Cheesecake
If you love Cheesecake, today's post is sure to please. Check out the Pumpkin-Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake, the Berry Coconut No-Bake Cheesecake, and the rest of today's yummy recipes. Enjoy!
LEMON CHEESECAKE TART
This is from Yossy Arefi in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Yossy wrote, "With a simple, pat-in-the-pan crust and a thin layer of light, lemon-scented cream cheese, this cheesecake tart is a lot easier to make than you might imagine. The base can be baked right away, with no chilling required, and the custardy filling relies upon little more than tangy cream cheese, lemon zest and juice, sugar and eggs. It’s the perfect dessert for a winter or early spring gathering, when there might not be much fresh fruit around but you’re in the mood for a bright dessert."
Time: 1-1/4 hours, plus cooling; Yield: 1 (9-inch) tart
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023858-lemon-cheesecake-tart.
Ingredients
For the Crust
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes, plus more for greasing the pan
1 egg yolk
For the Filling
16 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Finely grated zest of 2 lemons plus 1/4 cup freshly squeezed juice
Pinch fine salt
2 large eggs
Preparation
Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Make the crust: Combine the flour, confectioners' sugar, salt and lemon zest in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade; pulse a few times to combine. Scatter the cubed butter on top, then pulse until the butter is almost completely incorporated and the mixture is sandy. Add the egg yolk and pulse until incorporated. The dough should hold together easily. If not, pulse in up to 3 teaspoons of cold water, 1 teaspoon at a time. Alternatively, you can mix the dough in a large bowl, using your fingers or a pastry blender to mix the butter into the flour.
Lightly butter a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom and press the dough mixture evenly on the bottom and up the sides of the pan using a lightly floured straight-sided measuring cup to help press the dough into the corners of the pan. (If you need to trim extra dough to make it level with the edge of the pan, reserve it to repair any cracks after the shell has baked.)
Line the tart shell with a piece of aluminum foil, making sure to tuck it into the corners and over the edges. Set the tart shell on a baking sheet and bake the shell for 25 to 30 minutes or until the dough appears dry and lightly golden. If the dough puffs up while baking, gently press it back into the pan with an offset spatula or similar tool. Turn the oven down to 350 degrees. If necessary, repair any cracks with the remaining raw dough before filling.
While the shell cools slightly, make the filling: Add the cream cheese, granulated sugar, lemon zest and salt to a large bowl. Use an electric mixer to whip the cream cheese mixture until smooth and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until completely incorporated before adding the next, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, if needed. Add the lemon juice and mix until smooth. Tap the bowl on the counter a few times then stir a few times with a rubber spatula to release any large air bubbles.
Pour the mixture into the warm crust, smooth the top and carefully transfer the pan, still on the baking sheet, into the oven. Bake until just set around the edges and slightly wiggly in the center, 15 to 20 minutes.
Let the tart cool to room temperature, then transfer to the refrigerator to cool completely. Remove the outer ring and slice with a warm knife, wiping the knife with a towel in between cuts for the tidiest slices. Serve cold or at room temperature. This keeps well in the fridge, covered for a few days.
PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
This is from that infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, and begins, “Wow a holiday crowd with this amazing pumpkin cheesecake!”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cooking Time: 55 minutes; Serves: 16
Ingredients
1-1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup butter, melted OR 1/3 cup margarine, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 package cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 can LIBBY ® 100% Pure Pumpkin
2/3 cup NESTLÉ ® Carnation ® Evaporated Milk
2 tablespoon cornstarch
1-1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 container sour cream, at room temperature
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 350° F.
For Crust:
Combine graham cracker crumbs, butter and granulated sugar in medium bowl. Press onto bottom and 1 inch up side of 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes (do not allow to brown). Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes.
For Cheesecake:
Beat cream cheese, granulated sugar and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs, pumpkin and evaporated milk. Add cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg; beat well. Pour into crust.
Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until edge is set but center still moves slightly.
For Topping:
Combine sour cream, granulated sugar and vanilla extract in small bowl; mix well. Spread over surface of warm cheesecake. Bake for 5 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Remove side of springform pan.
PUMPKIN-CHOCOLATE SWIRL CHEESECAKE
This was in the November/December 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 70. It begins, "It took us four tries to get this recipe just right, but the result - a rich, creamy, pumpkin-flavored cheesecake laced with spice and swirled with chocolate—is truly spectacular."
Makes 24 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/pumpkin-chocolate-swirl-cheesecake/.
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs
4 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate
2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
2 8-oz. pkg. Neufchatel cheese, softened
2 cups light brown sugar
3 large eggs
1/3 cup flour
1 15-oz. can pumpkin
1-1/2 Tbs. ground ginger
1-1/2 Tbs. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F.
To make Chocolate Crust:
Coat 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Combine graham cracker crumbs and butter in medium bowl. Press into prepared pan, and bake 10 minutes.
Melt chocolate in bowl in microwave on medium power, stirring every 30 seconds to heat evenly. Set aside. Blend cottage cheese in food processor 3 minutes, until smooth. Add Neufchâtel cheese, brown sugar, eggs and flour, and process until smooth. Add pumpkin, ginger, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg, and process 1 minute, or until smooth.
Whisk 1 cup cream cheese batter into melted chocolate. Pour remaining batter into crust. Spoon dollops of chocolate mixture onto batter, and swirl with knife.
Bake cheesecake 1-1/2 hours, or until top is firm and cake is beginning to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely on wire rack, then chill well before unmolding and serving.
CRAISINS[r] BASQUE CHEESECAKE
This is from Ocean Spray. Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oceanspray.com/Recipes/By-Course/Desserts-and-Snacks/Craisins-Basque-Cheesecake.
Ingredients
2 cups Ocean Spray® Craisins® Original Dried Cranberries
1-1/4 cups warm water (enough to cover Craisins®)
1 tablespoon butter, unsalted (or spray-oil)
32 ounces cream cheese, full fat, room temperature
1-1/2 cups sugar
6 eggs, large
1-1/2 cups heavy cream
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Directions
Add your Craisins® to a bowl and top with warm water for about 15 minutes or until softened. Drain and discard the liquid.
Adjust your oven rack to the center of your oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Butter (or spray) a 10” diameter springform pan. Line the pan with 2 wide sheets of parchment paper (this will bunch and form pleats in places and is expected). Make sure the parchment is large enough to extend beyond the rim by at least 2 inches all the way around the top. Butter (or spray) parchment and set this pan aside.
Prepare the filling by first adding your softened cream cheese and sugar to a stand mixer and with a paddle attachment and mixing on medium speed until smooth. Scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula halfway through to look for areas not being mixed. Mix for approximately 2 minutes or until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture has not visible lumps. With the mixer back on medium speed add the eggs one at a time waiting until the previous egg has been incorporated. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the bowl making sure everything is mixed well.
Switch the mixer to medium low and add the cream, salt, vanilla. Mix until well combined. With the mixer off, sift the flour into the cream cheese mixture. Mix this on low speed just until mixed. Give the bowl one last scrape with a rubber spatula.
Pour the cheesecake batter into the prepared parchment lined pan. Drain the Craisins® and gently and evenly sprinkle them over the top of the batter. Some will sink but try to be gentle enough for them to stay on top.
Bake the cheesecake for approximately 1 hour or until the top is a deep golden brown. Let the cheesecake cool slightly before removing from the pan (about 10-15 minutes). Once removed allow it to cool completely to room temperature. Slice and serve at room temperature.
Optional/chef’s tip: It is even better if allowed to rest covered in the refrigerator overnight.
3-STEP PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
This is from Philadelphia Cream Cheese, and begins, "Make a delicious pumpkin cheesecake easily with our PHILADELPHIA 3-STEP Pumpkin Cheesecake. Mix, pour, bake—that's all you have to do for this 3-step pumpkin cheesecake! Serve this dessert as a Thanksgiving dessert or during any fall-themed get-together."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 50 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.creamcheese.com/recipe/051376/philadelphia-3-step-pumpkin-cheesecake.
Ingredients
2 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
ground cloves
ground nutmeg
2 eggs
1 ready-to-use graham cracker crumb crust (6 oz.)
1 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F.
Beat cream cheese, sugar, pumpkin, vanilla and spices in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add eggs; beat just until blended.
Pour into crust.
Bake 40 min. or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 3 hours. Top with COOL WHIP just before serving.
BERRY COCONUT NO-BAKE CHEESECAKE
This is from Yossy Arefi in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Yossy wrote, “In the height of summer, turning on the oven should be considered off limits, but we still need dessert. For that, there's the no-bake cheesecake, which has all the richness of the baked version without any of the baking. Here, Biscoff cookies add a bit of spice, which pairs beautifully with toasted coconut, and we swap the heavy cream for rich, fluffy whipped coconut cream. The topping combines cooked and fresh berries for a wonderful variety of texture and flavor. Just about any varieties will work here, so use what looks best. A combination of blueberries and blackberries or raspberries is quite nice.
“Be sure to plan ahead with this recipe. The cans of coconut milk need to be chilled at least overnight, and as does the finished cheesecake before it can be sliced.”
Yield: One 9-inch cake
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Crust:
3/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1-3/4 cups finely crushed Biscoff cookie crumbs (or 1-3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs and 1 tablespoon brown sugar), from about 30 Biscoff cookies or 15 whole graham crackers
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
Pinch of kosher salt
For the Filling:
2 (14-ounce) cans full-fat coconut milk, chilled in the refrigerator overnight (see note)
16 ounces cream cheese, softened but still cool
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
Pinch of kosher salt
For the Topping:
3 cups fresh blueberries, blackberries or raspberries
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
Toasted coconut chips, to taste, optional
Preparation
Prepare the crust: In a medium skillet over medium-low heat, toast the coconut until deep golden brown while stirring constantly, 7 to 9 minutes. (Watch carefully to avoid burning.) Cool slightly.
In a medium bowl, combine the toasted shredded coconut, Biscoff cookie crumbs (or graham cracker crumbs and brown sugar), butter and salt. Stir until well combined, then pour the mixture into a 9-inch (23-centimeter) springform pan. Use a measuring cup or flat-bottomed glass to firmly press the mixture onto the bottom and about 1-1/2 inch up the sides of the pan. Refrigerate while you make the filling.
Prepare the filling: Turn the chilled cans of coconut milk upside-down and open them. There should be a layer of liquid visible. (If there isn’t, push aside the hardened cream to reveal it.) Pour the liquid into a storage container, and save it for another use. There should be a thick layer of coconut cream remaining in the can. Scrape the coconut cream into a bowl, leaving behind any visible coconut oil, and use an electric mixer on medium-high speed to beat it until smooth and fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest and salt. Beat the mixture on low speed until combined, then turn the mixer up to medium-high and beat until just smooth, about 30 seconds. Take care not to overbeat, or the cake will not be firm enough when chilled. Add the whipped coconut cream and beat just until well combined and smooth, about 30 seconds more.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared crust and use an offset spatula to smooth or swirl the top. Chill at least 8 hours.
Prepare the topping: Combine 1-1/2 cups of the berries, the sugar, the lemon juice and the zest in a small saucepan and crush the berries with a fork or potato masher. Cook over medium heat until thick and jammy, about 10 minutes. Cool completely, then fold in the remaining 1-1/2 cups berries. Serve each slice of cheesecake with a spoonful of berries and, if using, a sprinkle of toasted coconut chips over the top.
Tip
The fat content of coconut milk varies quite a bit from brand to brand (and from can to can), but Thai Kitchen is widely available and works great. Even so, be sure to skim away any visible coconut oil to keep your finished cream as smooth as possible, and buy a bit more than you might need. Having an extra can on hand can help ward off last-minute disappointment.
LEMON CHEESECAKE TART
This is from Yossy Arefi in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Yossy wrote, "With a simple, pat-in-the-pan crust and a thin layer of light, lemon-scented cream cheese, this cheesecake tart is a lot easier to make than you might imagine. The base can be baked right away, with no chilling required, and the custardy filling relies upon little more than tangy cream cheese, lemon zest and juice, sugar and eggs. It’s the perfect dessert for a winter or early spring gathering, when there might not be much fresh fruit around but you’re in the mood for a bright dessert."
Time: 1-1/4 hours, plus cooling; Yield: 1 (9-inch) tart
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023858-lemon-cheesecake-tart.
Ingredients
For the Crust
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes, plus more for greasing the pan
1 egg yolk
For the Filling
16 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Finely grated zest of 2 lemons plus 1/4 cup freshly squeezed juice
Pinch fine salt
2 large eggs
Preparation
Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Make the crust: Combine the flour, confectioners' sugar, salt and lemon zest in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade; pulse a few times to combine. Scatter the cubed butter on top, then pulse until the butter is almost completely incorporated and the mixture is sandy. Add the egg yolk and pulse until incorporated. The dough should hold together easily. If not, pulse in up to 3 teaspoons of cold water, 1 teaspoon at a time. Alternatively, you can mix the dough in a large bowl, using your fingers or a pastry blender to mix the butter into the flour.
Lightly butter a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom and press the dough mixture evenly on the bottom and up the sides of the pan using a lightly floured straight-sided measuring cup to help press the dough into the corners of the pan. (If you need to trim extra dough to make it level with the edge of the pan, reserve it to repair any cracks after the shell has baked.)
Line the tart shell with a piece of aluminum foil, making sure to tuck it into the corners and over the edges. Set the tart shell on a baking sheet and bake the shell for 25 to 30 minutes or until the dough appears dry and lightly golden. If the dough puffs up while baking, gently press it back into the pan with an offset spatula or similar tool. Turn the oven down to 350 degrees. If necessary, repair any cracks with the remaining raw dough before filling.
While the shell cools slightly, make the filling: Add the cream cheese, granulated sugar, lemon zest and salt to a large bowl. Use an electric mixer to whip the cream cheese mixture until smooth and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until completely incorporated before adding the next, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, if needed. Add the lemon juice and mix until smooth. Tap the bowl on the counter a few times then stir a few times with a rubber spatula to release any large air bubbles.
Pour the mixture into the warm crust, smooth the top and carefully transfer the pan, still on the baking sheet, into the oven. Bake until just set around the edges and slightly wiggly in the center, 15 to 20 minutes.
Let the tart cool to room temperature, then transfer to the refrigerator to cool completely. Remove the outer ring and slice with a warm knife, wiping the knife with a towel in between cuts for the tidiest slices. Serve cold or at room temperature. This keeps well in the fridge, covered for a few days.
PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
This is from that infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, and begins, “Wow a holiday crowd with this amazing pumpkin cheesecake!”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cooking Time: 55 minutes; Serves: 16
Ingredients
1-1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup butter, melted OR 1/3 cup margarine, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 package cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 can LIBBY ® 100% Pure Pumpkin
2/3 cup NESTLÉ ® Carnation ® Evaporated Milk
2 tablespoon cornstarch
1-1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 container sour cream, at room temperature
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 350° F.
For Crust:
Combine graham cracker crumbs, butter and granulated sugar in medium bowl. Press onto bottom and 1 inch up side of 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes (do not allow to brown). Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes.
For Cheesecake:
Beat cream cheese, granulated sugar and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs, pumpkin and evaporated milk. Add cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg; beat well. Pour into crust.
Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until edge is set but center still moves slightly.
For Topping:
Combine sour cream, granulated sugar and vanilla extract in small bowl; mix well. Spread over surface of warm cheesecake. Bake for 5 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Remove side of springform pan.
PUMPKIN-CHOCOLATE SWIRL CHEESECAKE
This was in the November/December 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 70. It begins, "It took us four tries to get this recipe just right, but the result - a rich, creamy, pumpkin-flavored cheesecake laced with spice and swirled with chocolate—is truly spectacular."
Makes 24 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/pumpkin-chocolate-swirl-cheesecake/.
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs
4 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate
2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
2 8-oz. pkg. Neufchatel cheese, softened
2 cups light brown sugar
3 large eggs
1/3 cup flour
1 15-oz. can pumpkin
1-1/2 Tbs. ground ginger
1-1/2 Tbs. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F.
To make Chocolate Crust:
Coat 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Combine graham cracker crumbs and butter in medium bowl. Press into prepared pan, and bake 10 minutes.
Melt chocolate in bowl in microwave on medium power, stirring every 30 seconds to heat evenly. Set aside. Blend cottage cheese in food processor 3 minutes, until smooth. Add Neufchâtel cheese, brown sugar, eggs and flour, and process until smooth. Add pumpkin, ginger, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg, and process 1 minute, or until smooth.
Whisk 1 cup cream cheese batter into melted chocolate. Pour remaining batter into crust. Spoon dollops of chocolate mixture onto batter, and swirl with knife.
Bake cheesecake 1-1/2 hours, or until top is firm and cake is beginning to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely on wire rack, then chill well before unmolding and serving.
CRAISINS[r] BASQUE CHEESECAKE
This is from Ocean Spray. Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oceanspray.com/Recipes/By-Course/Desserts-and-Snacks/Craisins-Basque-Cheesecake.
Ingredients
2 cups Ocean Spray® Craisins® Original Dried Cranberries
1-1/4 cups warm water (enough to cover Craisins®)
1 tablespoon butter, unsalted (or spray-oil)
32 ounces cream cheese, full fat, room temperature
1-1/2 cups sugar
6 eggs, large
1-1/2 cups heavy cream
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Directions
Add your Craisins® to a bowl and top with warm water for about 15 minutes or until softened. Drain and discard the liquid.
Adjust your oven rack to the center of your oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Butter (or spray) a 10” diameter springform pan. Line the pan with 2 wide sheets of parchment paper (this will bunch and form pleats in places and is expected). Make sure the parchment is large enough to extend beyond the rim by at least 2 inches all the way around the top. Butter (or spray) parchment and set this pan aside.
Prepare the filling by first adding your softened cream cheese and sugar to a stand mixer and with a paddle attachment and mixing on medium speed until smooth. Scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula halfway through to look for areas not being mixed. Mix for approximately 2 minutes or until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture has not visible lumps. With the mixer back on medium speed add the eggs one at a time waiting until the previous egg has been incorporated. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the bowl making sure everything is mixed well.
Switch the mixer to medium low and add the cream, salt, vanilla. Mix until well combined. With the mixer off, sift the flour into the cream cheese mixture. Mix this on low speed just until mixed. Give the bowl one last scrape with a rubber spatula.
Pour the cheesecake batter into the prepared parchment lined pan. Drain the Craisins® and gently and evenly sprinkle them over the top of the batter. Some will sink but try to be gentle enough for them to stay on top.
Bake the cheesecake for approximately 1 hour or until the top is a deep golden brown. Let the cheesecake cool slightly before removing from the pan (about 10-15 minutes). Once removed allow it to cool completely to room temperature. Slice and serve at room temperature.
Optional/chef’s tip: It is even better if allowed to rest covered in the refrigerator overnight.
3-STEP PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
This is from Philadelphia Cream Cheese, and begins, "Make a delicious pumpkin cheesecake easily with our PHILADELPHIA 3-STEP Pumpkin Cheesecake. Mix, pour, bake—that's all you have to do for this 3-step pumpkin cheesecake! Serve this dessert as a Thanksgiving dessert or during any fall-themed get-together."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 50 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.creamcheese.com/recipe/051376/philadelphia-3-step-pumpkin-cheesecake.
Ingredients
2 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
ground cloves
ground nutmeg
2 eggs
1 ready-to-use graham cracker crumb crust (6 oz.)
1 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F.
Beat cream cheese, sugar, pumpkin, vanilla and spices in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add eggs; beat just until blended.
Pour into crust.
Bake 40 min. or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 3 hours. Top with COOL WHIP just before serving.
BERRY COCONUT NO-BAKE CHEESECAKE
This is from Yossy Arefi in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Yossy wrote, “In the height of summer, turning on the oven should be considered off limits, but we still need dessert. For that, there's the no-bake cheesecake, which has all the richness of the baked version without any of the baking. Here, Biscoff cookies add a bit of spice, which pairs beautifully with toasted coconut, and we swap the heavy cream for rich, fluffy whipped coconut cream. The topping combines cooked and fresh berries for a wonderful variety of texture and flavor. Just about any varieties will work here, so use what looks best. A combination of blueberries and blackberries or raspberries is quite nice.
“Be sure to plan ahead with this recipe. The cans of coconut milk need to be chilled at least overnight, and as does the finished cheesecake before it can be sliced.”
Yield: One 9-inch cake
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Crust:
3/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1-3/4 cups finely crushed Biscoff cookie crumbs (or 1-3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs and 1 tablespoon brown sugar), from about 30 Biscoff cookies or 15 whole graham crackers
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
Pinch of kosher salt
For the Filling:
2 (14-ounce) cans full-fat coconut milk, chilled in the refrigerator overnight (see note)
16 ounces cream cheese, softened but still cool
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
Pinch of kosher salt
For the Topping:
3 cups fresh blueberries, blackberries or raspberries
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
Toasted coconut chips, to taste, optional
Preparation
Prepare the crust: In a medium skillet over medium-low heat, toast the coconut until deep golden brown while stirring constantly, 7 to 9 minutes. (Watch carefully to avoid burning.) Cool slightly.
In a medium bowl, combine the toasted shredded coconut, Biscoff cookie crumbs (or graham cracker crumbs and brown sugar), butter and salt. Stir until well combined, then pour the mixture into a 9-inch (23-centimeter) springform pan. Use a measuring cup or flat-bottomed glass to firmly press the mixture onto the bottom and about 1-1/2 inch up the sides of the pan. Refrigerate while you make the filling.
Prepare the filling: Turn the chilled cans of coconut milk upside-down and open them. There should be a layer of liquid visible. (If there isn’t, push aside the hardened cream to reveal it.) Pour the liquid into a storage container, and save it for another use. There should be a thick layer of coconut cream remaining in the can. Scrape the coconut cream into a bowl, leaving behind any visible coconut oil, and use an electric mixer on medium-high speed to beat it until smooth and fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest and salt. Beat the mixture on low speed until combined, then turn the mixer up to medium-high and beat until just smooth, about 30 seconds. Take care not to overbeat, or the cake will not be firm enough when chilled. Add the whipped coconut cream and beat just until well combined and smooth, about 30 seconds more.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared crust and use an offset spatula to smooth or swirl the top. Chill at least 8 hours.
Prepare the topping: Combine 1-1/2 cups of the berries, the sugar, the lemon juice and the zest in a small saucepan and crush the berries with a fork or potato masher. Cook over medium heat until thick and jammy, about 10 minutes. Cool completely, then fold in the remaining 1-1/2 cups berries. Serve each slice of cheesecake with a spoonful of berries and, if using, a sprinkle of toasted coconut chips over the top.
Tip
The fat content of coconut milk varies quite a bit from brand to brand (and from can to can), but Thai Kitchen is widely available and works great. Even so, be sure to skim away any visible coconut oil to keep your finished cream as smooth as possible, and buy a bit more than you might need. Having an extra can on hand can help ward off last-minute disappointment.
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