Port Cherry Topping For Cheesecake Food

EASY CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• If working with fresh cherries, wash them thoroughly and carefully remove all the stems and pits.
• In a medium saucepan, place the cherries (fresh or frozen), sugar, and water. If using frozen cherries, add just half the amount of water to begin with. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring often.
• In a small bowl, stir the lemon juice and cornstarch together until smooth.
• Whisk the cornstarch mixture into the boiling cherry mixture.
• If working with frozen cherries, check on the texture of the mixture and add one tablespoon of water at a time if too thick.
• Return the sauce to a boil, stirring constantly. Don't let the sauce scorch on the bottom.
• Cook until the liquid has properly thickened, about one more minute.
• Remove the pot from the heat and taste. Add a little extra sugar or lemon juice if needed at this point, depending on your personal preference. Allow the sauce to cool to room temperature before using it.

CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the cherries and the syrup or water in a small saucepan along with the sugar, butter and lemon juice. Bring to a boil. If using fresh or frozen cherries, reduce the heat and simmer for another 3 minutes. Stir in the cornstarch mixture, stirring continually until the sauce is thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the almond extract.
• Cover and store in the fridge where it will keep for up to a week.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

PORT CHERRY TOPPING FOR CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Combine port, 1/2 cup sugar, cherries, and vanilla in a large saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Cook 5 minutes or until cherries are thawed and mixture is syrupy.
• Combine juice, cornstarch, and 4 teaspoons water, stirring with a whisk until well blended.
• Stir cornstarch mixture into cherry mixture, bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 3 minutes or until mixture is slightly thickened and shiny.
• Remove from heat; cool to room temperature.
• Cover and chill.
• Serve over cheesecake.

BEST CHERRY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Mix crushed graham crackers and butter in a bowl; press mixture into a 9x11-inch dish.
• Beat milk and whipped topping mix in a bowl until fluffy.
• Beat cream cheese and sugar in a separate bowl until fully incorporated; stir into whipped topping mixture until smooth. Spread mixture onto the graham cracker crust. Refrigerate until set, 1 to 2 hours. Top with cherry pie filling.

CLASSIC CHERRY-TOPPED CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Combine graham crumbs, 3 Tbsp. sugar and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
• Beat cream cheese, 1 cup of the remaining sugar and vanilla with mixer until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 55 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours.
• Meanwhile, cook cherries, lemon juice and remaining sugar in saucepan on medium heat 8 to 10 min. or until cherries are tender and sauce is thickened. Cool completely. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Spoon cherry topping over cheesecake before serving.