BUT.....I am now on April vacation, so I can't really complain.
I've made a list of things I want to make over vacation, hopefully at least one thing each day, we'll see how it actually goes. I promised Dan some brownies, which I should probably make tonight before he eats all of the ingredients. They contain Easter candy that has been sitting in our snack cabinet just begging him to eat them, but he can't. If I wait too long I'll come home to find the little candy wrappers all over the place...
Cheesecakes are ridiculously easy to make. When I made my first one over a year ago, I assumed it was going to be a huge process. I always envied people who made cheesecakes because I thought they were so difficult, but they're not at all. I still envy people who make them though, that thought hasn't changed. I've made a few cheesecakes since that first time, and they have all ended up yummy and pretty easy. The most time consuming one is the Pineapple Carrot Cake Cheesecake, because it's two recipes in one, but it's still pretty easy.
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| Pineapple Carrot Cake Cheesecake |
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| Key Lime Habanero Cheesecake |
Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake
from finecooking
8 oz. chocolate wafers, finely crushed (2 cups of crumbs)
3 Tbs. granulated sugar
7 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted
3 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 and 1/4 cups strawberry purée
2 Tbs. all-purpose flour
Table salt
1 and 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 Tbs. pure vanilla extract
4 large eggs, at room temperature
3 oz. chopped semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
5 Tbs. unsalted butter
1 Tbs. light corn syrup
Sliced fresh strawberries, for garnish
1.Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 375°F.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the chocolate wafer crumbs and 3 Tbs. granulated sugar. Mix in the melted butter until the crumbs are evenly moist and clump together slightly. Transfer the mixture to a 9-inch springform pan and press evenly onto the bottom and about 2 inches up the sides of the pan (to press, use plastic wrap or a flat-bottom measuring cup). Bake until the crust is fragrant and slightly darkened, 9 to 12 minutes. Let the pan cool on a rack. Lower the oven temperature to 300°F.
3. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, strawberry purée, flour, and a pinch of table salt on medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl and the paddle frequently, until very smooth and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Make sure the cheese has no lumps. Add the 1-1/4 cups granulated sugar and continue beating until well blended and smooth.
4. Add the vanilla and beat until blended, about 30 seconds. Add the eggs one at a time, beating just until blended. (Don’t overbeat once the eggs have been added or the cheesecake will puff too much and crack as it cools.) Pour the filling into the cooled crust and smooth the top.
5. Bake at 300°F until the center jiggles like Jell-O when nudged, 55 to 65 minutes. The cake will be slightly puffed around the edges, and the center will still look moist. Set on a rack and cool completely. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 8 hours and up to 3 days. The cake can also be frozen at this point for up to 1 month (see make-ahead tip, below).
6. In a small bowl, melt the 3 oz. chopped chocolate and the butter. Add the corn syrup and whisk until smooth. Unclasp and remove the side of the springform pan and run a long, thin metal spatula under the bottom crust of the cheesecake. Carefully slide the cake onto a flat serving plate. Pour the chocolate ganache on the cheesecake and spread evenly.
7. Just before serving, garnish with the sliced strawberries. To cut, run a thin knife under hot water, wipe it dry, and cut the cake into slices, heating and wiping the knife after every slice.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the chocolate wafer crumbs and 3 Tbs. granulated sugar. Mix in the melted butter until the crumbs are evenly moist and clump together slightly. Transfer the mixture to a 9-inch springform pan and press evenly onto the bottom and about 2 inches up the sides of the pan (to press, use plastic wrap or a flat-bottom measuring cup). Bake until the crust is fragrant and slightly darkened, 9 to 12 minutes. Let the pan cool on a rack. Lower the oven temperature to 300°F.
3. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, strawberry purée, flour, and a pinch of table salt on medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl and the paddle frequently, until very smooth and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Make sure the cheese has no lumps. Add the 1-1/4 cups granulated sugar and continue beating until well blended and smooth.
4. Add the vanilla and beat until blended, about 30 seconds. Add the eggs one at a time, beating just until blended. (Don’t overbeat once the eggs have been added or the cheesecake will puff too much and crack as it cools.) Pour the filling into the cooled crust and smooth the top.
5. Bake at 300°F until the center jiggles like Jell-O when nudged, 55 to 65 minutes. The cake will be slightly puffed around the edges, and the center will still look moist. Set on a rack and cool completely. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 8 hours and up to 3 days. The cake can also be frozen at this point for up to 1 month (see make-ahead tip, below).
6. In a small bowl, melt the 3 oz. chopped chocolate and the butter. Add the corn syrup and whisk until smooth. Unclasp and remove the side of the springform pan and run a long, thin metal spatula under the bottom crust of the cheesecake. Carefully slide the cake onto a flat serving plate. Pour the chocolate ganache on the cheesecake and spread evenly.
7. Just before serving, garnish with the sliced strawberries. To cut, run a thin knife under hot water, wipe it dry, and cut the cake into slices, heating and wiping the knife after every slice.
I would bake it for at least 65 minutes. I baked mine for about 60, but when I cut into it today, the center was a little creamier than I would've liked. It was still set enough, but a little creamy for my liking. Oh...and decorate it prettier than I did, my chocolate is super messy...
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