Luscious Almond Cheesecake Recipes

LUSCIOUS ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine wafers, almonds and sugar; add the butter and mix well. Press into the bottom of a ungreased 10 inch springform pan; set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add extracts; beat just until blended. Pour into crust. Bake at 350 for 55 minutes or until center is almost set. Remove from the oven; let stand for 5 minutes.
• Combine sour cream, sugar and vanilla; spread over filling. Return to oven for 5 minutes. Cool on a wire rack; chill overnight. Just before serving, sprinkle with almonds and remove sides of pan. Store in the refrigerator.

ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom and side of 10-inch springform pan with baking spray with flour. Wrap outside of side and bottom of pan with foil.
• Reserve 1/2 cup of the cake mix; set aside. In large bowl, beat remaining cake mix and butter with electric mixer on low speed until crumbly. Press in bottom and 1 1/2 inches up side of pan. Bake about 15 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F (300°F for dark or nonstick pan).
• In same large bowl, beat reserved 1/2 cup cake mix and the cream cheese on medium speed until well blended. Beat in 3/4 cup sugar, the whipping cream and almond extract on medium speed until smooth and creamy. On low speed, beat in eggs, one at a time, until well blended. Pour batter over crust. Place springform pan in large roasting pan on oven rack. Pour boiling water into roasting pan halfway up side of springform pan.
• Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until edge is set but center jiggles slightly when moved. Cool in pan (in water bath) on cooling rack 20 minutes. Remove pan from water bath. Carefully run knife around side of pan to loosen, but do not remove side of pan. Cool 1 hour 30 minutes at room temperature.
• Cover loosely; refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, cook almonds and 4 teaspoons sugar over low heat about 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until sugar is melted and almonds are coated. Cool on waxed paper; break apart.
• Remove side of pan before serving. Garnish cheesecake with sugared almonds. Store covered in refrigerator.

ALMOND CHEESECAKE WITH AMARETTI CRUST

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F Wrap foil around outside of 9 1/2- or 10-inch springform pan to prevent leaks while baking.
• In food processor, combine toasted almonds and 2 tablespoons sugar; pulse until finely chopped. Add amaretti crumbs and melted butter; pulse to mix. Press crumb mixture evenly over bottom of pan. Set aside.
• In medium bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups of the sugar, flour and salt; set aside. In large bowl, beat cream cheese on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add sugar mixture; beat until smooth.
• In medium bowl, lightly whisk egg yolks. Add egg yolks, sour cream, almond extract and vanilla to cream cheese mixture. Beat on medium-low speed just until well blended and smooth, scraping down bowl occasionally.
• In large bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Slowly add remaining 1/4 cup sugar, beating until soft peaks form. Gently fold whites into cream cheese mixture; pour into springform pan.
• Place springform pan in large, shallow roasting pan or broiler pan. Fill with enough hot water to come halfway up sides of springform pan.
• Bake 1 hour and 5 minutes or until edges are puffed and top looks dull and is dry to the touch. Center should be less set than edges and will move when pan is tapped. It should not ripple as if liquid. Turn oven off; leave cheesecake in oven with door closed 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven. Let stand in water bath 1 hour. Remove from water bath; cool completely on wire rack. Refrigerate at least 4 hours; cover and store in refrigerator up to 3 days.**.
• Just before serving, press almonds around side of cake.

ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat eggs to blend in small bowl. Combine cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup almonds, 1 1/2 tablespoons beaten egg and 1 teaspoon sugar in processor. Using on/off turns, blend until almonds are finely ground and crumb mixture holds together, adding more beaten egg by teaspoonfuls if mixture is crumbly. Press crumb mixture onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish (crust will be thin). Bake crust until set, about 8 minutes. Cool while preparing filling.
• Beat nonfat and reduced-fat cream cheeses and remaining 3/4 cup sugar in large bowl until smooth. Beat in remaining beaten eggs, then vanilla extract, lemon peel and almond extract. Gently spread filling in prepared crust. Bake cheesecake until puffed and firm to touch in center, about 40 minutes.
• Remove cheesecake from oven. Spread sour cream evenly over top; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup almonds. Cool cheesecake on rack 1 hour. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and refrigerate overnight. Cut into wedges.

ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300.
• Combine graham crackers crumbs, sugar and butter.
• Press into springform pan.
• Beat cheese until fluffy.
• Gradually beat in milk.
• Add eggs and almond extract.
• Mix well.
• Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake 45- 50 minutes.
• Cool and chill.
• Serve plain or with your favorite topping.
• This can be done very quickly and simply by putting crackers, sugar and butter into a food processor.
• Blend for a minute.
• Prepare pan.
• Put cheese and milk in processor, blend.
• Add eggs and flavoring and process until thoroughly blended.
• Pour in pan.
• This whole process takes less than 5 minutes to prepare.

ALMOND JOY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For crust: Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Wrap foil around outside of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides.
• Grind the almonds in a food processor and add the toasted coconut and graham cracker crumbs or put the ingredients in a plastic zip bag and crush with a rolling pin until nuts and toasted coconut are finely ground and mix with crumbs.
• Add butter and brown sugar to the processor to blend or blend ingredients in a large bowl until crumbs stick together.
• Press crust mixture over bottom and 2 inches up sides of prepared pan.
• Bake until set, about 10 minutes.
• Lower oven temperature to 325 degrees and let crust and oven cool while you mix the filling.
• Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar and extract in a large bowl to blend.
• Beat in cream of coconut, shredded coconut and flour.
• Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until just combined.
• Pour filling into crust.
• Bake in a water bath until center is almost set, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Turn oven off and let cheesecake cool slowly in the oven for another 30 minutes.
• Transfer to a rack and cool for at least 30 minutes.
• Cover and chill overnight.
• For topping: Bring cream and corn syrup to simmer in medium saucepan.
• Remove from heat.
• Add chocolate chips; whisk until smooth.
• Cool to room temperature.
• Pour topping over cake.
• Sprinkle top with almonds and coconut.
• Chill until topping is set, about 2 hours.
• (Can be made 2 days ahead; covered tightly and refrigerated or it can be frozen for up to 2 weeks)