Best Traditional Cheesecake Recipes

TRADITIONAL CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Grease the sides only of a 9-in. springform pan; press crumb mixture onto bottom of pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in lemon juice and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour filling onto crust. Return pan to baking sheet. , Bake at 350° for 45-55 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer., Refrigerate overnight. Serve with Raspberry Sauce and Sour Cream Topping if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.

MAIDS OF HONOUR - TRADITIONAL ENGLISH CUSTARD CHEESECAKE TARTS

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 425F degrees.
• In a mixing bowl, stir together the flour with the diced butter and the scant teaspoonfuls of shortening. Cover and place the bowl into the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in another bowl, place the eggs, lemon juice, rosewater or orange-flower water, and a pinch of salt and put in the refrigerator. Using a food processor (or by hand, but this will take some elbow grease), blend the fats and flour until the pastry just begins to come together, yet still is a little coarse and crumbly. Take care not to over-blend, as this process goes quickly, so watch carefully. Gradually feed the liquids in through the feeder spout until the pastry is almost coming together. Scoop it out onto a flour-dusted work surface and knead a few times with your hands, then form into two discs, wrap each disc in cling wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before rolling out.
• While pastry is chilling, make the filling. Cut lengthwise down the vanilla bean with the tip of a sharp knife. Place the vanilla bean with the cream into a saucepan, and heat to just under the boiling point over a medium heat. Do not boil or it will curdle. Off the heat and remove the bean, scraping some of the seeds into the cream. Now add the butter, sugar, ground almonds, egg, lemon zest and juice, and the rosewater or orange-flower water, stirring well to combine. Let stand for about 10 minutes.
• Roll out half the pastry, cut out 12 rounds with a 3-inch round cutter, and place into a 12-hole tart or muffin pan, pressing down with your fingers so they're well lined. Spoon half the filling into the pastry cases (remembering you'll have a second batch to do). Leave a good inch below the rim, as the custard will rise up as it bakes. Dust lightly with some fresh nutmeg and transfer carefully to the pre-heated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the custard's golden and puffy.
• Let the tarts sit in the pan for a few minutes before standing, unmolded, on a wire rack to cool. Dust tops with icing sugar.
• When the pan is cool, repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• Leave the tarts to cool a little before serving (arrange them on a pretty serving plate or silver platter), but they are best eaten still slightly warm.

MAKEOVER TRADITIONAL CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Place a 9-in. springform pan coated with cooking spray on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan., In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and confectioners' sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of prepared pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 325° for 18-22 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack., Place the lemon juice, vanilla, cottage cheese and 1 cup sour cream in a blender; cover and process for 2 minutes or until smooth. , In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the remaining sour cream. Add flour and pureed cottage cheese mixture; mix well. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust., Place springform pan in a larger baking pan; add 3/4 in. hot water to larger pan. Bake at 325° for 1-1/2 hours or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes., Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. Garnish with caramel topping and chopped candy.

TRADITIONAL CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 300^ F. Combine margarine or butter, crumbs and 1/4 cup sugar; Press firmly on bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.
• 2. In large mixer bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and eggs until smooth. On low speed, add Realemon and vanilla; mix well. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 1 hr and 5 to 10 minutes or until set. Carefully loosen top of cheesecake from edge of pan with knife tip. Cool to room temperature; chill. Serve with Peach Melba Topping if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.
• 3. PEACH MELBA TOPPNG: In small saucepan, combine reserved 2/3 c. syrup, 1/4 c. red currant jelly and 1 T. cornstarch. Cook and stir until slightly thickened and clear. Cool. Stir in raspberries. Drain 16oz can peaches; top cake with peach slices and spoon sauce over top.
• 4. Notes: I have used Aldi's brand of lemon juice concentrate in place of Realemon. I have used the cheesecake filling for individual cheesecakes: Line a muffin pan with paper muffin liners, place a vanilla wafer in bottom of each liner flat side down. Spoon cheesecake filling into muffin liner about 2/3 full. Bake until set. Time will be considerbly less than above, for cheesecake. When cool, remove cheesecakes from muffin tin. Canned pie filling can be spooned into divit that will form once cheesecakes are cooled. These also freeze well, with the pie filling on the cheesecakes. Just make sure they are wrapped well before freezing.

MAKEOVER TRADITIONAL CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• 1. Place a 9-inch spring form pan coated with cooking spray on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (18-in. square). Securely warp foil around pan.
• 2. In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and confectioners' sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of prepared pan. Place on baking sheet. Bake at 325 F for 18-22 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
• 3. Place the lemon juice, vanilla, cottage cheese and 1 cup sour cream in a blender; cover and process for 2 minutes or until smooth.
• 4. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the remaining sour cream. Add flour and pureed cottage cheese mixture; mix well. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust.
• 5. Place spring form in a larger baking pan; add 3/4 in. of hot water to larger pan. Bake at 325 F for 1-1/2 hours or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove spring form pan from water bath. Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes.
• 6. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. Garnish with caramel topping and chopped candy.

IMPRESSIVE TRADITIONAL CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 325° for 18-22 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, lemon juice and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust. Place pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan., Place in a larger baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. Bake at 325° for 1-1/2 hours or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes., Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. Garnish with caramel topping and candy bar pieces.