Kimberly Landsons Chocolate Almond Cheesecake Recipes

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Add the chocolate graham crackers and the almonds to the bowl of a food processor. Process until finely chopped. Add the butter and salt and process again until it is the consistency of wet sand. Press the crust into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Make the topping: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and almonds. Using your fingers, work in the butter until it is the texture of a crumble topping. Set aside.
• Make the filling: Place the cream cheese, yogurt and granulated sugar in a large bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat the ingredients on medium speed for 3 minutes, or until the mixture is light and fluffy, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula as needed. Add the eggs, almond extract, vanilla extract and salt and beat another minute on medium. Reduce the speed to low and beat in the melted chocolate until combined.
• Pour the filling over the crust and sprinkle evenly with the crumble topping. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the center of the cake is just set. Allow the cake to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled. Serve cold. Dust with confectioners' sugar, if desired.

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust: Add the chocolate graham crackers and the almonds to a food processor. Process until finely chopped. Add the butter and salt and process to the consistency of wet sand. Press the crust into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the topping: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and almonds. Using your fingers, work in the butter until the mixture has the texture of a crumble topping. Set aside.
• For the filling: Place the cream cheese, sugar and yogurt in a large bowl. Using an electric hand mixer, beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed with a rubber spatula. Add the eggs, almond extract, vanilla extract and salt; beat another minute on medium. Reduce the speed to low and beat in the chocolate until combined. Pour the filling over the crust and sprinkle evenly with the crumble topping.
• Bake until the center of the cake is just set, 45 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled.
• Serve cold, with a dusting of powdered sugar if desired.

LUSCIOUS ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, almonds and sugar; stir in the butter and mix well. Press into the bottom of a greased 10-in. springform pan; set aside. , In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in extracts. Pour into crust. Place on a baking sheet., Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until center is almost set. Remove from the oven; let stand for 5 minutes (leave oven on). Combine the sour cream, sugar and vanilla. Spoon around edge of cheesecake; carefully spread over filling. Bake 5 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight., Just before serving, sprinkle with almonds and remove sides of pan. Refrigerate leftovers.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, almonds and sugar; stir in butter.
• Press onto the bottom and 1 3/4 inches up the sides of a greased 9 inch springform pan.
• Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• In a small saucepan, soften gelatin in milk; let stand for 5 minutes.
• Cook and stir over medium heat until gelatin is dissolved.
• Cool to room temperature, about 6 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream and almonds extract until smooth.
• Beat in melted chocolate and gelatin mixture.
• Fold in whipped cream.
• Spoon into crust.
• Cover and chill for 6 hours or overnight.
• Just before serving, run a knife around edge of pan to loosen.
• Remove sides of pan.
• Garnish with chocolate kisses, almonds and additional whipped cream.
• Refrigerate leftovers.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND MARBLE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, combine cookie crumbs, almonds, 1/4 cup sugar and melted butter. Mix well. Press into the bottom and halfway up the sides of a 10 inch springform pan.
• In the top of a double boiler, heat chocolate, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool to lukewarm.
• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and 1 cup sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Fold in the almond extract and sour cream. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the filling into a smaller bowl. Stir the melted chocolate into the smaller bowl, then fold loosely back into plain filling. Pour into crust. With the tip of a knife, swirl the filling to create a marbled effect.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Turn off oven and let cake cool in oven for 1 hour, with the door closed. Cool at room temperature, then refrigerate overnight.

ALMOND CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Combine flour, butter and confectioners' sugar; press onto the bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. , In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and extract until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour over crust. Bake until center is almost set, 15-20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., For frosting, beat all ingredients until smooth; spread over bars. Store in the refrigerator.

KIMBERLY LANDSON'S CHOCOLATE ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F.
• Combine crust ingredients and press into the bottom of a greased 9" (22.5cm) springform pan.
• Melt chocolate in microwave on medium, then let cool.
• Using electric mixer to beat cream cheese and Splenda to blend.
• Beat eggs and extracts until smooth.
• Blend in chocolate and sour cream.
• Pour into prepared pan and bake in the middle of the oven for 35 minutes or until set.
• Turn off oven, leave door ajar, and let cool in oven for 1 hour.
• Refrigerate, in cake pan, at least 3 hours or overnight.
• When completely cooled, remove pan sides.
• Top with whipped cream sweetened with Splenda, and sprinkle with coarsely chopped almonds.