Best River Road Cheesecake Recipes

*THE BEST* CHEESECAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Place oven racks in the center of the oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a medium sized bowl, stir graham cracker crumbs together with sugar and melted butter until well incorporated and mixture looks like damp sand. Using the bottom of a measuring cup, press crust into the bottom and half way up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake 7 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
• In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, mix cream cheese 30 seconds 'til smooth. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and add in granulated sugar, sour cream and vanilla. Mix again until incorporated. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and mix again briefly.
• Crack eggs into a liquid measuring cup and using a fork, beat until well scrambled. With the mixer on low, slowly pour in the eggs into the cream cheese mixture and stop stirring once egg has been incorporated. Remove bowl from mixer and scrape the sides and bottom again, ensuring the entire mixture is smooth. If there are a few small lumps, try to fold in using the rubber scraper.
• Once the batter is completely smooth and ready, tap the bowl on the counter for 30-45 seconds to remove as many air bubbles as possible. You should see them popping on the surface as you tap the bowl. Pour filling into the center of the graham cracker crust and gently smooth the top. Will be very full!
• Bake for 30 minutes at 325 degrees. Reduce temperature to 250 degrees and continue cooking for 45 minutes more. Once this time has elapsed, turn oven off and keep cheesecake inside for another 30 minutes for some carryover cooking without opening the oven door. Crack oven door to let cheesecake cool slowly for one hour before removing. At this point, cheesecake should be slightly warm. Bring cheesecake to room temperature on the counter (3-4 hours) before covering with plastic wrap and transferring to the fridge.
• Refrigerate until chilled completely (6 hours to overnight). To serve, open springform pan and remove collar. Decorate as desired. Dip a sharp knife into hot water, wipe off any excess water and slice. I like to dip my knife in water between each slice to get really clean-looking pieces.

ROCKY ROAD CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Fill a large roasting pan about one-third of the way with water and carefully place on the middle oven rack. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Wrap the outside of an 8-inch springform pan with aluminum foil. Coat the inside of the pan with cooking spray.
• Finely crush 3 chocolate cookies and sprinkle the crumbs in the bottom of the springform pan; tap out the excess. Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar, eggs, 3/4 cup cream and the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to medium and beat until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is creamy, scraping down the bowl as needed (do not overbeat; if there are still lumps, whisk the batter by hand to smooth them out).
• Put the chocolate and the remaining 1/4 cup cream in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave until the chocolate melts, about 45 seconds. Stir in the cocoa powder until smooth.
• Divide the batter between 2 large liquid measuring cups or bowls (about 2 1/2 cups batter in each). Stir the melted chocolate mixture into one of the batters. Pour about half of the vanilla batter into the pan, then slowly pour half of the chocolate batter into the center of the vanilla, letting it spread. Pour the remaining vanilla batter into the center of the chocolate batter, letting it spread; pour the remaining chocolate batter into the middle.
• Carefully transfer the cheesecake to the pan of hot water and bake until the edges are set but the center still jiggles slightly, 1 hour, 30 minutes to 1 hour, 45 minutes. Turn off the oven and keep the cheesecake in the oven with the door ajar, 30 minutes. Remove the cheesecake from the water bath and transfer to a rack. Run a knife around the edge of the cake to loosen and let cool completely, then refrigerate overnight.
• Remove the springform ring. Crush the remaining 3 chocolate cookies and toss in a bowl with the crushed meringues and peanuts. Press into the sides of the cake.

OUR BEST CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Mix graham crumbs, butter and 1/4 cup sugar; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
• Beat cream cheese and remaining sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours.
• Top with pie filling before serving.