Makeover Traditional Cheesecake Recipes

TRADITIONAL CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Grease the sides only of a 9-in. springform pan; press crumb mixture onto bottom of pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in lemon juice and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour filling onto crust. Return pan to baking sheet. , Bake at 350° for 45-55 minutes or until center is almost 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. Serve with Raspberry Sauce and Sour Cream Topping if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.

MAKEOVER TRADITIONAL CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Place a 9-in. springform pan coated with cooking spray on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan., In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and confectioners' sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of prepared pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 325° for 18-22 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack., Place the lemon juice, vanilla, cottage cheese and 1 cup sour cream in a blender; cover and process for 2 minutes or until smooth. , In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the remaining sour cream. Add flour and pureed cottage cheese mixture; mix well. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust., Place springform pan in a larger baking pan; add 3/4 in. hot water to larger pan. Bake at 325° for 1-1/2 hours or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes., Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. Garnish with caramel topping and chopped candy.

MAKEOVER IRISH CREAM CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Place a 4-in. springform pan coated with cooking spray on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 12 in. square). Wrap foil securely around pan., In a small bowl, mix cracker crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 5 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven setting to 325°., In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in sour cream, liqueur, flour, vanilla and salt. Add beaten egg; beat on low speed just until blended. Pour into crust; sprinkle with chocolate chips. Place springform pan in a larger baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. Bake until center is just set and top appears dull, 18-20 minutes., Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove foil. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight, covering when completely cooled. Remove rim from pan.

MAKEOVER TRADITIONAL CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• 1. Place a 9-inch spring form pan coated with cooking spray on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (18-in. square). Securely warp foil around pan.
• 2. In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and confectioners' sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of prepared pan. Place on baking sheet. Bake at 325 F for 18-22 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
• 3. Place the lemon juice, vanilla, cottage cheese and 1 cup sour cream in a blender; cover and process for 2 minutes or until smooth.
• 4. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the remaining sour cream. Add flour and pureed cottage cheese mixture; mix well. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust.
• 5. Place spring form in a larger baking pan; add 3/4 in. of hot water to larger pan. Bake at 325 F for 1-1/2 hours or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove spring form pan from water bath. Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes.
• 6. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. Garnish with caramel topping and chopped candy.

THE ULTIMATE MAKEOVER: NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Line a 20cm loose-bottomed or springform tin with baking parchment and stand it on a baking sheet. Melt the butter and stir in the biscuit crumbs. Press the mix into the base of the tin, then bake for 10 mins. Remove from the oven and raise the temperature to 240C/fan 220C/gas 9.
• For the filling, beat the soft cheese just until smooth with an electric hand mixer on low speed. Gradually add the sugar, also on a low speed, then the cornflour without overbeating. Scrape the sides of the bowl. Slowly whisk in the lemon zest and juice, the vanilla, then the eggs. Scrape the sides of the bowl, then finally whiskin the fromage frais. The mixture should be smooth and quite runny.
• Pour the filling over the crumb base. Jiggle the tin to level the mix and squash surface bubbles with the back of a teaspoon. Bake for 10 mins, then lower the heat to 110C/fan 90C/gas ¼. Bake another 25 mins and, if you are using an electric oven, leave the oven door slightly ajar for the first 3 mins. After the 25 mins, shake the tin and there should be a wobble in the centre of the filling. If left until firmer it is more likely to crack later. Turn off the oven, keep the door closed and leave the cake in for 2 hrs. Open the door, loosen the top edges of the cake with a round bladed knife, then leave in the oven to cool gently for another 1-1½ hrs.
• Meanwhile, put the sugar for the topping in a small pan with 3 tbsp water. Bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar, then let it bubble for 1-2 mins to make a thin syrup. Tip in the blueberries, gently stir and cook for about 1 min, just to slightly burst the fruit and release the purple juices. Stir in the lime zest, then leave to cool.
• Spread the fromage frais over the top of the cooled cheesecake. Cover with foil and chill for at least 4 hrs (or overnight). Remove from the fridge 1 hr before serving, loosen the sides of the cheesecake completely, remove from the tin, then slide onto a plate, peeling off the paper as you do. Slice with a sharp knife and serve each wedge topped with a spoonful of syrupy blueberries.

TRADITIONAL CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 300^ F. Combine margarine or butter, crumbs and 1/4 cup sugar; Press firmly on bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.
• 2. In large mixer bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and eggs until smooth. On low speed, add Realemon and vanilla; mix well. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 1 hr and 5 to 10 minutes or until set. Carefully loosen top of cheesecake from edge of pan with knife tip. Cool to room temperature; chill. Serve with Peach Melba Topping if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.
• 3. PEACH MELBA TOPPNG: In small saucepan, combine reserved 2/3 c. syrup, 1/4 c. red currant jelly and 1 T. cornstarch. Cook and stir until slightly thickened and clear. Cool. Stir in raspberries. Drain 16oz can peaches; top cake with peach slices and spoon sauce over top.
• 4. Notes: I have used Aldi's brand of lemon juice concentrate in place of Realemon. I have used the cheesecake filling for individual cheesecakes: Line a muffin pan with paper muffin liners, place a vanilla wafer in bottom of each liner flat side down. Spoon cheesecake filling into muffin liner about 2/3 full. Bake until set. Time will be considerbly less than above, for cheesecake. When cool, remove cheesecakes from muffin tin. Canned pie filling can be spooned into divit that will form once cheesecakes are cooled. These also freeze well, with the pie filling on the cheesecakes. Just make sure they are wrapped well before freezing.