Mini German Cheesecakes With Apricot Compote Recipes

APRICOT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with a parchment round.
• Make the crust: Stir together graham-cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom of pan. Bake until set, about 10 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack to cool completely.
• Make the filling: Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Wrap the exterior of the springform pan with a double layer of foil. Set a kettle of water to boil. With an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese on medium speed until fluffy and smooth, about 3 minutes. Reduce to low speed; add sugar in a slow, steady stream. Add the salt and vanilla; beat until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each until just combined (do not over-mix). Pour the cream cheese filling over crust.
• Set springform pan inside a large, shallow roasting pan. Carefully pour boiling water into roasting pan to reach halfway up side of springform pan. Bake until cake is set but still slightly wobbly in center, about 75 minutes.
• Transfer springform pan to a wire rack and remove foil; let cool completely. Refrigerate, uncovered, at least 24 hours. Run a knife around edge of cake to loosen before unmolding.
• Make the topping: Sprinkle the gelatin over the water in a small bowl and let soften for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the apricot preserves over medium-low until warm, about 2 minutes. Add softened gelatin and stir to combine. Let cool slightly and then strain over cheesecake. Spread into an even layer and chill to set, about 2 hours.

MINI CHEESECAKES WITH APRICOT JAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Mix cookies and 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar in a bowl. Stir in butter. Press 1 tablespoon of mixture in bottom of each cup. Bake until set, about 7 minutes. Let cool in tins on wire racks.
• Reduce oven temperature to 275 degrees. Beat cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, then vanilla. With mixer running, add eggs slowly, scraping down side of bowl. Add sour cream and salt. Pour batter into muffin cups, filling almost to the tops.
• Bake until sides are set but centers are wobbly, about 20 minutes. Let cool in tins on wire racks. Wrap tins tightly with plastic, and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
• Warm jam in a small saucepan until liquidy. Strain through a sieve. Spoon 1 teaspoon jam on top of each cake.

MINI GERMAN CHEESECAKES WITH APRICOT COMPOTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with 12 paper muffin liners.
• Beat together ricotta, sour cream, whipping cream and sugar with a hand mixer. Add the vanilla and orange zest to ricotta mixture then beat in eggs 1 at a time.
• Spoon the mixture equally between the 12 liners. Bake 25-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of one of the cakes comes out clean.
• Cool on a rack, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour before removing paper liners.
• Meawhile, heat the preserves & apple juice in a small sauce pan. Simmer for 3-5 minutes.
• Invert each cheesecake on a gingerbread cookie, and spread on the warm apricot compote.