Aunt Bettys Cheesecake Recipes

OUR BEST CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Mix graham crumbs, butter and 1/4 cup sugar; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
• Beat cream cheese and remaining sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours.
• Top with pie filling before serving.

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease 9-inch springform pan with shortening; remove bottom. In medium bowl, mix all crust ingredients with fork until dough forms; gather into a ball. Press one-third of the dough evenly on bottom of pan. Place on cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown; cool. Assemble bottom and side of pan; secure side. Press remaining dough 2 inches up side of pan.
• Increase oven temperature to 475°F. In large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, flour, orange peel, lemon peel and salt with electric mixer on medium speed about 1 minute or until smooth. Beat in eggs, 2 egg yolks and 1/4 cup whipping cream, beating on low speed until well blended. Pour into baked crust. Bake 15 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 200°F. Bake 1 hour longer. Cheesecake may not appear to be done, but if a small area in the center seems soft, it will become firm as cheesecake cools. (Do not insert a knife to test for doneness because the hole could cause cheesecake to crack.) Turn off oven; leave cheesecake in oven 30 minutes longer. Remove from oven and cool in pan on cooling rack away from drafts 30 minutes.
• Without releasing or removing side of pan, run metal spatula carefully along side of pan to loosen cheesecake. Refrigerate uncovered about 3 hours or until chilled; cover and continue refrigerating at least 9 hours but no longer than 48 hours.
• Run metal spatula along side of pan to loosen cheesecake again. Remove side of pan; leave cheesecake on pan bottom to serve. In chilled small bowl, beat 3/4 cup whipping cream with electric mixer on high speed until stiff. Spread whipped cream over top of cheesecake. Decorate with almonds. Store covered in refrigerator.

EASY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 325°F. Grease the pie plate with the shortening, using the pastry brush. Save pie plate for later (you will need it in step 3).
• Put the milk, almond extract, sugar, flour and salt in the blender. Crack the eggs on side of blender, letting eggs slip into blender. Cover blender with lid. Blend on high speed for about 15 seconds.
• Cut the cream cheese into little cubes on the cutting board, using the table knife. Add cream cheese to blender. Cover blender with lid. Blend 1 minute. Pour the mixture into the greased pie plate.
• Bake for 48 to 52 minutes or until the cheesecake is slightly jiggly when pie plate is shaken. Use the pot holders to take pie plate out of oven, and place it on the wire cooling rack. Let cheesecake cool for 1 hour. Put cheesecake in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours but no longer than 48 hours.
• Cut cheesecake into 8 slices, using the sharp knife. Put the slices on the dessert plates. Drizzle the ice cream topping over slices of cheesecake. If you like, sprinkle the berries over top of cheesecake slices. Serve right away. Cover any leftover cheesecake with the plastic wrap, and put it in the refrigerator.