Ricotta Cheesecake With Almond Praline Food

RICOTTA CHEESECAKE WITH ALMOND PRALINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 150°C (300°F).
• Lightly grease a 22cm round springform cake tin and line the base with non-stick baking paper. Set aside.
• To make the base, place the flour, sugar and butter in a food processor and process for 1 minute or until a rough dough forms.
• Using the back of a spoon, press the mixture into the base of the prepared tin. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden and just cooked. Set aside to cool slightly.
• While the base is baking, make the filling. Place the cream cheese, ricotta, sugar, lemon juice, lemon rind and vanilla in a food processor and process until smooth. Place the cornstarch and water in a small bowl and mix until smooth. Add the cornstarch mixture and the eggs to the filling and process to combine.
• Lightly re-grease the sides of the cake tin and pour the filling over the base, tapping gently to remove any air bubbles.
• Bake for 50 minutes-1 hour or until light golden and just set. Allow to cool in the closed oven for 50 minutes.
• Refrigerate for 1 hour or until chilled.
• To make the almond praline:
• Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). Sprinkle the sugar over a large lightly greased baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until melted. Sprinkle with the almonds and allow to set completely on the tray. Crush the praline into small pieces. Sprinkle the cheesecake with the almond praline to serve, pressing gently to secure.

RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Spray the springform pan with cooking spray. Separate the eggs, placing the whites in one of the large bowls and the yolks in the work bowl of a food processor.
• Add the sugar and vanilla to the work bowl of the food processor and process until thick and light yellow, about 1 minute. Add the ricotta and zest and process until smooth, another 30 seconds. Scrape the mixture into the other large bowl.
• Beat the whites on high speed with the mixer until they hold stiff peaks. Fold the whites into the ricotta mixture and scrape into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the spatula.
• Bake until the cake is deep golden brown and the sides begin to pull away from the pan, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Transfer to the rack to let cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving, at least 6 hours and up to 1 day. To serve, release the sides of the springform pan, dust with confectioners' sugar using the strainer, and cut into wedges.

RICOTTA CHEESECAKE WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• Make the crust: Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spread the almonds for both the crust and topping (1/4 cup plus 1/3 cup) on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until golden, about 5 minutes. Let cool. Crumble the biscotti into a food processor; add 1/4 cup toasted almonds and the granulated sugar and pulse until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse to combine. Press the mixture into the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan. Bake until set, about 12 minutes, then transfer to a rack and let cool completely. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Beat the egg yolks and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on high speed until pale, about 2 minutes. Add the ricotta and beat until smooth, about 2 more minutes. Beat in the amaretto, vanilla and almond extracts, and orange zest. Put the egg whites and the remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar in a separate bowl and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form (do not overbeat). Using a rubber spatula, fold about one-third of the beaten egg whites into the ricotta mixture, then gently fold in the rest until just combined. Scrape the batter into the prepared crust. Bake until slightly puffed and lightly golden on top, about 1 hour, 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool, 20 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the cake to loosen, then remove the springform ring and let cool completely. Combine the confectioners' sugar and cinnamon in a fine-mesh sieve and dust over the cheesecake. Scatter the remaining 1/3 cup toasted almonds on top and dust again. Serve at room temperature. Photograph by Johnny Miller

RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan. , Place on a baking sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes or until crust is lightly browned around the edge. Cool on a wire rack. , In a large bowl, beat ricotta cheese on medium speed for 1 minute. Add sugar; beat for 1 minute. Add eggs; beat just until combined. Beat in flour and vanilla. Pour into crust. , Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. If desired, serve with Hot Cherry Sauce. Refrigerate leftovers.

RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Butter 9" springform pan.
• Melt butter, cool.
• Sift flour and cornstarch together, reserve.
• Place cream cheese and ricotta in mixer, beat until smooth and creamy.
• Add sugar in 3 additions over 1 minute, scraping bowl as necessary.
• Beat 30 seconds longer.
• Add eggs, one at a time, at 30 second intervals.
• Mix well after each addition.
• Blend in flour, cornstarch, lemon juice and vanilla.
• Add butter and sour cream.
• Beat for 30 seconds, scrape bowl and beat 10 seconds longer.
• Wrap springform in two layers of aluminum foil, pour batter into pan, put springform in a larger pan such as a roasting pan and add hot water to larger pan until it comes halfway up the sides of the springform.
• Bake until center still jiggles slightly, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove from oven, remove foil, cool completely on rack and refrigerate overnight.
• To remove springform, heat sides with propane torch and remove sides.
• Turn cake upside down in the palm of one hand, heat bottom with torch and remove bottom of springform.
• Place plate on bottom and flip right side up.
• Cut cake with unwaxed dental floss.

RICOTTA CHEESE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9x13 inch pan.
• Make yellow cake mix according to package directions. Pour batter into the greased 9x13 inch pan.
• Mix together the ricotta cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla extract and spoon over cake batter.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 45 minutes. Sprinkle cake with confectioners' sugar when cool.

ITALIAN CREAM CHEESE AND RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan.
• Mix the cream cheese and ricotta cheese together in a mixing bowl until well combined. Stir in the sugar, eggs, lemon juice, vanilla, cornstarch, flour, and butter. Add the sour cream last and stir. Pour the mixture into the prepared springform pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven 1 hour; turn oven off and leave in oven 1 hour more. Allow to cool completely in refrigerator before serving.

ALMOND PRALINE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Combine graham cracker crumbs, almonds, sugar and butter; press firmly on bottom of nine inch springform pan.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy.
• Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk until smooth.
• Add eggs and almond extract; mix well.
• Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake 55-60 minutes or until center is set.
• Cool.
• Top with almond praline topping (as follows).
• In small saucepan, combine brown sugar and whipping cream (not whipped).
• Cook and stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Simmer 5 minutes or until thickened.
• Remove from heat; stir in almonds.
• Spoon evenly over cheesecake.
• Store covered in refrigerator.