White Chocolate Almond Cheesecake Food

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Beat butter, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp. vanilla in small bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in flour until well blended; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Prick with fork. Bake 25 min. or until edge is lightly browned.
• Beat cream cheese, remaining sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Add chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 55 min. to 1 hour or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate 4 hours. Top with raspberries just before serving.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine crust ingredients; reserve 2 tablespoons for garnish. Press remaining crumbs evenly onto the bottom and 2 in. up the sides of a 9-in. springform pan. Chill. , For filling, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the sour cream, chocolate and extract. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust., Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes (filling will not be set). Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes., Meanwhile, combine topping ingredients. Gently spread over filling. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Bake 10 minutes longer. , Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Garnish with sliced, toasted almonds if desired.

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust: Add the chocolate graham crackers and the almonds to a food processor. Process until finely chopped. Add the butter and salt and process to the consistency of wet sand. Press the crust into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the topping: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and almonds. Using your fingers, work in the butter until the mixture has the texture of a crumble topping. Set aside.
• For the filling: Place the cream cheese, sugar and yogurt in a large bowl. Using an electric hand mixer, beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed with a rubber spatula. Add the eggs, almond extract, vanilla extract and salt; beat another minute on medium. Reduce the speed to low and beat in the chocolate until combined. Pour the filling over the crust and sprinkle evenly with the crumble topping.
• Bake until the center of the cake is just set, 45 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled.
• Serve cold, with a dusting of powdered sugar if desired.

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix cookie crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup nuts.
• Beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended; pour over crust.
• Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until centre is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours. Top with remaining nuts before serving.

CONTEST-WINNING WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a greased 10-in. springform pan. , In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla until well blended. Add eggs and yolks; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in white chocolate. Pour over crust. Place pan on a baking sheet. , Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until center is just 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. , For sauce, in a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and water until smooth. Add strawberries. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in a few drops of food coloring if desired. Cool. , Spread strawberry sauce over top of cheesecake; drizzle with melted white chocolate. Refrigerate leftovers.

WHITE CHOCOLATE AND STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• for crust:
• Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 325°F. Butter 10-inch-diameter springform pan. Wrap outside of pan with foil. Finely grind cookies in processor. Add melted butter; process until crumbs are moist. Press crumbs onto bottom and 2 inches up sides of pan. Bake until set, about 15 minutes. Cool on rack. Maintain oven temperature.
• for filling:
• Stir white chocolate in top of double boiler set over barely simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove from over water. Cool to lukewarm, stirring occasionally.
• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese in large bowl until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Gradually add sugar, then salt; beat until smooth. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add sour cream, whipping cream and vanilla; beat until well blended.
• Bake cake until top begins to brown but center still moves slightly when pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Open oven door slightly; turn off oven. Leave cake in oven 30 minutes. Chill cake uncovered overnight. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover; keep refrigerated.)
• Run small knife between pan sides and cake. Release pan sides. Starting at outer edge of top of cake, arrange strawberry halves in slightly overlapping concentric circles, covering top completely. Stir preserves and brandy in heavy small saucepan over medium heat until mixture boils. Strain preserves. Brush glaze generously over strawberries, allowing some glaze to drip between berries. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Chill.)

WHITE CHOCOLATE ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Melt white chocolate chips in microwave for 45 sec - 1 min stirring frequently until melted. Set aside to cool. Prepare a 10 inch springform pan. Butter insides and completely wrap outsides of pan with a double layer of heavy duty foil so water from water bath doesn't seep in and make your cheesecake soggy.
• 2. In food processor, put crust ingredients and pulse until almonds are finely chopped. Press into bottom and part way up the sides of springform pan. Chill crust in freezer while making cheesecake batter.
• 3. If you have a large enough food processor bowl, you can make the batter in it. Otherwise use a mixer. Beat creamed cheese until smooth, beat in sugar and eggs 1 at a time. Mix in heavy cream,melted white chocolate, sour cream, cornstarch and flavorings. Pour batter into chilled crust.
• 4. Make a water bath with a pan at least 2 inches bigger than cheesecake pan. Put the larger pan on center oven rack. Place cheesecake in middle and pour hot water in the large pan to 1/2 way up the cheesecake pan.
• 5. Bake cheesecake for 1 hour. While cheesecake is baking, stir together topping ingredients. Since all ovens vary, bake 10-15 minutes longer if after 1 hour it seems too jiggly to spread on the sour cream topping. Spread topping on top of cheesecake carefully and evenly. Bake an additional 15 minutes. Turn off oven and let it sit in oven undisturbed for 1 hour.
• 6. Carefully remove cheesecake from water bath and chill. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight before serving.
• 7. I love to just put a bag of frozen bing cherries spread over the top. As they thaw they drip juice down into the cheesecake. Yummy. Or you can top this delicious cheesecake with your choice of fresh fruit or fruit topping or just serve plain. Enjoy!

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH COCOA-ALMOND CRUST

Steps:

• Combine first 6 ingredients; stir well.
• Firmly press crumb mixture on bottom and 2 inches up sides of a 9 inch springform pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes; cool in pan on a wire rack.
• Combine white chocolate and 1/2 cup whipping cream in top of a double boiler; bring water to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low; cook until white chocolate melts, stirring occasionally.
• Let cool.
• Beat cream chees at medium speed of an electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugaar, beating well.
• Add remaining 1/4 cup whipping cream, beating well.
• Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating after each addition.
• Stir in white chocolate mixture and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
• Beat egg whites at high speed until stiff peaks form.
• Fold into cream cheese mixture.
• Pour batter into prepared crust.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let cool 15 minutes in pan on a wire rack.
• Increase oven temperature to 475 degrees.
• Combine sour cream, 1/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla; stir well.
• Pour over cheesecake, leaving a 3/4 inch border on edge of cheesecake.
• Return to oven and bank an additional 7 minutes.
• Cool to room temperature in pan on a wire rack.
• Chill at least 8 hours.
• Garnish with chocolate curls if desired.

WHITE CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. For crust place cookies in large food processor; process into fine crumbs. Add 2 tablespoons of the sugar and melted butter; process just until combined. Press into bottom of 9 -inch springform pan; set aside.
• For filling place cream cheese and 1 cup of the sugar in food processor; process until smooth. Add pumpkin, melted chocolate, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg; process until combined. Pour into crust-lined pan. Place springform pan in shallow baking pan.
• Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until center appears nearly set when gently shaken. Remove; cool on wire rack 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, for Almond Topping combine almonds, 2 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon sugar in food processor; cover and process until combined. Spread evenly in shallow baking pan. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until toasted, stirring occasionally.
• Sprinkle almond topping on cheesecake. Loosen and remove sides of springform pan. Cool cheesecake 1 hour more. Cover loosely; chill at least 4 hours or overnight.
• ** Cool and chill time extra and not included in prep or cooking time.

WHITE CHOCOLATE AND RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For crust:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Place large piece of foil on heavy large baking sheet. Set 8x2-inch bottomless heart-shaped cake pan atop foil. (If unavailable, use 8-inch springform pan; omit foil.) Wrap foil around outside and 1 inch up sides of pan. Butter foil and pan. Finely grind cookies and almonds in processor. Add butter and blend until mixture forms very moist crumbs. Using plastic wrap as aid, press crumbs firmly onto bottom and 2 inches up sides of pan. Bake until golden, about 10 minutes. Cool. Maintain oven temperature.
• For Filling:
• Melt white chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water until smooth, stirring often. Remove from over water. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and peel in large bowl until smooth. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating just until combined. Beat in white chocolate.
• Spoon half of batter into crust. Top with 3/4 cup berries. Spoon remaining batter over. Bake until edges of cake are set but center 3 inches still moves when cake is shaken, about 45 minutes. Cool 20 minutes. Maintain oven temperature. Using fingertips, press down gently on edges of cheesecake to flatten slightly.
• For topping:
• Whisk sour cream, sugar and vanilla in bowl. Spoon over cake, spreading to edge of pan. Bake 5 minutes. Transfer cake in pan to rack. Run small knife around sides of cake. Cool completely. Chill cake overnight.
• Fold down foil along sides of pan. Lift cake pan off cheesecake. Transfer cheesecake to platter, discarding foil. Cover cake with berries. Bring jam to simmer in small saucepan, stirring often. Gently brush jam over berries. (Can be prepared 3 hours ahead; chill.)