New York Cheesecake

New York Cheesecake

For a couple of years while growing up, I didn't have a normal cake for my birthday. As per my request, I had strawberry cheesecake :-D

Yup!!! Now THAT was worth the calories!

A quick, fifteen minute recipe for cheesecake has always been my go to for dessert when we entertain guests but a baked cheesecake? Now I wanted to try that!!

What better incentive than my lovely sister who had come to visit? We all love desserts and I was going to make the perfect New York Cheesecake for her!!

After looking through hundreds of recipes I finally came across this one!

Not too difficult and AMAZING results!!! Creamy and gorgeous with a perfect hint of lemon!

I made a strawberry sauce to accompany it though.. Because everyone knows my relationship with strawberries :-) 

The only thing to bear in mind is that you must prepare this dessert a day before serving so that it has enough time to sit in the refrigerator.

I'm looking forward to making it again..mmm :-)

Ingredients:

FOR THE CRUST

85g butter melted, plus extra for tin

140g digestive biscuits , made into fine crumbs

1 tbsp sugar , granulated or golden caster

FOR THE CHEESECAKE FILLING

3 x 300g/11oz pack Philadelphia cheese , or other full-fat soft cheese

250g golden caster sugar

3 tbsp plain flour

1½ tsp vanilla extract

finely grated zest of 1 lemon (about 2 tsp)

1½ tsp lemon juice

3 large eggs , plus 1 yolk

284ml carton soured cream

FOR THE SOURED CREAM TOPPING

142ml carton soured cream

1 tbsp golden caster sugar

2 tsp lemon juice

Method:

Position an oven shelf in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to fan 160C/conventional 180C/gas 4. Line the base of a 23cm springform cake tin with parchment paper. 

For the crust, melt the butter in a medium pan. Stir in the biscuit crumbs and sugar so the mixture is evenly moistened. Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan and bake for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack while preparing the filling.

For the filling, increase the oven temperature to fan 200C/conventional 240C/gas 9. In a table top mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the soft cheese at medium-low speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. 

With the mixer on low, gradually add the sugar, then the flour and a pinch of salt, scraping down the sides of the bowl and the paddle twice.

Swap the paddle attachment for the whisk. Continue by adding the vanilla, lemon zest and juice. Whisk in the eggs and yolk, one at a time, scraping the bowl and whisk at least twice. Stir the 284ml carton of soured cream until smooth, then measure 200ml/7fl oz (just over 3⁄4 of the carton). 

Continue on low speed as you add the measured soured cream (reserve the rest). Whisk to blend, but don't over-beat. The batter should be smooth, light and somewhat airy.

Brush the sides of the springform tin with melted butter and put on a baking sheet. 

Pour in the filling - if there are any lumps, sink them using a knife - the top should be as smooth as possible. Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to fan 90C/conventional 110C/gas 1⁄4 and bake for 25 minutes more. If you gently shake the tin, the filling should have a slight wobble. 

Turn off the oven and open the oven door for a cheesecake that's creamy in the centre, or leave it closed if you prefer a drier texture. 

Let cool in the oven for 2 hours. The cheesecake may get a slight crack on top as it cools.

Combine the reserved soured cream with the 142ml carton, the sugar and lemon juice for the topping. Spread over the cheesecake right to the edges. Cover loosely with foil and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.

Run a round-bladed knife around the sides of the tin to loosen any stuck edges. Unlock the side, slide the cheesecake off the bottom of the tin onto a plate, then slide the parchment paper out from underneath.

For the strawberry sauce, I boiled some strawberries with sugar, a little water and some corn starch mixed with water.

I let it boil for about 10 minutes and crushed the strawberries slightly.

Let it cool and serve.

-S