Vanilla Cheesecake With Cherry Topping Food

CREAMY CHERRY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine crust ingredients. Press onto the bottom and a third of the way up the sides of a 9-in. springform pan; set aside. , For filling, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add the eggs, sugar and vanilla; beat just until smooth. Pour into prepared crust. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes. Remove from oven; cool 15 minutes. Increase temperature to 450°., Meanwhile, combine sour cream topping ingredients. Spread over filling. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool at room temperature; cover and chill 12 hours. , For cherry topping, drain cherries, reserving juice. Set cherries aside. In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and cherry juice until smooth. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in lemon juice, food coloring and reserved cherries. Cool for 5 minutes. Spread over cheesecake; chill several hours. Just before serving, remove sides of pan.

VANILLA CHEESECAKE WITH CHERRY-BERRY TOPPING

Steps:

• Directions Heat the oven to 325°. Make Graham Cracker Crust (below). While crust is chilling, continue with the recipe.
• Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl with the electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually beat in the sugar and vanilla until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
• Pour the cheesecake mixture into the crust, and spread evenly. Bake about 40 minutes or until filling is set. Place pan on a wire cooling rack. Cool 30 minutes.
• Cover the cheesecake and refrigerate at least 3 hours but no longer than 48 hours. While the cheesecake is chilling, make Cherry-Berry Topping (below).
• Serve the cheesecake with the topping. Store covered in refrigerator.
• Graham Cracker Crust Mix the cracker crumbs, sugar and margarine. Press firmly and evenly against bottom and side of the ungreased pie pan. Cover and refrigerate about 30 minutes or until firm.
• Cherry-Berry Topping Rinse the strawberries with cool water, and pat dry with paper towels. Cut out the hull, or "cap," with the point of a paring knife. Cut the strawberries lengthwise into slices. Mix the strawberries, pie filling and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate topping until you are ready to serve the cheesecake.

MINI CHERRY CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Combine crumbs and butter; press gently onto bottoms of 12 foil-lined muffin cups. In another bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice and vanilla. Add egg; beat on low speed just until combined. Spoon over crusts. , Bake until centers are almost set, 12-15 minutes. Cool completely. , For topping, drain cherries, reserving 1/2 cup juice in a saucepan; discard remaining juice. To reserved juice, add cherries, sugar, cornstarch and, if desired, food coloring. Bring to a boil; cook until thickened, about 1 minute. Cool; spoon over cheesecakes. Refrigerate, covered, at least 2 hours.

VANILLA CHEESECAKE WITH CHERRY TOPPING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400.
• To prepare crust combine first 3 ingredients, tossing with a fork. Add 2 teaspoons water, toss with a fork until moist and crumbly. Gently press mixture into bottom and 1½ inches up sides of a 9 spring form pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 5 minutes; cool on a wire rack.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325.
• To prepare filling, beat cheeses with a mixer at high speed until smooth. Combine 1 cup sugar, flour, and salt, stirring with a whisk. Add to cheese mixture, beat well, Add sour cream; beat well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract. Scrape seeds from vanilla beans, stir seeds into cheese mixture, reserving bean halves.
• Pour cheese mixture into prepared pan, bake at 325° for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until cheesecake center barely moves when pan is touched. Remove cheesecake from oven, run a knife around outside edge. Cool to room temperature. Cover and chill at least 8 hours.
• To prepare topping, combine port, ½ cup sugar cherries, and reserved vanilla bean halves in a large saucepan, bring to a boil. Cook 5 minutes or until cherries are thawed and mixture is syrupy. Remove vanilla bean halves, discard.
• 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.

MINI CHERRY CHEESECAKES WITH VANILLA WAFER CRUSTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, lemon juice and vanilla until light and fluffy.
• Line regular sized muffin pans or cupcake tins with paper baking cups and place a vanilla wafer in the bottom of each cup.
• Fill the cups 2/3 full of cream cheese mixture.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until set.
• When warm, top each with a tablespoon of cherry filling.
• Chill in refrigerator.