TROPICAL CHEESECAKE WITH COCONUT SHORTBREAD CRUST

Tropical Cheesecake with Coconut Shortbread Crust image

Yield Makes 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

Crust
8 ounces (about 30) Coconut Shortbread Cookies
Filling
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
8 ounces fromage blanc* or fresh whole-milk ricotta cheese,** room temperature
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
4 large eggs
Topping
1 1/2 cups sour cream
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Unsweetened coconut chips,*** lightly toasted
Cut-up fresh tropical fruits

Steps:

For crust:
Preheat oven to 325°F. Finely grind cookies in processor. Press crumbs (about 1 1/2 cups) over bottom (not sides) of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 1/2-inch-high sides (layer will be thin). Bake until crust is crisp, about 10 minutes. Cool on rack while preparing filling. Maintain oven temperature.
For filling:
Using electric mixer, beat first 3 ingredients in large bowl until smooth. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, just until blended. Pour filling over crust in pan (mixture will not fill pan). Bake cake until filling is just set and puffed around edges, about 45 minutes (cake may crack).
For topping:
Whisk first 3 ingredients in small bowl to blend; spread over top of hot cake. Return cake to oven and bake 5 minutes. Run small knife between top edge of cake and pan. Chill cake uncovered overnight. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover; keep chilled.)
Release pan sides. Sprinkle toasted coconut chips around top edge of cake. Serve cake with tropical fruits.
*Fromage blanc is sold at cheese stores, specialty foods stores, and some supermarkets.
**Fresh ricotta cheese is sold at Italian markets and some supermarkets.
***Unsweetened coconut chips are available at natural foods stores and some supermarkets.