4 Inch Cheesecake Baking Time Recipes

MIX 'N MATCH MINI INDIVIDUAL CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Mix cracker crumbs, 3 Tbsp. sugar and the butter; press scant 1/3 cup crumb mixture onto bottom of each of four mini (4-1/2-inch) springform pans. Bake 7 min.
• Beat cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar and the vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour one-fourth of the batter (about 1 cup) into each of four bowls. If desired, add one of the Stir-In Ideas to each bowl of batter. Pour over crusts. Place pans on baking sheet.
• Bake 40 to 45 min. or until centers are almost set. Run knife or metal spatula around rims of pans to loosen cakes; cool before removing rims. Refrigerate at least 4 hours.

PERFECT CHEESECAKE EVERYTIME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Whisk together the crushed graham crackers, the 1 teaspoon sugar, cinnamon, and walnuts. Stir in the butter. Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven; allow crust to cool.
• Beat the cream cheese with the eggs on medium-low with an electric mixer until smooth. Beat in the 1 cup sugar and vanilla. Fold in the sour cream just until blended. Do not overmix; ovemixing causes the cheesecake to crack. Pour into the cooled crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Turn oven off. When the cheesecake has reached room temperature, chill in refrigerator for 8 hours before serving.

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• For the crust: Melt the butter, covered in the microwave, in a medium microwave-safe bowl, or a saucepan. Brush a 9-inch springform pan with some of the butter. Stir the remaining butter together with the crumbs, sugar, and salt. Press the crumb mixture over the bottom of the pan, taking care to get the crust evenly into the edges. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool. Wrap the bottom and up the sides of the pan with foil and put in a roasting pan.
• For the filling: Beat the cream cheese on medium speed with a hand-held mixer until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and beat just until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl and beaters as needed. Slowly beat in the sour cream, then eggs, vanilla and both citrus zests; take care not to over whip. Pour into the cooled crust.
• Bring a medium saucepan or kettle of water to a boil. Gently place the roasting pan in the oven (don't pull the rack out of the oven). Pour in enough hot water to come about halfway up the side of the springform pan. Bake the cheesecake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes---the outside of the cake will set but the center will still be loose.
• For the topping: Stir together the sour cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Spread over the top of the cooked cheesecake and return to the oven for 5 minutes. Turn the oven off, cook the cheesecake in the residual heat in the oven for about 1 hour. This gentle finish minimizes the risk of the dreaded crack in your cheesecake.
• Remove 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 or overnight.
• Bring cheesecake to room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Remove the springform ring. Dip a knife in warm water, wipe dry before slicing each piece. Serve with berries, if desired.

4 INCH MOCHA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Crust: Mix crust ingredient until crumbs are moistened and press into bottom of a 4 inch springform pan.
• Filling: Combine cream cheese, sugar, and cornstarch. Beat until smooth.
• Beat in egg substitute. Beat well.
• Stir in whipping cream.
• Stir together hot water and coffee.
• Add coffee and vanilla to cream cheese mixture, stirring until well combined.
• Stir in melted chocolate.
• Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 200 and bake for an additional 1 hour and 10 mihnutes or until the center no longer looks wet or shiny.
• Remove cake from oven and run a knife around the inside edge of the pan.
• Turn the oven off and return the cake to the oven for an additional 20 minutes.
• Chill, uncovered, overnight.
• Topping: In small saucepan melt chocolate and shrotening over low heat, stirring constantly.
• Stir in coffee till dissolved.
• Cool to lukewarm, then pour over cheesecake.
• Chill till topping firms up.

FOUR 4.5-INCH CHEESECAKES WITH NINE STIR-IN VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F.
• Mix crumbs, the 3 tablespoons sugar and butter; press scant 1/3 cup crumb mixture onto bottom of each of 4 mini (4-1/2-inch) springform pans. Bake at 300°F (150°C) for 7 minutes.
• Mix cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
• Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended.
• Decide what variations you'll make and pour 1/4 of the batter (about 1 cup) into each of 4 bowls. Add one of the stir-In variations to each bowl of batter, as desired. Pour over crusts. Place pans on cookie sheet.
• Bake at 300°F (150°C) for 40 to 45 minutes, or until centers are almost set. Run knife or metal spatula around rims of pans to loosen cakes; cool before removing rims of pans. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
• Topping Ideas to garnish: Fresh fruits, such as strawberry halves, slices of kiwi, whole raspberries, sliced peaches, or chocolate curls can be placed in the middle of cheesecakes, for garnish, before serving.
• STIR-IN VARIATIONS ~ For each 1/4 portion of batter (approximately 1 cup), stir in one of the following:.
• APPLE PIE MINI CHEESECAKE: Stir in 1/8 teaspoon. ground cinnamon; pour over crust. Bake as directed. Top cheesecake with combined 1/2 cup warmed apple pie filling and 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar.
• NEW YORK MINI CHEESECAKE: Stir in 1/4 cup sour cream and 1 tablespoon flour.
• CHOCOLATE CHUNK MINI CHEESECAKE: Stir in 1/4 cup milk chocolate chunks.
• CITRUS MINI CHEESECAKE: Stir in 1 teaspoon lemon, orange, or lime juice; 1 teaspoon flour and 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon, orange. or lime zest.
• S'MORES MINI CHEESECAKE: Stir in 3 tablespoons milk chocolate chunks; pour over crust. Top with 1/4 cup miniature marshmallows and 1 tablespoon broken graham crackers.
• COOKIES AND CREAM MINI CHEESECAKE: Stir in 1/4 cup chopped cookies, such as Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, Nutter Butter Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies or Chips Ahoy! Chocolate Chip Cookies.
• CHOCOLATE ROYALE MINI CHEESECAKE: Stir in 2 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted.
• PEANUT BUTTER MINI CHEESECAKE: Stir in 2 tablespoons peanut butter and 1 tablespoon milk.
• MOCHA MINI CHEESECAKE: Mix 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules with 2 teaspoons hot water. Stir into batter along with 2 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted.