Spiced Maple Walnut Cheesecake Recipes

NEW YORK MAPLE-WALNUT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, mix the graham-cracker crumbs with 2 tablespoons of the sugar and stir with a fork to combine. Grease the sides of a 9-inch springform pan and sprinkle it with the cracker mixture, shaking any excess back into the bowl. Add the melted butter to the bowl and toss with a fork until the butter has moistened the crumb mixture. Scatter the crumbs evenly over the pan bottom and press into it using the bottom of a straight-sided glass. Bake for 10 minutes and let cool. Raise the heat in the oven to 500 degrees.
• With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until it is soft and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix the flour with the remaining sugar and add it and half the maple syrup to the cheese in thirds, mixing after each addition. Add the eggs and the yolks to the batter one by one, beating after each addition. Add the heavy cream and mix again. Pour the batter into the crust and bake for 15 minutes. Lower the oven to 200 degrees and bake for an hour more. Turn off the oven, leave the door halfway open and let the cheesecake cool in the oven for a half-hour. Chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours and not more than 24.
• When ready to serve, heat the remaining maple syrup over low heat in a small saucepan until it bubbles and let simmer gently for 1 minute, until it has thickened slightly. Whisk in the cornstarch and turn off the flame. Add the walnuts and turn to coat. Spread them out on a piece of parchment paper to cool and harden into praline, then sprinkle over the cheesecake.

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.