Cheesecake

Do you like cheesecake? I do and will quite often order it as a dessert when eating out. I had never baked one until just recently. I thought making a cheesecake would be too difficult and time consuming. After baking one, I don’t think that cheesecakes are that difficult to make.

Cheesecake is a sweet dessert usually consisting of two layers. The main layer and also the thickest consists of a batter of soft fresh cheese, cream cheese or ricotta, eggs, vanilla and sugar. The bottom layer is made from crushed cookies, usually graham crackers. Cheesecake is normally baked and after cooling can be topped with many different delicious toppings.

William Lawrence, an American dairyman, of Chester, NY is credited with first producing and selling cream cheese. This was in 1872. Lawrence later sold the Philadelphia trademark to the Phoenix Cheese Company which was purchased by Kraft in 1928. Kraft still produces the cream cheese today. Source

I used a recipe from Kraft and original recipe can be found here. The recipe doesn’t call for a water bath but I baked my cheesecake in one. I also added one tablespoon of flour to the cheese mixture. A water bath and flour are supposed to help prevent cracks in the cheesecake. The prep time for this recipe is only about 30 minutes but several hours are required for the cooling process.

Cheesecake

Servings: 10
Difficulty: easy
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For the Graham Cracker Crust:

1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup sugar

For the Filling:

3 pkg. (8-oz each) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon four
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 eggs

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix graham cracker crumbs, butter and 1/4 cup sugar. Pour the crumbs into a 9-inch springform pan. Press the crumbs firmly into the bottom and about halfway up the sides of the pan. Bake until the crust is fragrant and warm to the touch, 5 to 7 minutes. Let the pan cool on a rack while you prepare the cheesecake batter.

With a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until smooth and creamy, scraping down the side occasionally. Beat in the sour cream, sugar, flour, and vanilla and mix until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until blended.

Wrap the cooled springform pan with foil, over bottom and sides, making sure it comes to the top edge so water from the water bath won’t leak in. Double wrap if necessary. Pour the cheesecake batter into the prepared crust.

Place the wrapped springform pan in a boiler pan or shallow-sided roasting pan. Place in the preheated oven. Pour enough hot water into the pan to come about 1 inch up side of foil wrapped springform pan.

Bake in center of preheated oven for about 1 hour 10 minutes, or until center is almost set. Remove pan to a rack. Run a knife around inside of cake pan to help prevent cracking. Let stand until water cools, about 30 minutes. Remove pan from the water. Discard foil. Cool completely to room temperature. Chill the cheesecake, uncovered, for at least 4 hours in the refrigerator.

After chilling, unlock the spring on the springform pan and carefully lift off the outer ring. Cut into slices and serve. Serve with raspberry sauce if desired.

Notes:
1. All ingredients for the cheesecake should be at room temperature.
2. For great tips on making cheesecake visit thekitchn web site. A great site for answers to any cooking or baking questions.