Giada De Laurentiis Mascarpone Cheesecake With Almond Crust Recipes

MASCARPONE CANNOLI CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Pulse the biscotti to fine crumbs in a food processor. Drizzle in the butter, add the salt and pulse until the mixture has the texture of wet sand. Press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Bake for 8 minutes, until the crust smells toasted and is beginning to brown. Set aside to cool while you make the filling. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, mascarpone and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally with a rubber spatula. Add the salt, vanilla and lemon zest; beat on medium speed until combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again. Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in the chocolate chips.
• Pour the cream cheese mixture over the crust and spread evenly. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the center of the cake still moves just slightly.
• Allow the cheesecake to cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Run a knife around the edge of the pan before releasing the collar.
• Top each slice of cheesecake with a spoonful of cherries, if using.

GIADA DE LAURENTIIS MASCARPONE CHEESECAKE WITH ALMOND CRUST

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Tightly wrap the outside of a 9-inch diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides with 3 layers of heavy-duty foil. Finely grind the almonds, cracker crumbs, and sugar in a food processor. Add the butter and process until moist crumbs form. Press the almond mixture onto the bottom of the prepared pan (not on the sides of the pan). Bake the crust until it is set and beginning to brown, about 12 minutes. Cool. Decrease the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• For the filling: Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, and sugar in a large bowl until smooth, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat in the lemon juice and vanilla. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
• Pour the cheese mixture over the crust in the pan. Place the springform pan in a large roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the springform pan. Bake until the center of the cheesecake moves slightly when the pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour 5 minutes (the cake will become firm when it is cold). Transfer the cake to a rack; cool for 1 hour. Refrigerate until the cheesecake is cold, at least 8 hours and up to 2 days.
• For the topping: Combine the chocolate-hazelnut spread and cream in a small bowl. Heat in the microwave until warm, stirring every 20 seconds to blend, about 1 minute.
• Cut the cake into wedges. Drizzle the chocolate sauce over the wedges and serve.

GIADA DE LAURENTIIS' MASCARPONE CHEESECAKE WITH ALMOND CRUST

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Tightly wrap the outside of a 9-inch diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides with 3 layers of heavy-duty foil.
• Finely grind the almonds, cracker crumbs, and sugar in a food processor. Add the butter and process until moist crumbs form.
• Press the almond mixture onto the bottom of the prepared pan (not on the sides of the pan).
• Bake the crust until it is set and beginning to brown, about 12 minutes. Cool. Decrease the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• For the filling: Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, and sugar in a large bowl until smooth, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
• Beat in the lemon juice and vanilla. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
• Pour the cheese mixture over the crust in the pan.
• Place the springform pan in a large roasting pan.
• Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the springform pan.
• Bake until the center of the cheesecake moves slightly when the pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour 5 minutes (the cake will become firm when it is cold).
• Transfer the cake to a rack; cool for 1 hour.
• Refrigerate until the cheesecake is cold, at least 8 hours and up to 2 days.
• For the topping: Combine the chocolate-hazelnut spread and cream in a small bowl. Heat in the microwave until warm, stirring every 20 seconds to blend, about 1 minute.
• Cut the cake into wedges. Drizzle the chocolate sauce over the wedges and serve.

MASCARPONE CITRUS CHEESECAKE WITH ALMOND CRUST

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat oven to 350. Tightly wrap the outside of a 9-inch springform pan with 2 3/4 inch sides with 3 layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Finely grind the toasted slivered almonds, graham cracker crumbs and sugar in a food processor. Slowly add melted butter. Press the mixture into the bottom (not up the sides) of the springform pan (using the back of a 1/4 cup metal measuring cup helps for an even crust). Bake 12 minutes, cool completely. Turn oven down to 325.
• For the filling: using an electric mixer (or stand mixer) beat the cream cheese, mascarpone and sugar until light and fluffy, being sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Beat in lemon juice, lemon oil, limoncello and vanilla. Taste test. Add more lemon oil/limoncello if desired. Be careful with the lemon oil -- too much and it's bitter.
• Here's where you can change up the flavor -- for orange cheesecake -- add 1 tablespoon orange juice concentrate, 1/4 teaspoons orange oil (optional) and 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier in place of all lemon ingredients. Again, taste test before adding eggs and adjust to suit your taste.
• Next, add eggs one at a time (must be room temperature), beating just until incorporated, you don't want to whip in the eggs. Pour cheesecake over crust and place in a roasting pan. Fill the pan with HOT water (like from a kettle simmering on the stove) halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan. Bake for 1 hour and 5 minutes, until golden brown on top. Cheesecake will appear very wobbly. It will set when cool.
• Carefully take out of oven and cool on a rack for one hour. Cool completely in pan in refrigerator for at least 8 hours. Run a small knife around the edge of the cheesecake and release from pan.
• Here's where you can freeze it. After cooling completely in refrigerator, tightly wrap top of springform pan with aluminum foil. Transfer to freezer and freeze until solid. When solid, remove from freezer and run a small knife around the edge of the cheesecake and release from springform pan. Score cake into 8 perfect wedges and using your sharpest knife (dipping it in hot water will help this process), cut cheesecake into clean, sharp wedges. Wrap edge wedge in plastic wrap, thoroughly. Put slices in freezer bag and return to the freezer. To defrost, remove desired pieces from freezer, unwrap and place on a plate. Cover with plastic wrap and put in refrigerator until thawed (usually about 30 minutes). Can be left out at room temperature to speed along the process after 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Enjoy!