The Best Chocolate Ricotta Cheesecake Food

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO CHEESECAKE WITH GANACHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• To make the crust:
• Place the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and cinnamon in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until combined. Pour into a 9-inch springform pan. With your hands, press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
• Meanwhile, chop the bittersweet chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Add the espresso and stir until just melted. Set aside until cooled to room temperature.
• To make the filling:
• Cream the cream cheese, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla and almond extracts and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Reduce the speed of the mixer to medium and add the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well. Scrape down the bowl and beater, as necessary. With the mixer on low, add the sour cream, and the cooled chocolate mixture. Mix thoroughly and pour into the cooled crust.
• Bake for 1 hour. Turn the oven off and allow the cake to sit in the oven with the door opened wide for 1 1/2 hours. Take the cake out of the oven and allow it to sit at room temperature, until completely cooled.
• For the ganache:
• Finely chop the semisweet chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Add the cream and stir until just melted. Set aside until cooled to room temperature.
• Remove the cake from the springform pan by carefully running a hot knife around the outside of the cake. Leave the cake on the bottom of the springform pan for serving. Drizzle the ganache over the top of the cheesecake.

CHOCOLATE RICOTTA CHEESECAKE (HEALTHY, BAKED)

Steps:

• Lightly grease a 23 cm (9 inches) spring-form pan and line with parchment paper. (I like to line the bottom of the pan and grease the ring and sprinkle with a little flour-see post for more detail). Set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 F/ 180 C/170 C fan/ gas mark 4.
• Melt the chocolate by placing it in a heat proof bowl over a pot of gently simmering water (the water must not touch the bowl). Stir as the chocolate is melting. Remove from the heat when the chocolate has melted almost completely (it will continue melting away from the heat). Set aside.
• In a large bowl gently whip the ricotta, cream cheese and half the sugar until smooth. Gradually add the flour, cocoa and egg yolks and beat until smooth. Gradually pour in the melted chocolate (once cooled) and continue beating until just combined.
• In a separate bowl beat the egg whites until soft peaks start forming. Gradually add the remaining sugar and continue beating until glossy, fluffy and thick.
• Add the egg whites mixture (in 4 goes) into the batter gently folding in using a spatula until just combined. Pour the cheesecake batter into the pan, smooth out the top and bake in the centre of the oven for 1 hour. After 35-40 minutes cover loosely with baking paper or foil to prevent the cheesecake browning too quickly and cracking.
• Turn off the oven, remove the foil covering the cake and leave the oven door slightly open (6-7 inches). After 15 minutes open the door a little more. After 30-40 minutes remove the cheesecake from the oven and set aside to cool completely.
• Run a spatula around the cake and remove the ring (see post for tips on how to safely remove the cheesecake from the pan). Decorate with chocolate shavings (I used a vegetable peeler to make the shavings). Serve with whipped cream or fruit compote. Keep refrigerated. Best served at room temperature.

RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Generously butter and sugar a 9-inch springform pan (3 inches deep). Whisk together ricotta, egg yolks, flour, 6 tablespoons sugar, the zest, and salt in a large bowl.
• Whisk egg whites with a mixer on low speed until foamy. Raise speed to high, and gradually add remaining 6 tablespoons sugar, whisking until stiff, glossy peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Gently fold a third of the whites into ricotta mixture using a rubber spatula until just combined. Gently fold in remaining whites until just combined.
• Pour batter into pan, and bake until center is firm and top is deep golden brown, about 1 hour. Let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife around edge of cake; release sides to remove from pan, and let cool completely. Serve with citrus-vanilla compote.

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.

CHOCOLATE-RICOTTA PIE

Steps:

• Blend the flour, cornmeal, 3/4 cup pine nuts, 1/4 cup sugar, and salt in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse, just until the dough forms. Press the dough over the bottom and about 2 inches up the sides of an 11-inch-diameter tart pan with a removable bottom. Refrigerate until the dough is firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line the tart dough with aluminum foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake the tart shell in the lower third of the oven until just set, about 25 minutes. Carefully remove the foil and pie weights. Bake the shell until golden, about 10 minutes longer. Cool completely.
• Combine the remaining 3/4 cup of sugar with 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Cool the sugar syrup slightly.
• In a double boiler, melt the chocolate over very softly simmering water.
• Pulse the ricotta cheese and cream cheese in a food processor until smooth. Add the egg and egg yolks, 1 at a time, and process until smooth. Add the melted chocolate and process until combined. With the machine running, add the sugar syrup in a thin steady stream and process until smooth.
• Pour the custard into the tart shell and bake until the filling is almost set, about 30 minutes or until the custard has set. Scatter the remaining 3/4 cup toasted pine nuts on top of the filling. Let the tart cool completely before serving.
• The tart can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Return the tart to room temperature before serving.

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH A STRAWBERRY TOPPING

Steps:

• For the cheesecake: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray. Use the bottom of a dry measuring cup to gently press the graham cracker crumbs into the bottom of the prepared pan; the crust will not be very thick. Spray the crust with cooking spray. Place on a rimmed baking sheet.
• In a blender, combine the cottage cheese, cream cheese, eggs, sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla and blend until smooth. Pour into the crust and bake until almost set but still jiggly in the center, about 40 minutes. Let cool completely. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or up to overnight.
• For the strawberry sauce: While the cheesecake is baking, combine the strawberries and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a simmer and let simmer until the berries start to break down, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Mix the cornstarch with the water, salt and vanilla in a small bowl until completely combined, creating a slurry. Add the slurry to the strawberries and cook until it thickens, another 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature, then transfer to a container and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Serve the cheesecake cold, topped with the strawberry sauce.

THE BEST CHOCOLATE RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• 1. In pan, heat cream. Add chocolate chips and stir until chocolate is melted. Do this over low heat so that chocolate does not scorch. Beat together remaining ingredients until blended. Beat in melted chocolate. Pour into prepared crust and bake at 350 for about 55 minutes or until a cake tester inserted 1 inch off center, comes out clean. Do not overbake. Allow to cool in pan and then refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours. Overnight is better. Decorate top with chocolate curls. Remove from refrigerator 20 minutes before serving. Serves 12 To make chocolate curls, run a vegetable peeler down the sides of a chocolate bar that is at room temperature. Source: Renny Darling

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.

WHITE CHOCOLATE & RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Melt the butter in a pan or microwave. Very finely crush the biscuits together, stir with the butter, then press very firmly into the base of a 20cm round loosebottomed cake tin. Bake for 6 mins. Cool, then wipe around the inside of the tin with a little oil on kitchen paper.
• Soak the gelatine in water while you make the filling. Tip the chocolate into a bowl over a pan of simmering water, then add the milk. Gently heat until melted, then stir together. Squeeze the gelatine dry, add to the chocolate mixture and stir to dissolve.
• Beat the ricotta, cream, sugar and egg yolks together. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites.
• Stir the chocolate and ricotta mixtures together, then gently fold in the egg whites. Carefully pour onto the cooled biscuit base. Cover the tin with cling film, then chill until firm, preferably overnight.
• To decorate, very generously top the cheesecake with the white chocolate curls, then remove from the tin, scatter with the pomegranate seeds and dust all over with icing sugar, if you like.