Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Cheesecake

My aunt makes *the best* cheesecake.  She brings it to every major holiday and you guys.  It's to die for.  I can't even.  I don't even put anything on it.  No fruit.  No chocolate.  No toppings.  Nothing.  Plain.  It's perfect.
It's a fussy recipe to make and I'm sorry about that.  If you know me at all you know I love good food that's easy for everyone to make.  This one is a little challenging (for me...but you've got this) and again, I'm sorry.  Cheesecake is finicky but when you get a good one, it's worth the work.  

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
5 (8oz) packages cream cheese, softened
5 eggs
2 egg yolks
1 3/4 cups white sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon vanilla

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.

Prepare a 10" springform pan by lining the bottom with parchment paper and wrap the outside of the pan in foil.

Mix the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, and the melted butter together.  Press the graham cracker mixture evenly into the bottom of the parchment lined springform pan.  Set aside.  

In a large mixing bowl combine the cream cheese, egg yolks, and vanilla on low speed.  Add the remaining eggs one at a time, on low speed, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl between each addition to ensure all of the cream cheese and egg become fully incorporated.  

Add the remaining 1 3/4 cups sugar, flour, and heavy cream.  Blend on low until smooth.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan.  

Bake at 200 degrees for 3 hrs. 40 minutes.  

Turn the oven off, crack the oven door open and allow it to cool IN the oven for 4-5 hours.

Remove from the oven and cool in the fridge, uncovered, for 24-72 hours before serving.  

Before serving, cut the cheesecake with a hot knife, wiping the knife blade clean between each cut.

*Pumpkin Variation*
Leave out heavy whipping cream.
Add 15oz can of pureed pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling), 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. ginger, 1/4 tsp. cloves.
Increase baking time to 4 hrs. 10 minutes.

No comments: