Emerils Lightened Up Cheesecake Recipes

SIMPLY DELICIOUS NEW YORK-STYLE CHEESECAKE WITH STRAWBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Butter the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. In a mixing bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, butter, and 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar and mix well. Press onto bottom of springform pan and bake until golden, about 8 minutes. Set aside to cool. When completely cooled, butter the sides of the pan.
• Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
• In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, combine cream cheese, 1 1/2 cups sugar, zests, and vanilla and beat until light and creamy. Add the flour, then the eggs and yolks 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the sour cream, vanilla bean seeds, and bourbon and mix until smooth. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Wrap the pan in foil and place in a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to come half way up the sides of the pan. Bake for 1 1/2 hours.
• Transfer cake to a cooling rack and let cool completely. Refrigerate cake overnight before serving. Cut into wedges and top with strawberry sauce.
• Combine berries, sugar, water and zest and cook until berries are soft and the liquid is thick, about 10 minutes. Stir in the kirsch or brandy and cook for 1 minute.
• Remove from the heat and let cool. Spoon on top of the cheesecake and serve.

EMERIL'S LIGHTENED UP CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease a 9-inch springform pan with the butter and coat it with the graham cracker crumbs, shaking out any excess.
• Combine the ricotta with the cream cheese in a bowl until very smooth. Add the egg and egg whites, 1 at a time, stirring until well incorporated. Add 3/4 cup sugar, pinch of salt, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, and the lemon zest and beat until very smooth and light, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Pour the batter into the prepared springform pan. Bake for 45 minutes, then reduce the heat to 300 degrees F and continue baking until the cake is set in the center, about 15 minutes longer. Remove the cake from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Reduce the oven to 250 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1 1/2 cups of sour cream, 1/4 cup of the sugar, 2 teaspoons of the amaretto, and the sliced almonds. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Pour this mixture over the top of the cheesecake and smooth with the back of a spoon or a spatula so that the sour cream mixture evenly covers the top of the cake. Return to the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
• Remove the cheesecake from the oven and cool on a wire rack. When the cake has cooled to room temperature, refrigerate, covered, overnight or until well chilled.
• Combine strawberry quarters, remaining tablespoon of sugar, and remaining teaspoon of amaretto in a medium bowl. Allow berries to macerate for 30 minutes.
• When ready to serve, run a sharp knife under warm water and wipe dry. Run the warmed knife around the edges of the springform pan to release the sides. Remove the springform, slice the cheesecake, and serve with macerated strawberries on the side.