Contest Winning White Chocolate Cheesecake Recipes

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH A BLACKBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Grease a 9 in springform pan (I use Pam but butter will also work) and preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Combine crushed graham crackers, melted butter, sugar, and salt. Mix thoroughly.
• Press graham cracker mixture into the springform pan, packing it in firmly*.
• Bake crust in preheated oven for 8 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F (or just leave on after baking the crust). Make sure the oven rack is in the center of the oven.
• In a microwave safe dish combine white chocolate and heavy cream. Microwave on 50% power for 30 seconds, stir and repeat until smooth. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand-up mixer combine granulated sugar, and cream cheese. Mix until well combined.
• Add in the melted white chocolate mixture, mixing until combined. Scraping down the sides of the bowl when necessary.
• Once white chocolate mixture is fully incorporated, add in the eggs one at a time. Let each egg become fully incorporated before adding the next. Scraping down the sides of the bowl when necessary.
• After the eggs are mixed in, add the vanilla, and mix until combined.
• Using foil, wrap the bottom of your spring form pan that has the baked crust in it. - this will help keep the water out. *
• Then pour the cheesecake batter into the springform pan.
• Place the cheesecake pan in a large roasting pan and pour boiling water into the roasting pan (making sure not to get water on the cheesecake). You want the water to reach ~2 inches up the side of the springform pan.
• Bake the cheesecake (in the roasting pan/water bath) at 350°F for 15 minutes then reduce the oven temperature to 225°F and bake for another 90 minutes. After 90 minutes turn your oven off and allow the cheesecake to come to room temperature* (this will take an hour or more). When you first turn the oven off the cheesecake will jiggle significantly. After it comes to room temperature it will still have a slight jiggle. (see video for example). I also like to crack the oven door just slightly so it lets the hot air out a little faster.
• Once at room temperature, refrigerate for 2 hours to allow it to completely set (aka no more jiggle).
• In a medium size saucepan, over medium heat, add blackberries, granulated sugar, and dessert wine. Bring to a boil, and boil for 3 minutes. Stirring occasionally. Then remove from heat.
• In a separate bowl combine cornstarch and water, whisking to fully combine.
• Stir cornstarch mixture into blackberry mixture. Then stir in vanilla and salt.
• You can use the sauce as is or puree it a bit with either an immersion blender, or a regular blender. I typically blend it a little but still like to keep larger pieces of blackberries in it too.

LEMONY WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Place a 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan; set aside. , In a small bowl, combine the flour, confectioners' sugar and zest; cut in butter until crumbly. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of prepared pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in white chocolate, flour, cream, lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust. , Place pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. Bake 65-85 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. , Remove pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour . Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. Garnish with white chocolate and lemon zest strips if desired. Freeze option: Wrap individual portions of cheesecake in plastic wrap and place in a resealable plastic freezer bag. Seal bag and freeze for future use. To use, thaw completely in the refrigerator.