Tag: CHEESECAKE

BANANA PUDDING CHEESECAKE ~ BLOG 366.117

BANANA PUDDING CHEESECAKE

There is a series of books by Jana DeLeon called the Miss Fortune series. Personally, I’m on book #26, but in each book pf the series there is a comedic banana pudding race between the Catholics and the Baptists when church lets out each Sunday. I’d had banana pudding before reading the series, but hadn’t had the desire to perfect it before this recipe. Banana pudding makes my heart sing as it is a perfect dessert that speaks to just about everyone no matter the venue you’re serving it in.

Cheesecake is traditionally round like many cakes and pies, but I HATE the shape and use my square springform pan to make it easier to cut and serve.

FILLING
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract

  • In a large bowl beat cream cheese until fluffy and completely smooth with NO clumps.
    Add sugar and beat until combined.
    Add heavy cream and vanilla and beat until medium-stiff peaks form. Set aside.

3.4 ounce package instant banana pudding mix
1 cup whole milk

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together pudding mix and milk.
  • Let pudding stand for 3 minutes in the fridge until thickened.
  • Fold into cheesecake mixture until combined.

1 prepared graham cracker crust
3 bananas, sliced, plus more slices for garnish
30 Nilla Wafers

  • Pour half the filling into graham cracker crust.
  • Add a single layer of thick sliced bananas.
  • Top with about 20 Nilla Wafers in a single layer.
  • Pour remaining cheesecake mixture over top and smooth top.
  • Refrigerate until cheesecake is firm, at least 6 hours and up to overnight. (If the cheesecake stills feels too soft to slice, transfer to the freezer for up to 1 hour.)

Whipped topping, for garnish (homemade or store bought)
Crushed Nilla Wafers, for garnish

  • Before serving, top with dollops of whipped topping around the border of the cheesecake.
  • Top each dollop with a banana slice and Nilla wafer.
  • Garnish the whole cheesecake with crushed Nilla Wafers.

POMEGRANATE PINEAPPLE CHEESECAKE

POMEGRANATE PINEAPPLE CHEESECAKE

FILLING
1 small can crushed pineapple drained WELL, reserve juice
1 (3-oz.) box pineapple Jell-O
3/4 cup pomegranate juice
1/4 cup reserved pineapple juice
2 cup whipped topping (thaw 5-10 minutes)
2- 8 ounce blocks cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sour cream
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
Pinch of kosher salt

  • Place juices in a measuring cup and heat in microwave for 2 minutes.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together orange Jell-O and heated juices until Jell-O is completely dissolved.
  • Set aside to cool completely.
  • In another large bowl, beat cream cheese and sour cream until smooth, then add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt.
  • Fold whipped topping into cream cheese mixture, then pour half of mixture into cooled Jell-O.
  • Whisk until smooth.

CRUST
24 whole Lemon Oreo cookies, crushed
6 tablespoons melted butter
Pinch of kosher salt

  • In a medium bowl, mix together Oreo crumbs, butter, and salt. Press into the bottom of an 8″ spring form pan and partially up the sides.

ASSEMBLY

  • Alternate dollops of cream cheese mixture, Jell-O mixture and crushed pineapple into the crust. You can also do this in layers if you are in a hurry.
  • With a butter knife, gently swirl the layers as desired.
  • Cover and refrigerate for AT LEAST 6 hours, or until firm.

GARNISH (optional)
1 cup whipped topping
pineapple tidbits

  • When firm, pipe dollops of whipped topping around the outside of the cheesecake. Top each dollop with a clementine segment, garnish with orange zest, and serve.

NOTE:

  • The batter might feel kind of loose as you’re adding it to the pan—don’t worry! After a couple hours in the refrigerator the cheesecake mixture will be perfectly firm and creamy.
  • Also good as a mix of cherry and pineapple jellos as well as blueberry and lime.  What flavor combination do you like?  Use your imagination!

BLUEBERRY LIME CHEESECAKE

BLUEBERRY LIME CHEESECAKE

FILLING
1 (3-oz.) box lime Jell-O
1 cup SMALL wild blueberries, thawed and drained WELL
1 cup boiling water
2 cup whipped topping (thaw 5-10 minutes)
2- 8 ounce blocks cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sour cream
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
Pinch of kosher salt

  • Place juices in a measuring cup and heat in microwave for 2 minutes.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together orange Jell-O and boiling water until Jell-O is completely dissolved.
  • Set aside to cool completely.
  • In another large bowl, beat cream cheese and sour cream until smooth, then add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt.
  • Fold whipped topping into cream cheese mixture, then pour half of mixture into cooled Jell-O.
  • Whisk until smooth.

CRUST
24 whole Lemon Oreo cookies, crushed
6 tablespoons melted butter
Pinch of kosher salt

  • In a medium bowl, mix together Oreo crumbs, butter, and salt. Press into the bottom of an 8″ spring form pan and partially up the sides.

ASSEMBLY

  • Alternate dollops of cream cheese mixture ,Jell-O mixture and blueberries into the crust. You can also do this in layers if you are in a hurry.
  • With a butter knife, gently swirl the layers as desired.
  • Cover and refrigerate for AT LEAST 6 hours, or until firm.

GARNISH (optional)
1 cup whipped topping
blueberries

  • When firm, pipe dollops of whipped topping around the outside of the cheesecake. Top each dollop with several blueberries, garnish with orange zest, and serve.

NOTE:

  • The batter might feel kind of loose as you’re adding it to the pan—don’t worry! After a couple hours in the refrigerator the cheesecake mixture will be perfectly firm and creamy.
  • Also good as a mix of cherry and pineapple jellos as well as orange and vanilla.  What flavor combination do you like?  Use your imagination!

CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE

This is one of the most decadent desserts and yet so simple too.

APPLE CARAMEL CHEESECAKE

CRUST
2 cups crushed gingersnap and vanilla wafer crumbs*
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup Fisher’s Cinnamon Pecans
11 ounce bag Kraft caramels
1/2 cup milk

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Combine cookie crumbs, melted butter and the pecans.
  • Press firmly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch springform pan.
  • Using a double boiler whisk together the milk and caramels until smooth.
  • Pour half of the caramel mixture over the crust, refrigerating the rest for later.
  • Refrigerate crust while making the filling.

FILLING
(2) 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened at room temperature
2/3 cup extra fine sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla
2 large Honey Crisp apples, peeled, cored and sliced thin

  • In a large mixing bowl cream the cream cheese until smooth.
  • Gradually add sugar until well incorporated.
  • Add eggs, one at a time, blending until VERY smooth.
  • Blend in vanilla.
  • Spread mixture evenly over prepared crust.
  • Arrange apple slices evenly over cream cheese mixture.
  • Bake on enter rack for 50-60 minutes until set (center should be only be SLIGHTLY jiggly.
  • Remove from oven and cool 20 minutes.

TOPPING
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons extra fine sugar
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla

  • Increase oven temperature to 475 degrees.
  • Whisk together sour cream, sugar and vanilla until smooth.
  • Spread evenly over cheesecake.
  • Bake 5 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and cool 30 minutes.
  • Chill at least 3 hours (I do 8-10 hours).

GARNISH
1 Hershey’s milk chocolate ball
1 square unsweetened baking chocolate
1/2 cup Fisher’s Cinnamon Pecans

  • Grate chocolates together.

TO SERVE

  • Microwave reserve caramel sauce 15 seconds.
  • Pour a small amount over each slice and then sprinkle with chocolate gratings and reserved pecans.

*If you prefer the original recipe called for graham cracker crumbs

OREO COOKIES & CREAM CHEESECAKES

OREO CHEESECAKESOREO COOKIES & CREAM CHEESECAKES adapted from Martha Stewart Makes 30

42 OREO cookies, 30 whole and 12 coarsely chopped

4-8 ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

4 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten

1 cup sour cream

Pinch of salt

  • Preheat oven to 275° degrees.
  • Line  muffin tins with paper liners.
  • Place 1 whole Oreo cookie in the bottom of each lined muffin cup.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese on medium-high speed until smooth, scraping down sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Gradually add the sugar, and beat until combined.
  • Beat in the vanilla.
  • Add eggs, one at a time, beating to combine and scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
  • Add in sour cream and salt, beat to combine.
  • Using a large spatula, fold in the chopped Oreo cookies.
  • Divide batter evenly among the cookie-filled muffin cups, fill each cup almost to the top.
  • Bake, rotating muffin tins halfway through, until the filling is set, about 22 to 28 minutes.
  • Transfer the muffins tins to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Refrigerate (in the muffin tins) at least 4 hours (or overnight).
  • Remove from tins just before serving.