Best Craig Claibornes Cheesecake Recipes

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine graham crackers, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon (if using) and process until you've got fine crumbs. Transfer the crumbs to a medium bowl and add melted butter. Using your hands, mix well until no dry spots remain (crumb mixture should not be sandy or dry, but hold small clumps when pressed together).
• Press crust evenly into the bottom and at least 1 1/2-inches up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to make sure the bottom is as even as possible. Bake on the middle rack until crust is set and just starting to brown around the edges, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove pan from the oven and set aside while you prepare the filling. Reduce heat to 300 degrees.
• Prepare the filling: Combine cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, vanilla and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Using a paddle attachment, beat on high until mixture is completely smooth, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary, about 4 minutes.
• Reduce speed to medium and 1 at a time, add eggs and yolk, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl after each egg is added. With the mixer on low, add flour and beat just to blend, until no lumps remain.
• Pour filling into prepared crust (if filling goes above the crust, that is O.K.). Bake until the edges of the cheesecake are completely set and the 2-inch inner circle of the cheesecake wobbles just slightly, 60 to 70 minutes.
• Turn heat off and let cheesecake remain in the oven for another 10 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven and let sit on a wire rack to cool completely at room temperature. When cool, transfer to refrigerator until totally set, at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.

CANDIED FRUIT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• If candied fruits are not already cut into small pieces, use knife to cut them into pieces about 1/4 inch in diameter. Put pieces of mixed fruit into small bowl and add Bourbon. Stir to blend. Set aside.
• Cheesecake batter may be made in bowl of food processor or electric mixer. If processor is used, it must have 12-cup capacity; otherwise it should be done in two steps using half the ingredients at a time. Place cream cheese, heavy cream, eggs, sugar and vanilla into container or bowl of food processor or mixer. Blend thoroughly.
• Add candied fruits with their liquid. If processor is being used, pulse mixture briefly. Do this only enough to blend fruit pieces without grinding them. Or blend them in electric mixer.
• Generously butter bottom and sides of cake pan measuring 8 inches wide and 3 inches deep. Do not use spring-form pan.
• Sprinkle pan inside with graham cracker crumbs and shake to coat bottom and sides. Shake out excess.
• Pour and scrape batter into prepared pan. Set pan inside a larger pan and pour boiling water around cake pan to depth of about 1 inch. Do not let edge of cheesecake pan touch sides of larger pan. Place pans thus arranged in oven and bake 2 hours. Turn off oven heat and let cake remain in oven one hour longer.
• Remove cake from water bath and place on a rack. Let stand two hours.
• Place a round cake plate over cake and carefully turn both upside down to unmold the cake. Serve lukewarm or at room temperature.

CRAIG CLAIBORNE'S CHEESECAKE RECIPE - (4.4/5)

Steps:

• Adjust rack to the lowest oven position and preheat to 350°. Use a round, deep (3 inches) 8 inch cheesecake pan. Butter it lightly all the way up to the rim and inside of the rim itself or the cake will not rise evenly. Any unbuttered spots will prevent the cake from sliding out of the pan. Mix lemon rind and juice and set aside. Beat cream cheese with sugar until completely smooth. Beat in vanilla and eggs, one at a time. Stop beating immediately after least egg has been incorporated. Fold in lemon juice and rind. Spray the buttered pan with a non-stick spray. Turn batter into prepared pan and level top by rotating gently. Place cheesecake pan into a larger pan filled 1-1/2 inches with hot water. Bake for 1-1/2 hours. Lift cheesecake out of water and place on rack to cool for 2-1/2 - 3 hours. do not place in refrigerator. When cooled, cover cake with plastic wrap and invert onto a plate. Then invert again onto an additional plate so that the cake is right side up. Gently peel off plastic wrap. Refrigerate before serving. Cake can be frozen and defrosted.

DELUXE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Combine the flour, sugar and lemon zest. Cut in the butter until mixture is crumbly. Add the egg yolk and vanilla. Mix.
• Pat a third of the dough over the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with sides removed. Bake about 6 minutes, or until golden. Cool.
• Butter the sides of the pan and attach to the bottom. Pat remaining dough around the sides to a height of 2 inches.
• Increase the oven heat to 475 degrees.
• Prepare the filling: Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add vanilla and lemon zest.
• In a separate bowl, combine sugar, flour and salt. Gradually blend into cheese mixture. Beat in eggs and egg yolks, one at a time, and the cream. Beat well.
• Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce the oven heat to 200 degrees. Bake 1 hour longer, or until set. Turn off oven heat and allow cake to remain 30 minutes in the oven with the door ajar. Cool on a rack. Chill at least 3 hours before serving. Adorn with fruit if you'd like.