Pams Cheesecake Food

THE BEST NEW YORK-STYLE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the crust: Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• Mix together the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, brown sugar and salt in a medium bowl until evenly moistened.
• Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and halfway up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake the crust until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes.
• Cool completely on a rack. Wrap the bottom and up the sides of the pan with foil and place in a roasting pan.
• For the filling: Add the cream cheese to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and beat, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed, until light and fluffy. Gradually add the cream, beating until combined. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the lemon zest and juice, vanilla and salt and beat just until combined, taking care not to over whip. Pour into the crust.
• Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Carefully place the roasting pan in the oven (don't pull the rack out of the oven). Pour enough hot water in the roasting pan to come about halfway up the side of the foil-wrapped springform pan.
• Bake until the top of the cheesecake is lightly browned around the edges, but the center still jiggles slightly, about 2 hours.
• Remove the cheesecake from the roasting pan to a rack. Run a knife around the edges and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours and up to overnight.
• Bring the cheesecake to room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Remove the springform ring. Dip a knife in warm water and wipe dry before slicing each piece.

PAM'S CHEESECAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine crumbs, sugar and butter. Press on bottom and 2 1/2 inches up sides of an 8 inch springform pan. Set aside.
• Let cheese soften at room temperature 1 - 1 1/2 hours. Beat until creamy. Add vanilla and lemon or orange peel. Mix sugar, flour and salt, slowly blend. Add eggs and yolks one at a time. Beat after each yolk just enough to blend. Gently stir in whipping cream.
• Turn into crust lined pan. Bake at 450 degrees for 12 minutes; reduce heat to 300 degrees and bake for 55 minutes.
• Allow to cool. Loosen sides with spatula after 30 minutes. Cool well before adding topping.

RICH AND CREAMY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place foil over bottom disk of a 9-inch springform pan, tucking excess underneath disk; assemble pan. Pull up foil around pan sides. Brush interior of pan with butter. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs into pan, tilting it in all directions to coat evenly with crumbs. Cover exterior of pan with a sheet of heavy-duty foil and set in a large roasting pan. Bring a kettle of water to a boil for water bath.
• Meanwhile, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add sugar and beat on medium speed until it is fully incorporated, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just incorporated and scraping down bowl after each addition. Add zest and vanilla and beat until just incorporated. Stir in cream and sour cream by hand.
• Pour batter into springform pan. Set roasting pan on oven rack, set springform pan in it, and pour in enough boiling water to come about halfway up the side of springform pan. Bake until perimeter of cake is set but center jiggles when pan is tapped, 55 to 60 minutes. Turn off heat and leave oven door ajar, using a long-handled kitchen fork or spoon if necessary to hold it open for 1 hour. Remove springform pan from water bath and set on a wire rack; cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours. Cheesecake can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.

BUTTERSCOTCH CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Wrap the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil; lightly grease pan with cooking spray.
• Crush cookies finely. Stir together cookie crumbs, brown sugar, and melted butter in a medium bowl until completely combined. Press mixture on the bottom and 1 1/2 inches up sides of the prepared pan.
• Bake crust in the preheated oven until lightly browned and set, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Beat cream cheese, brown sugar, flour, and salt with a stand mixer at low speed, using the paddle attachment, until combined and smooth, 3 to 5 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until incorporated after each addition, about 30 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl after each addition. Add vanilla extract and beat just until incorporated, about 15 seconds.
• Add 1/2 cup of milk and 1 cup butterscotch chips to a medium saucepan over medium-low heat and cook whisking constantly until chips are melted and mixture is smooth, 1 to 2 minutes; remove from heat. Whisk together remaining 1/2 cup of milk and pudding mix in a small bowl until completely incorporated and smooth. Whisk pudding mixture into melted butterscotch mixture and whisk until smooth (mixture will begin to thicken).
• Slowly add pudding mixture to cream cheese mixture, beating at low speed, and mix until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour filling into prepared crust. Tap pan 2 or 3 times on counter to release air bubbles.
• Place cheesecake in a large roasting pan and place in preheated oven. Pour hot water to a depth of halfway up sides of springform pan. Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Center will be jiggly. Turn off oven and leave cheesecake in oven with door closed for 30 minutes. Open oven door slightly and leave cheesecake in for 10 more minutes.
• Remove cheesecake to a wire rack and cool completely, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Run a sharp knife around edges and remove sides of springform pan. Place on serving tray.
• Stir together 3/4 cup butterscotch chips and heavy cream in a small microwave-safe bowl for the topping. Cook at Medium (50%) power for 1 to 3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth. Spread topping over top of cheesecake allowing some to drip down sides. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. Chill for 20 minutes or until topping is set. Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator.