Gourmet Cheesecake Recipes

GOURMET CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Prepare cookie crust: Place butter and sugar in mixer bowl and mix till fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping often. Add yolks and mix thoroughly. Add vanilla and salt, and then flour. Allow to mix till it forms a ball and then remove from bowl and place on floured surface. Roll into a circle and place bottom of 10" springform pan over dough and cut around it with a knife a little smaller (about 1/4") than the pan bottom. Transfer to cookie sheet covered with parchment and bake at 350° for 15-18 minutes or till JUST browned on edges. Cool completely.
• For Filling:.
• Place softened cream cheese in mixer bowl and mix till smooth--this takes patience, because it's a lot of cream cheese and you have to scrape and work with it to get it mushed together --
• Add sugar and flour and mix thoroughly. Add eggs one at a time mixing between each one, and then add sour cream and vanilla.
• Butter sides of springform pan and place cookie crust in the bottom--trim to fit if needed. Pour filling on top of crust and smooth the top. Bake in a 350° oven for 90 minutes and then reduce heat to 325° for another 15-20 minutes to set center. Turn oven off and leave cake inside -- prop door open and allow cake to cool completely, then remove, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate till serving time. Top with fresh fruit or canned pie filling, or fresh whipped cream.

HOT FUDGE OREO GOURMET CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• CRUST: Coarsely chop half of the cookies and set aside. (I used a food processor.).
• Finely crush the remaining cookies, add the butter, and mix. (I used a food processor.).
• Press firmly on bottom and about 1 1/2 inches up sides of 9-inch springform pan (doesn't need to be perfect). Pan, especially a non-stick pan, does not have to be greased since there is a lot of butter in the crust.
• Bake crust at 325 degrees F for about 4 minutes to set it.
• FILLING: In large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed, beat cream cheese a little.
• Add sugar and beat until creamy.
• Blend in eggs, sour cream, flour, and vanilla.
• Fold in coarsely chopped cookies by hand.
• Pour batter into prepared crust.
• Bake in 325 degree F oven for 50 to 60 minutes or until set.(I baked for 50 minutes and next time I may bake a few minutes less.).
• Cheesecake should still jiggle in the center when taken out of oven. DO NOT OVERBAKE.
• Cool at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Refrigerate at least 4 hours, but better to make 1 to 2 days ahead.
• Best way to cut a cheesecake is when it is very cold, using a hot knife(wiping in between cuts), and cutting the entire cake before removing a piece.
• Heat hot fudge on high for 30 to 45 seconds until warm and pourable consistency.
• Spoon hot fudge over each slice of cheesecake.
• For a change, substitute malted milk balls or milky way bites instead of the oreo cookies in the filling.

THE FRUGAL GOURMET'S NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°.
• Mix together the cracker crumbs, ¼ cup sugar, and ¼ cup melted butter, and line the bottom of an 8- or 9-inch ungreased spring-form pan.
• Blend sour cream, ½ cup sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a blender for 1 minute. Add the cream cheese. Blend until smooth.
• Pour 2 tablespoons melted butter through the top of the machine. Blend and pour into the spring-form pan.
• Bake in the lower third of a 350° oven for 45 minutes.
• When baking is finished, turn oven on to broil. Broil the cheesecake until the top begins to show attractive spots of brown. Remove from oven.
• Refrigerate for 4 hours, preferably overnight, before cutting and serving.