Mexican Ricotta Cheesecakes With Apple And Cranberry Compote Recipes

CREAMY CHEESECAKE WITH CRANBERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• For the crust: Brush a 10-inch springform pan with some of the melted butter. Stir together the remaining butter with the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and 1 inch up the side of the pan. Use the back of a measuring cup or a drinking glass to pack the crust firmly and evenly into the edges of the pan. Bake until browned, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool completely, then set the pan on top of a large sheet of aluminum foil and wrap the foil around the bottom of the pan and up the sides. Place the pan on a baking sheet.
• For the filling: Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1 minute. Add the sour cream, and mix until just combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the cream and vanilla extract, and mix until just combined. Beat in the eggs one at time, beating the mixture after the last egg until just combined (take care not to overmix or the cake will turn into a souffle).
• Pour the filling in to the crust. Bake until the cheesecake is slightly golden and barely set in the middle when the pan is tapped, about 1 hour and 20 minutes (the cake might puff up slightly while in the oven, but that is okay; it will deflate as it cools). Turn off the oven, and leave the cake inside with the door shut for 1 hour. It will continue to set and color slightly in the oven.
• Run a thin knife or spatula around the cake to release it from the sides (this also helps reduce cracks in the top of the cake as it chills). Cover the cheesecake with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• For the cranberry compote: Stir the sugar, dried cranberries and 1 cup water together in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and then add the fresh cranberries. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the fresh cranberries have burst and the sauce is slightly thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the compote to a heat-safe bowl and let it cool slightly before covering the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerating until it is completely chilled. The cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools. (This can be made up to one day in advance.)
• For serving: Spread the cranberry compote in an even layer on top of the chilled cheesecake. The cheesecake will sink a bit in the center as it cools so it creates a perfect well for the cranberry compote. Run a thin knife or spatula between the cake and the sides again, then release the sides of the springform pan and remove the ring from the cheesecake base. Set the base on a cake platter, slice and serve.

WHITE CHOCOLATE ORANGE CHEESECAKE WITH CRANBERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Use a food processor or by hand, mix the flour, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Add the butter pieces and mix until it resembles small pea size pieces. Add the yolk, vanilla, and zest, and mix until it forms a ball. Add the water to help dough come together. Form the dough into a disk and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Press the dough into the bottom of a springform pan and bake for about 20 minutes until golden brown and set aside. For the filling, use a mixer with a paddle attachment. Cream the cheese with the sugar on low speed. Add the eggs 1 at a time until smooth making sure to scrape the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla and orange zest. Slowly pour in the melted white chocolate and mix until well combined. Pour the mixture into the springform pan. Wrap aluminum foil around the base of pan and up side to protect from water bath. Place pan on sheet pan or pan with high sides and fill with 1/3 water. Bake cheesecake for 40 to 45 minutes. Remove cake from oven and allow to cool for 4 hours before serving.
• To make the compote, place the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, and zest in a saucepan and stir over low heat. Simmer until cranberries soften or pop. Cool mixture and add the orange segments.
• Serve cheesecake with compote and orange segments.