The Ultimate Cheesecake Food

THE BEST CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• For the crust: Put the butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl, cover with a paper towel and melt in the microwave in 10-second increments. Brush a 9-inch springform pan with some of the melted butter.
• Stir together the remaining butter with the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and salt. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the pan, taking care to get the crust evenly to the edges. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool. Place the pan on a large sheet of foil and wrap up the sides. Place in a roasting pan.
• For the cheesecake: Beat together the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1 minute. Add the sour cream and vanilla and beat until just combined. Mix in the eggs by hand, one at a time, until just combined. (Take care not to overmix or the cheesecake will puff up and crack.) Pour the batter evenly over the crust, smoothing the top. Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come about halfway up the sides of the foil-wrapped springform pan. Bake until the outside of the cake is set but the center is still slightly loose, about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
• Turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake in the oven for another hour. Remove the cheesecake from the roasting pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours.
• Run a knife around the edge of the pan once more and unlock to unmold the cheesecake. Transfer to a serving platter or cake stand and smooth the edges with a knife.

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.

CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• To make the crust: In a small bowl, mix the cracker crumbs with the melted butter and the sugar together until evenly moistened. Press the crumb mixture onto the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake the crust until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Cool the pan on a rack.
• Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand-held mixer, cream the cream cheese on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy. (Stop mixing and scrape down the sides of the bowl and beaters as needed.) Beat in the sour cream. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla and cream. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake until the top of the cheesecake is lightly browned, but the center still jiggles slightly, about 45 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan on a rack. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight before serving.
• To remove the cake from the pan, run a knife or offset spatula around the edges to release the edges from the pan. Open the springform pan and remove the ring.
• Cut the cheesecake into wedges and serve with berries or a raspberry sauce if desired.

ULTIMATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Crust: In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and sugar.
• Add melted butter; stir to combine.
• Press crumb mixture into a 9-inch spring pan and chill for 30 minutes.
• Filling: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer (med. speed) beat cream cheese for 2 minutes.
• Add sugar, gradually add flour and mix well.
• Beat in eggs one at a time.
• Add sour cream, lemon zest and vanilla.
• Pour into crust.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Remove cake from oven and cool 15 minutes.
• Topping: Beat egg white with sugar until soft peaks appear.
• Fold in sour cream; spread on top of cake.
• Return cake to oven; bake until topping is set, (not brown) approx.
• 20 minutes.
• Turn off oven; with door open continue to let the cheesecake cook for another hour.
• Cool completely.
• Place preserves in microwave on HIGH for 45 seconds until thin and spreadable.
• Spoon preserves onto each 1/2 of the design (Ying/Yang) with the back of the spoon spread and fill each section.
• Arrange fruit ontop; chill and Serve!

THE ULTIMATE MAKEOVER: NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Line a 20cm loose-bottomed or springform tin with baking parchment and stand it on a baking sheet. Melt the butter and stir in the biscuit crumbs. Press the mix into the base of the tin, then bake for 10 mins. Remove from the oven and raise the temperature to 240C/fan 220C/gas 9.
• For the filling, beat the soft cheese just until smooth with an electric hand mixer on low speed. Gradually add the sugar, also on a low speed, then the cornflour without overbeating. Scrape the sides of the bowl. Slowly whisk in the lemon zest and juice, the vanilla, then the eggs. Scrape the sides of the bowl, then finally whiskin the fromage frais. The mixture should be smooth and quite runny.
• Pour the filling over the crumb base. Jiggle the tin to level the mix and squash surface bubbles with the back of a teaspoon. Bake for 10 mins, then lower the heat to 110C/fan 90C/gas ¼. Bake another 25 mins and, if you are using an electric oven, leave the oven door slightly ajar for the first 3 mins. After the 25 mins, shake the tin and there should be a wobble in the centre of the filling. If left until firmer it is more likely to crack later. Turn off the oven, keep the door closed and leave the cake in for 2 hrs. Open the door, loosen the top edges of the cake with a round bladed knife, then leave in the oven to cool gently for another 1-1½ hrs.
• Meanwhile, put the sugar for the topping in a small pan with 3 tbsp water. Bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar, then let it bubble for 1-2 mins to make a thin syrup. Tip in the blueberries, gently stir and cook for about 1 min, just to slightly burst the fruit and release the purple juices. Stir in the lime zest, then leave to cool.
• Spread the fromage frais over the top of the cooled cheesecake. Cover with foil and chill for at least 4 hrs (or overnight). Remove from the fridge 1 hr before serving, loosen the sides of the cheesecake completely, remove from the tin, then slide onto a plate, peeling off the paper as you do. Slice with a sharp knife and serve each wedge topped with a spoonful of syrupy blueberries.

ORIGINAL NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• The day before you plan to serve the cheesecake:
• 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Make and bake the cake crust as directed and leave it in the pan. Keep the oven on.
• 2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment if your mixer has one, beat 1 package of the cream cheese, 1/3 cup of the sugar, and the cornstarch together on low until creamy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the bowl several times. Blend in the remaining cream cheese, one package at a time, beating well and scraping down the bowl after each.
• 3. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat in the remaining sugar, then the vanilla. Blend in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in the cream just until completely blended. The filling will look light, creamy, airy, and almost like billowy clouds. Be careful not to overmix! Gently spoon the batter over the crust.
• 4. Place the cake pan in a large shallow pan containing hot water that comes halfway (about 1 inch) up the side of the springform. Bake until the edge is light golden brown, the top is light gold, and the center barely jiggles, about 1 1/4 hours. If the cake still feels soft around the edge, let it bake for 10 minutes more (the cooking time will be about the same for both the 8- and 9-inch cheesecakes). Remove the cheesecake from the water bath, transfer to a wire rack, and let cool for 2 hours (just walk away-don't move it). Then, leave the cake in the pan, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until completely cold before serving, preferably overnight or for at least 6 hours.
• On serving day:
• 5. Release and remove the side of the springform, leaving the cake on the bottom of the pan. Place on a cake plate. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Slice with a sharp straight-edge knife, not a serrated one, rinsing the knife with warm water between slices. Refrigerate any leftover cake, tightly covered, and enjoy within 2 days, or wrap and freeze for up to 1 month.

ULTIMATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the Crust: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the ingredients with a fork until evenly moistened.
• Lightly coat the bottom and sides of an 8-inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Pour the crumbs into the pan and, using the bottom of a measuring cup or the smooth bottom of a glass, press the crumbs down into the base and 1-inch up the sides.
• Refrigerate for 5 minutes.
• ********.
• For the Filling: In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese on low speed for 1 minute until smooth and free of any lumps.
• Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to beat slowly until combined.
• Gradually add sugar and beat until creamy, for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add sour cream, lemon zest, and vanilla.
• Periodically scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters.
• The batter should be well-mixed but not overbeaten.
• Pour the filling into the crust-lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
• Set the cheesecake pan on a large piece of aluminum foil and fold up the sides around it.
• Place the cake pan in a large roasting pan.
• Pour boiling water into the roasting pan until the water is about halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan; the foil will keep the water from seeping into the cheesecake.
• Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.
• The cheesecake should still jiggle (it will firm up after chilling), so be careful not to overcook.
• Let cool in pan for 30 minutes.
• Chill in the refrigerator, loosely covered, for at least 4 hours.
• Loosen the cheesecake from the sides of the pan by running a thin metal spatula around the inside rim.
• Unmold and transfer to a cake plate.
• Using a spatula spread a layer of Warm Lemon Blueberry topping over the surface.
• *********.
• For the Topping:.
• In a small saucepan add all the ingredients and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes or so until the fruit begins to break down slightly.
• Leave to cool before spreading on cheesecake.
• **********.
• Slice the cheesecake with a thin, non-serrated knife that has been dipped in hot water.
• Wipe dry after each cut.

TYLER FLORENCE'S ULTIMATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the crust:.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a mixing bouwl, combine the ingredients with a fork until evenly moistened. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of an 8 inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Pour the crumbs inot the pan, and using the bottom of a smmoth glass, press the crumbs down into the base and 1 inch up the sides. Regrigerate for 5 minutes.
• For the filling:.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese on low speed for 1 minute until smooth and free of lumps. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to beat slowly until combined. Gradually add sugar and beat until creamy (about 1 to 2 minutes).
• Add sour cream, lemon zest, and vanilla. Periodically scrape down the sides of the bowl and beaters. The batter should be well-mixed but not overbeaten. Pour the filling into the crust-lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
• Set the cheescake pan on a large piece of aluminum foil and fold up the sides around the pan. Place the cake pan in a large roasting pan. Pour boiling water in the roasting pan until the water is about halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan; the foil will keep the water from seeping into the cheesecake. Bake for about 45 minutes. The cheesecake will still be soft (it will firm up after chilling), so be careful not to overcook. Let cool in pan for about 30 minutes. Chill in the regrigerator, loosely covered, for at least 4 hours. Loosen the cheescake from the side of the pan by running a thin metal spatula around the inside rim. Unmold and transfer to a cake plate. Using a spatula, spread a layer of Lemon Blueberry topping over the top.
• For the topping:.
• In a small saucepan, add all the ingredients and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes or so until the fruit begins to break down slightly. Let cool before spreading on cheesecake.