Ricotta Cheesecake With Warmed Cherries Recipes

RICOTTA CHEESECAKE WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• Make the crust: Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spread the almonds for both the crust and topping (1/4 cup plus 1/3 cup) on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until golden, about 5 minutes. Let cool. Crumble the biscotti into a food processor; add 1/4 cup toasted almonds and the granulated sugar and pulse until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse to combine. Press the mixture into the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan. Bake until set, about 12 minutes, then transfer to a rack and let cool completely. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Beat the egg yolks and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on high speed until pale, about 2 minutes. Add the ricotta and beat until smooth, about 2 more minutes. Beat in the amaretto, vanilla and almond extracts, and orange zest. Put the egg whites and the remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar in a separate bowl and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form (do not overbeat). Using a rubber spatula, fold about one-third of the beaten egg whites into the ricotta mixture, then gently fold in the rest until just combined. Scrape the batter into the prepared crust. Bake until slightly puffed and lightly golden on top, about 1 hour, 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool, 20 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the cake to loosen, then remove the springform ring and let cool completely. Combine the confectioners' sugar and cinnamon in a fine-mesh sieve and dust over the cheesecake. Scatter the remaining 1/3 cup toasted almonds on top and dust again. Serve at room temperature. Photograph by Johnny Miller

CHERRY RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Coat a 9-inch spring form pan with cooking spray. Place ricotta in a food processor and process until smooth and creamy. Add sour cream, cream cheese, eggs, sugar, flour, vanilla, lemon zest and salt. Process until well blended. Pour into the prepared pan and bake until the center is just set, 50 to 55 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool, then cover and chill in the refrigerator for 3 hours.
• Put the cherries, honey and lemon juice in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat. In a small bowl stir the gelatin in the warm water until dissolved then stir the dissolved gelatin into the cherry mixture. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 3 hours, stirring once or twice, until the mixture is thickened but not yet formed to the pan.
• After the 3 hours chilling, top the cheesecake with the cherry mixture and then serve, or keep in the refrigerator, covered, for up to three days.
• Excellent source of: Calcium, Protein, Selenium
• Good source of: Phosphorus, Riboflavin, Vitamin A

RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan. , Place on a baking sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes or until crust is lightly browned around the edge. Cool on a wire rack. , In a large bowl, beat ricotta cheese on medium speed for 1 minute. Add sugar; beat for 1 minute. Add eggs; beat just until combined. Beat in flour and vanilla. Pour into crust. , Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 50-60 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. Remove sides of pan. If desired, serve with Hot Cherry Sauce. Refrigerate leftovers.

RICOTTA PIE WITH AMARENA CHERRIES

Steps:

• Crust:
• Place a rack in middle of oven and preheat to 325°F. Generously butter pan and set aside. Pulse almonds, flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor until almonds are finely ground and mixture is combined. Add egg yolks and pulse to incorporate. Add 3 Tbsp. butter to mixture and pulse until dough is the consistency of wet sand.
• Press crust into the bottom and 3/4" up the sides of prepared pan using a straight-sided measuring cup. Chill until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Bake crust until evenly golden brown and set, 12-14 minutes. (If it slumps during cooking, you can always press it back into place with the measuring cup while it's still warm.) Transfer pan to a wire rack and let crust cool.
• Filling and assembly:
• Keep oven at 325°F. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese in a medium bowl until no lumps remain, about 1 minute. Add ricotta and sour cream and beat until well incorporated. Add egg yolks and egg one at a time, beating well between each addition. With the motor running, gradually add sugar and salt and beat until filling is creamy and smooth, about 2 minutes. Add almond extract, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and orange zest and mix just to incorporate.
• Set pan with prepared crust on a large sheet of foil and fold up foil tightly around sides of pan (you can turn 2 small sheets of foil into 1 large sheet by folding their edges together several times, then opening up like a book). Repeat with several more pieces of foil to create a waterproof seal around the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Set inside a large roasting pan or baking dish and pour filling into crust (it will go above the crust).
• Set roasting pan on oven rack and carefully pour in very hot water to come about halfway up the side of the springform pan. Bake ricotta pie until the top is set and dry to touch but the filling still wobbles underneath (it will firm as it cools), 65-75 minutes. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill until cool and firm, 3-4 hours.
• Slice ricotta pie and serve topped with amarena cherries.
• Do Ahead
• Crust can be baked 1 day ahead. Store tightly covered at room temperature. Ricotta pie can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled.