slice a 2-inch piece of ginger into thin rounds. Combine the ginger with 1/4 cup sugar and 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat; cook until syrupy, about 10 minutes. Let cool, then remove the ginger and stir in 1/2 teaspoon lime zest. Toss the ginger-lime syrup with 3/4 cup chopped pineapple, 2 chopped kiwis and 1/2 chopped mango.

MELISSA'S PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH VANILLA MOUSSE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• For Crust: Chop pecans finely, no large chunks. In medium mixing bowl, combine pecans, brown sugar & cinnamon, mix in mixer until well blended. Add melted butter. Press down flat into 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.
• For Filling: Beat 3 pkgs cream cheese until smooth; add pumpkin puree, eggs, egg yolk, sour cream, 1 1/2 cup sugar & the spices. Add flour and vanilla. Beat together until well combined.
• Pour into crust. Spread out evenly and place in oven to bake for 1 hour. Remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cool.
• For Mousse: Beat 1 pkg cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, & 1 tsp vanilla extract with mixer in large bowl, until well blended. Whisk in cool whip; spread over cheesecake.
• Refrigerate for 4 hours. Remove rim of pan before serving cheesecake. No garnish needed.
• *Other variations:
• If you like more mousse: By all means: Double it. The photos posted show a doubled mousse recipe.
• If you like a crispier crust on the bottom: add 1/2 cup more pecans, leaving the rest of the crust ingredients the same.
• *Always use a springform pan.
• *Always put parchment paper on the bottom, makes for easy clean up, and easy movement of the cheesecake after the cheesecake has set.
• *To keep it moist: Put parchment or wax paper on top of the mousse and then wrap it in plastic wrap.
• *To freeze it: Put Cheesecake on a board, wax paper on top of mousse, wrap the cheesecake and board several times with plastic wrap, making sure that there are no gaps in the wrap and that all sides are WELL SEALED. Can freeze cheesecake up to 3 months.
• *To thaw after freezing, set in fridge overnight to thaw, and ready to go.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE MOUSSE DESSERTS

Steps:

• Chill a large mixing bowl. Pour the cold cream and vanilla into the bowl and beat it until soft peaks form. Reserve 1 cup of the whipped cream in a pastry bag fitted with a small round tip. Place in the fridge until ready to serve.
• In another bowl, mix the cream cheese, sugar, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice together. Beat until light and fluffy.Add in all but 1 cup of the whipped cream. Gently fold it in until fully incorporated.
• Pulse the ginger snap cookies in a food processor until crumbled. Add the butter, sugar, and salt. Pulse to combine.
• Add a scoop of the cookie crumble to each serving dish. Compact it with a spoon. Scoop the pumpkin cheesecake mousse into each dish. Top with the reserved whipped cream.

NEW YORK-STYLE CHEESECAKE MOUSSE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and lemon zest until fluffy. Fold in whipped cream. Divide among 12 dessert dishes. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours., Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°. Combine cracker crumbs and sugar in a small bowl; add butter and mix well. Press to a 1/4-in. thickness on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned, 10-12 minutes. Cool completely. , Just before serving, crumble graham cracker mixture; sprinkle over mousse. Top with strawberries if desired.

PUMPKIN MOUSSE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• CRUST: Mix the cookie crumbs and butter until crumbs are moistened. Press into the bottom of a 9 inch spring form pan. Freeze, uncovered, until filling is ready.
• FILLING: Stir together pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon , ginger, nutmeg, cloves and allspice until just combined. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl with paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium-high for three minutes. Add the brown sugar and beat for two minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add the pumpkin mixture; mix on low until incorporated.
• Pour the batter over the crust, smoothing it out to touch the sides of the pan. Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until the cheesecake starts to pull away from the sides of the pan but is still loose in the center.
• Cool on a wire rack for two hours. Refrigerate for at least two house before decorating or serving.
• TOPPING: In a small bowl, blend together sugar and cinnamon. Usisng a fine-meshed sieve, dust mixture over top of cooled cheesecake.
• For additional garnishes, pipe whipped cream around the edge and serve with whole gingersnaps.