White Chocolate Cheesecake With Cocoa Almond Crust Recipes

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Beat butter, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp. vanilla in small bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in flour until well blended; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Prick with fork. Bake 25 min. or until edge is lightly browned.
• Beat cream cheese, remaining sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Add chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 55 min. to 1 hour or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate 4 hours. Top with raspberries just before serving.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 170 C (340 F) standard / 150 C (300 F) fan-forced. Line the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan with baking or parchment paper.
• Add cookies to a food processor and whiz until finely crushed. Place crumbs in a large mixing bowl. Melt butter in the microwave, then pour over cookie crumbs and mix well. It should resemble wet sand.
• Place wet crumbs in your prepared pan and press down gently to form one even layer. Use the back of a spoon to smooth crumbs. Pop in the fridge.
• Add cream cheese (make sure it's nice and soft) to a large mixing bowl and beat for a minute or two until smooth and creamy. Add sugar and vanilla and beat again. Then add eggs, one at a time, beating on a low speed until incorporated.
• Add sour cream, cornflour and melted chocolate and stir until smooth - but try not to overmix. Add white chocolate chunks.
• Pour cheesecake filling over cookie crust and smooth the top. Bake in the oven for approximately 35-40 minutes or until it no longer wobbles in the middle. Try not to over bake it as it will continue to cook as it cools. Leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door ajar (with the oven turned off) for at least one hour.
• Remove cheesecake and leave to cool at room temperature before transferring to the fridge. The cheesecake is best left in the fridge for 3-4 hours (or overnight) until it cools completely and becomes nice and firm before slicing.
• To serve, top with fresh raspberries and dust with icing sugar.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE W/ ALMOND CRUST

Steps:

• 1. Gather your ingredients.
• 2. Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat the oven to 355f (180c).
• 3. Take the 1 tablespoon of butter and rub on the bottom and sides of an 8-inch (20cm) spring form pan.
• 4. Cut a round piece of parchment paper the size of the bottom of the pan, and press into the butter.
• 5. Lightly butter the top of the parchment paper, and reserve.
• 6. THE CRUST
• 7. Add all the ingredients for the crust (except the butter) to a large bowl.
• 8. Thoroughly mix.
• 9. Add the butter.
• 10. Cut into the dry ingredients until combined.
• 11. Add the crust to the spring form pan, and flatten it out.
• 12. Make a slight rise around the sides of the pan.
• 13. Place into the preheated oven, and bake for 15 minutes.
• 14. Remove from oven, and allow the crust to cool.
• 15. THE FILLING
• 16. Gather your ingredients.
• 17. While the crust is cooling, add the white chocolate to the top of a double boiler, or you can place a bowl over a pot of gently simmering water.
• 18. Chef's Tip: If you're using blocks of chocolate, it will make the process go faster if you chop it up with a good sharp knife.
• 19. Stir the mixture until the chocolate is melted.
• 20. Add the melted chocolate to a large bowl, and then add the cream cheese.
• 21. Gently stir the mixture until the chocolate and cream cheese are incorporated.
• 22. Add the yolks.
• 23. Mix until the yolks are incorporated into the chocolate/cheese mixture.
• 24. Meanwhile, beat the egg whites using an electric mixer, or food processor.
• 25. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form.
• 26. Chef's Note: If the bowl you're using is not clean, you won't get stiff peaks.
• 27. Add half the egg whites to the mixture.
• 28. Gently fold until incorporated.
• 29. Chef's Note: Repeat with the other half of the egg whites.
• 30. Add the mixture to the spring form pan.
• 31. Bake the cheesecake in a bain marie until set, about 45 minutes.
• 32. Chef's Note: A "bain marie" is a water bath. Take a baking dish, large enough to hold the spring form pan. Place the dish and pan into the oven, and then fill the baking dish up with hot water, to about halfway up the spring form pan. This will cook the cheesecake with a gentle, moist heat.
• 33. Chef's Tip: If your spring form pan is not water tight, you need to wrap the outside of the pan in aluminum foil before placing in the bain marie.
• 34. After the cake has set, turn off the oven, and leave the cheesecake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes.
• 35. Remove, from oven, remove from bain marie, and allow to rest on the countertop for about an hour.
• 36. Run a knife around the edges of the cheesecake to separate it from the pan.
• 37. Cover and place in the refrigerator and allow the cheesecake to chill for three hours or more before serving.
• 38. Remove from the spring form pan, slice using a knife dipped in warm water, and serve with your favorite toppings. Enjoy.
• 39. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

CONTEST-WINNING WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a greased 10-in. springform pan. , In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla until well blended. Add eggs and yolks; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in white chocolate. Pour over crust. Place pan on a baking sheet. , Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until center is just set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. , For sauce, in a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and water until smooth. Add strawberries. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in a few drops of food coloring if desired. Cool. , Spread strawberry sauce over top of cheesecake; drizzle with melted white chocolate. Refrigerate leftovers.

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust: Add the chocolate graham crackers and the almonds to a food processor. Process until finely chopped. Add the butter and salt and process to the consistency of wet sand. Press the crust into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the topping: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and almonds. Using your fingers, work in the butter until the mixture has the texture of a crumble topping. Set aside.
• For the filling: Place the cream cheese, sugar and yogurt in a large bowl. Using an electric hand mixer, beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed with a rubber spatula. Add the eggs, almond extract, vanilla extract and salt; beat another minute on medium. Reduce the speed to low and beat in the chocolate until combined. Pour the filling over the crust and sprinkle evenly with the crumble topping.
• Bake until the center of the cake is just set, 45 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled.
• Serve cold, with a dusting of powdered sugar if desired.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH A BLACKBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Grease a 9 in springform pan (I use Pam but butter will also work) and preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Combine crushed graham crackers, melted butter, sugar, and salt. Mix thoroughly.
• Press graham cracker mixture into the springform pan, packing it in firmly*.
• Bake crust in preheated oven for 8 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F (or just leave on after baking the crust). Make sure the oven rack is in the center of the oven.
• In a microwave safe dish combine white chocolate and heavy cream. Microwave on 50% power for 30 seconds, stir and repeat until smooth. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand-up mixer combine granulated sugar, and cream cheese. Mix until well combined.
• Add in the melted white chocolate mixture, mixing until combined. Scraping down the sides of the bowl when necessary.
• Once white chocolate mixture is fully incorporated, add in the eggs one at a time. Let each egg become fully incorporated before adding the next. Scraping down the sides of the bowl when necessary.
• After the eggs are mixed in, add the vanilla, and mix until combined.
• Using foil, wrap the bottom of your spring form pan that has the baked crust in it. - this will help keep the water out. *
• Then pour the cheesecake batter into the springform pan.
• Place the cheesecake pan in a large roasting pan and pour boiling water into the roasting pan (making sure not to get water on the cheesecake). You want the water to reach ~2 inches up the side of the springform pan.
• Bake the cheesecake (in the roasting pan/water bath) at 350°F for 15 minutes then reduce the oven temperature to 225°F and bake for another 90 minutes. After 90 minutes turn your oven off and allow the cheesecake to come to room temperature* (this will take an hour or more). When you first turn the oven off the cheesecake will jiggle significantly. After it comes to room temperature it will still have a slight jiggle. (see video for example). I also like to crack the oven door just slightly so it lets the hot air out a little faster.
• Once at room temperature, refrigerate for 2 hours to allow it to completely set (aka no more jiggle).
• In a medium size saucepan, over medium heat, add blackberries, granulated sugar, and dessert wine. Bring to a boil, and boil for 3 minutes. Stirring occasionally. Then remove from heat.
• In a separate bowl combine cornstarch and water, whisking to fully combine.
• Stir cornstarch mixture into blackberry mixture. Then stir in vanilla and salt.
• You can use the sauce as is or puree it a bit with either an immersion blender, or a regular blender. I typically blend it a little but still like to keep larger pieces of blackberries in it too.

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Add the chocolate graham crackers and the almonds to the bowl of a food processor. Process until finely chopped. Add the butter and salt and process again until it is the consistency of wet sand. Press the crust into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Make the topping: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and almonds. Using your fingers, work in the butter until it is the texture of a crumble topping. Set aside.
• Make the filling: Place the cream cheese, yogurt and granulated sugar in a large bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat the ingredients on medium speed for 3 minutes, or until the mixture is light and fluffy, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula as needed. Add the eggs, almond extract, vanilla extract and salt and beat another minute on medium. Reduce the speed to low and beat in the melted chocolate until combined.
• Pour the filling over the crust and sprinkle evenly with the crumble topping. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the center of the cake is just set. Allow the cake to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled. Serve cold. Dust with confectioners' sugar, if desired.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH COCOA-ALMOND CRUST

Steps:

• Combine first 6 ingredients; stir well.
• Firmly press crumb mixture on bottom and 2 inches up sides of a 9 inch springform pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes; cool in pan on a wire rack.
• Combine white chocolate and 1/2 cup whipping cream in top of a double boiler; bring water to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low; cook until white chocolate melts, stirring occasionally.
• Let cool.
• Beat cream chees at medium speed of an electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugaar, beating well.
• Add remaining 1/4 cup whipping cream, beating well.
• Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating after each addition.
• Stir in white chocolate mixture and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
• Beat egg whites at high speed until stiff peaks form.
• Fold into cream cheese mixture.
• Pour batter into prepared crust.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let cool 15 minutes in pan on a wire rack.
• Increase oven temperature to 475 degrees.
• Combine sour cream, 1/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla; stir well.
• Pour over cheesecake, leaving a 3/4 inch border on edge of cheesecake.
• Return to oven and bank an additional 7 minutes.
• Cool to room temperature in pan on a wire rack.
• Chill at least 8 hours.
• Garnish with chocolate curls if desired.

CHERRY CHEESECAKE WITH CHOCOLATE ALMOND CRUST

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Preheat oven to 350° F.
• In a food processor pulse almonds until ground. Add chocolate wafer cookies and grind fine. Add butter, sugar, almond extract, and salt and pulse until combined well. Transfer mixture to a 9-inch springform pan and press evenly onto bottom and 1 inch up side. Bake crust in middle of oven 10 minutes and transfer to a rack to cool. Crust may be made 3 days ahead and kept, covered, at room temperature.
• Make topping:
• In a very small bowl sprinkle gelatin over water and let stand about 1 minute to soften. In a heavy saucepan bring cherries, sugar, and lemon juice to a boil, stirring. Remove pan from heat and reserve 1/2 cup juice for filling. To mixture remaining in pan add gelatin mixture and almond extract and stir until gelatin is dissolved.
• Make filling:
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat cream cheese with sugar until smooth. Beat in flour and add eggs 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Beat in sour cream, vanilla, and reserved cherry juice until combined well.
• Pour filling into crust and bake in middle of oven 50 minutes. (Cake will not be set in center but will set as it cools.) Transfer cake in pan to a rack to cool completely. Chill cake, loosely covered, 1 hour. Remove side of pan and transfer cake to a plate. Spread topping evenly over cake. Chill cake, loosely covered, at least 2 hours and up to 3 days.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine crust ingredients; reserve 2 tablespoons for garnish. Press remaining crumbs evenly onto the bottom and 2 in. up the sides of a 9-in. springform pan. Chill. , For filling, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the sour cream, chocolate and extract. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust., Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes (filling will not be set). Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes., Meanwhile, combine topping ingredients. Gently spread over filling. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Bake 10 minutes longer. , Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Garnish with sliced, toasted almonds if desired.