Sunset Key Lime Cheesecake Recipes

MY FAVORITE KEY LIME CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• NOTE: A HAND-HELD MIXER WORKS BEST FOR BLENDING THE FILLING, PAUSING AT INTERVALS TO SCRAPE SIDES OF MIXING BOWL. ALLOW A MINIMUM OF 4 HOURS FOR BAKED CHEESECAKE TO REFRIGERATE AND SET BEFORE SERVING. (STEP ONE): TEMPER 32 ounces Philadelphia cream cheese (four 8 ounce bricks) until room temperature is reached (about 1 1/2 hours); GRATE the outer green peel from enough key limes to yield 1/2 teaspoon plus desired amount for final garnish, using the finest shred grate of a cheese grater to produce fine zest flakes; SQUEEZE enough key limes to yield 1 cup juice.
• PREHEAT oven to 375°F with one oven rack in center position and another in the lowest position; MELT 4 tablespoons unsalted butter in a microwaveable dish in a microwave for about 40 seconds for the CRUST; PROCESS enough Nilla Wafers cookies in a food processor to yield 2 cups crumbs; ADD 1 tablespoon granulated sugar; POUR butter mixture through processor feeder tube while running; PROCESS mixture until thoroughly mixed; RESERVE a few teaspoons of crumb mixture for garnish if desired; DUMP crumb mixture into a 9-inch or 10-inch springform pan; LIGHTLY spread mixture evenly into bottom of pan to approximately 1/4 inch thickness, then partway up the sides of pan.
• BAKE the crust at 375°F on center rack for 5 minutes; REMOVE spring pan from oven and set aside; LEAVE oven on at 375°F.
• INTO a large mixer bowl add 32 ounces tempered cream cheese, 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, 1/4 cup flour and 1/2 teaspoon fresh Key lime zest; WHIP with mixer on medium speed until blended.
• POUR in 1 cup freshly squeezed Key lime juice and 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract while mixing on lowest speed; MIX in 1 cup real sour cream; ADD 1 (5.1 ounce) package Jell-0 Vanilla Instant Pudding mix gradually while mixing on highest speed until well blended and lump-free; BEAT 4 eggs in a separate bowl, then add to mixture, beating on lowest speed until blended, without over-mixing or creating air bubbles (pause to scrape sides of bowl if necessary).
• POUR the cheesecake batter carefully into the springform pan containing crust mixture; SMOOTH mixture in swirls from edges of pan to center until level, using a flexible spatula.
• BAKE cheesecake at 375°F for 15 minutes; REDUCE oven temperature to 260 F.; CONTINUE baking cheescake for 1 hour for a 10-inch pan, or 1 hour and 7 minutes, for a 9-inch pan.
• REMOVE cheesecake carefully from oven; GENTLY run a sharp knife around edges of cheesecake in springform pan to loosen; LEAVE cheesecake in springform pan and allow to cool completely on a wire rack; REFRIGERATE cheesecake in the springform pan for at least 4 hours to set; REMOVE side pan carefully.
• SPRINKLE a light border of cookie crumbs on cheesecake; TOP with a dollop of fresh whipped cream (use a pastry bag with decorator tip); GARNISH each serving with a pinch of finely grated fresh key lime zest and/or a fresh key lime twist if desired.
• SERVE and ENJOY!

SUNSET KEY LIME CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• FOR THE CRUST: Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Lightly grease the bottom of a 10-inch springform pan with butter. Do not grease the sides of the pan. Wrap the outside of the pan with foil to prevent leakage. In a food processor, fitted with the steel blade attachment, pulverize the graham craham crackers into crumbs. Transfer the crumbs to a mixing bowl. Add the melted butter and mix with a rubber spatula. Press the crumb mixture over the bottom of the springform pan, reaching all the way to the sides so it forms a seal against leakage. Bake for 10 minutes, remove and cook whle you make the filling; lower the heat to 325F.
• FOR THE FILLING AND TOPPING: With an electric mixer on low speed, beat the cream cheese and sugar for 2 minutes or until soft and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for 15 seconds between additions to make sure each one is thoroughy incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, with a rubber spatula and beat for a minute longer. With the machine running, slowly beat in in the half-and-half and then 2 tablespoons Key lime juice. Set aside 1/2 cup of the cheesecake mixture to which you should add the remaining Key lime juice and transfer this to a liquid measuring cup or pitcher.
• FOR THE CAKE: Pour the cheesecake mixtue over the baked crust, then por a thin stream of Key Lime-boosted cheesecake mixture over the top and scatter the grated lime zest over that. With a toothpick or wooden skewer, swirl the Key lime mixture and zest into the batter the way you would marbelize a cake. Bake for 1 1/2 hours or until the mixture is set; the cake will appear to be jiggly, but will firm up upon standing.
• TO SERVE: Remove the cake from the oven and place on a rack ro cool to room temperature in the pan. Unlock the springform and remove the cake, but leave the cake on the bottom of the pan. . Chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before serving or before attempting to remove the cake from the springform bottom.

KEY LIME CHEESECAKE I

Steps:

• Combine cookie or graham cracker crumbs with butter or margarine. Press into bottom and partially up sides of 9 inch springform pan. Refrigerate.
• In a large bowl, beat with an electric mixer the cream cheese, sugar, lime peel, and cornstarch until smooth and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, blending just until smooth. Add key lime juice with mixer on low. Finish mixing by hand. Do not over beat, or cake will crack during baking. Pour batter into prepared crust.
• Bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 55 to 65 minutes, or until set. To minimize cracking, place a shallow pan half full of hot water on lower rack during baking.
• Turn oven off, and let cheesecake stand in oven 30 minutes with the door open at least 4 inches. Remove from oven. Refrigerate cake overnight, and up to three days.

CHEESECAKE FACTORY KEY LIME CHEESECAKE--MY VERSION

Steps:

• In 9 or 10 inch springform pan, combine crumbs, melted butter, and 1/4 cup sugar. Press evenly over bottom of pan and halfway up sides. Bake at 375 for 7-8 minutes, no longer.
• Cream room temperature cream cheese well, add sugar, and cream until smooth, scraping sides and bottom of bowl frequently to integrate any cream cheese lumps. Cream in sour cream, eggs, flour and vanilla. When smooth once more, stir in lime juice. Note: 3/4 Cup of Key Lime juice makes a very tart cheesecake. If you prefer a less tart cheesecake, start with 1/3 cup and increase to taste.
• Pour over prepared crust. Return to 375 oven for 15 minutes. Lower temperature to 250 and continue baking 50 minutes for 10 inch pan, 55 minutes for 9 inch pan. Cool on wire rack IN PAN for 20 minutes. Run a sharp knife around edge to loosen cheesecake, but do NOT remove from pan. Refrigerate at least 6 hours before serving. May be garnished with sweetened whipped cream, lime zest, or both.

EASY KEY LIME CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese, sugar, lime zest, lime juice, and vanilla with a mixer on medium until well blended.
• Add eggs; mix just until blended.
• Pour into crust.
• Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes or until center is almost set.
• Cool. Refrigerate 3 hours or overnight.
• Garnish with Cool Whip and lime slices.

KEY LIME CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Mix vanilla wafer crumbs and butter together.
• Press crumbs onto bottom and halfway up the sides of a greased 8-inch springform pan.
• Bake crust for 5 minutes, then set aside.
• In large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar, beating until smooth.
• Add vanilla and key lime juice and beat well.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just combined after each egg.
• Gently mix in sour cream.
• Pour into a greased springform pan.
• Bake at 350°F for about 40-45 minutes (cheesecake should still jiggle a little in center).
• Turn off oven and leave cheesecake undisturbed for 30 minutes.
• Remove cheesecake from oven and cool to room temperature on wire rack.
• Refrigerate several hours before serving.