Southern Living Cheesecake Food

SOUTHERN LIVING CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325.
• Combine graham cracker crumbs, butter, and brown sugar.
• Press into the bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch spring form pan.
• Bake crust for 10 minutes, let cool on wire rack.
• For filling, beat cream cheese at a medium speed of an electric mixer until creamy.
• Gradually add sugar, beating well.
• Add eggs, on at a time, beating after each addition and scraping bottom and sides of bowl as needed.
• Stir in sour cream and vanilla.
• Pour batter into prepared crust.
• Bake for 65 minutes, center will not be completely set.
• Turn oven off; partially open oven door, leaving cheesecake in oven for 1 hour.
• Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Cover and chill at least 8 hours.

SAVORY CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• For the crust: Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spray the bottom of four 4-inch springform pans with nonstick spray.
• Mix the cracker crumbs, butter and pecans in a medium bowl until evenly moistened. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pans. Bake until the crusts are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Cool the pans on a rack.
• Once completely cool, spray the sides of the pans with cooking spray and line with strips of parchment.
• For the Cheddar-pimento cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, Cheddar, pimentos, Worcestershire, hot sauce and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment. Top with the candied bacon and scallion greens.
• For the blue cheese cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, blue cheese, cream and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Fold in the dates and shallots. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment. Top with the candied walnuts and a drizzle of honey.
• For the mozzarella-basil cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, cream and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Fold in the chopped basil. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment. Top with the cherry tomatoes, drizzles of balsamic syrup and olive oil and a sprig of basil.
• For the goat cheese-herb cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, goat cheese, cream, parsley, rosemary, lemon zest, Worcestershire to taste and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Spread the jam over top. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment.

PINA COLADA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Stor together butter, graham cracker crumbs, chopped pecans and sugar.
• Press into bottom and 1 1/2 inches up sides of a lightly greased 10-inch springform pan.
• Beat cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar at medium speed with electric mixer for 3minutes or until fluffy.
• Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
• Add pineapple, cream of coconut, sour cream, light rum and coconut extract.
• Beat until blended.
• Pour mixture into crust.
• Bake at 325°F for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until center is almost set.
• Cool on a wire rack.
• For Glaze: Stir together cornstarch and water until smooth.
• Combine cornstarch mixture with crushed pineapple, sugar and lemon juice in a saucepan over medium heat.
• Cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes or until mixture is thickened and bubbly.
• Remove from heat and let cool completely.
• When glaze is cooled, spread glaze over top of cheesecake.
• Cover and chill for at least 8 hours.
• Garnish if desired before serving.

ALMOND-AMARETTO CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Combine first four ingredients. Press into bottom and 1 3/4" up side of a 9" springform pan which has been coated with coaking spray.
• In a large bowl beat beat together cream cheese and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.
• Lower speed to medium and add whipping cream., 1/4 cup amaretto and 1 teaspoon vanilla beating well.
• Pour into prepared crust and bake at 350 for 15 minutes and reduce over to 225 degrees, bake for 1 hour.
• Cool on rack for 5 minutes.
• Combine next 4 ingredients. Spread evenly on cake and cook additional 5 minutes. Cool, cover lightly and chill overnight.
• To serve, remove side of pan and garnish with almonds.

CHOCOLATE GLAZED TRIPLE-LAYER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine cookie crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, and butter; stir to blend well.
• Press mixture onto bottom and 2 inches up sides of a 9-inch springform pan; set aside.
• In another bowl, combine 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar; using an electric mixture, beat at medium speed until fluffy.
• Add 1 egg and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla; beat well.
• Stir in melted chocolate and 1/3 cup sour cream.
• Spoon mixture over chocolate crust.
• In another bowl, combine remaining 8 ounce package cream cheese, brown sugar and flour; beat until fluffy.
• Add in 1 egg and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; beat well.
• Stir in pecans; spoon mixture over chocolate layer.
• In another bowl, combine 5 ounces cream cheese and remaining 1/4 cup sugar; beat until fluffy.
• Add in remaining egg; beat well.
• Stir in remaining 1 cup sour cream, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla and almond extract.
• Spoon over pecan layer.
• Bake in a 325° oven for 1 hour.
• Turn oven off and leave cheesecake in oven 30 minutes.
• Open oven door and leave cheesecake in oven for another 30 minutes.
• Cool; then cover and chill at least 8 hours.
• Remove from pan; spread warm glaze on top.
• To make Chocolate Glaze: Add chocolate and butter to the top of a double boiler; bring water to a boil.
• Lower heat; cook until chocolate is melted and smooth, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat; stir in remaining ingredients until smooth.
• Spread warm glaze over cheesecake.

SOUTHERN LIVING CHEESECAKE FLAN

Steps:

• Sprinkle sugar in a heavy skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until sugar melts and turns light brown.
• Remove from heat. QUICKLY pour hot caramel into a 9" round cakepan, tilting to coat bottom; set pan aside. (Caramel will harden and crack).
• Combine eggs and remaining 7 ingredients in a large food processor or blender. Process just until smooth, stopping once to scrape down sides.
• Pour custard mixture over the caramel syrup in cake pan.
• Place cakepan in a large shallow pan. Cover cakepan with aluminum foil.
• Add hot water to shallow pan to depth of 1".
• Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until knife inserted off center comes out clean. (Center should still be slightly liquid; flan will finish cooking as it cools).
• Remove cakepan from water bath; cool flan completely on a wire rack (while still in cakepan).
• Cover and chill for several hours or overnight. Loosen edges of flan with a spatula and invert flan onto a rimmed serving plate, letting caramel sauce drizzle over the top.