Philly Sugar Shack Maple Walnut Cheesecake Recipes

MAPLE-WALNUT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Fill a roasting pan halfway with water and set on a rack in the lower third of the oven; position another rack in the middle and preheat to 350 degrees F. Wrap the outside (bottom and side) of a 9-inch springform pan with foil. Make the crust: Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor a few times until crushed. Add the walnuts and brown sugar and continue pulsing until finely ground. Add the melted butter, nutmeg and salt and pulse to combine. Press into the bottom and about 1 inch up the side of the prepared pan. Bake until the crust is lightly golden, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.
• Make the filling: Beat the cream cheese in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed until nearly smooth, about 1 minute. Add the maple syrup and granulated sugar and beat until smooth, about 2 more minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Increase the speed to medium high and beat in the flour, heavy cream, lemon juice and maple extract until the filling is smooth and silky, about 1 more minute.
• Pour the filling into the cooled crust. Transfer the cheesecake to the oven, placing it on the middle rack directly over the water bath. Bake until golden and set around the edge but the center still jiggles slightly, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until cold and set, at least 5 hours or overnight. Let the cheesecake sit at room temperature 20 minutes, then run a thin knife around the edge and remove the springform ring.

MAPLE WALNUT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350.
• Wrap bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan with a double layer of foil.
• In food processor grind crumbs, walnuts and brown sugar till fine. Add the melted butter till nicely blended. Press into the bottom of pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
• To prepare filling beat cream cheese on medium speed till smooth. Blend in the maple syrup. Add eggs, one at a time, blending well after each addition. Beat in vanilla, flour and cream until just blended. Do not overbeat. Pour into the baked crust. (Note: I did all my mixing in my food processor) Set the springform pan in a large roasting pan and place on rack in center of oven. Pour boiling water into roasting pan until it is about halfway up the side of the springform pan. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until set but still jiggly in the middle.
• I turn the oven off at this point and remove the cake from the roaster pan. I remove the roaster pan from the oven but leave the cake in there, with the door open, to cool. I've read that this helps prevent the cracking that sometimes happens while the cake cools. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, covered. Carefully remove the sides of the pan. Drizzle with Maple Cream Sauce and top with Maple Whipped Cream. Garnish with some extra chopped walnuts, if desired.
• MAPLE WHIPPED CREAM DIRECTIONS:.
• In a chilled bowl whip the cold whipping cream with the maple syrup till fluffy.
• MAPLE CREAM SAUCE DIRECTIONS:.
• Combine syrup, cream and butter in a medium saucepan. Stir to blend and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, continue boiling stirring occasionally for 5 minutes. This mixture can boil quite high so be very watchful of it and reduce heat a bit if necessary. Makes about 1 1/4 cups.