And now the recipe for the tiramisu cheesecake. My grandma makes FANTASTIC tiramisu "cake". I'll make sure to include the recipe for it in the future, hoping she gives up the recipe. Enjoy!
TIRAMISU CHEESECAKE
1 (12 ounce) package ladyfinger cookies*
4 tablespoons (salted) butter, melted
4 tablespoons coffee-flavored liqueur, divided
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 (8 ounce) container mascarpone cheese
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 (1 ounce) square semisweet chocolate
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place a pan of water on the bottom of the oven.
2. Crush the package of ladyfingers to fine crumbs. Mix the melted butter into the crumbs. Moisten with 2 tablespoons of the coffee liqueur. Press into a 8- or 9-inch springform pan.
3. In a large bowl, mix cream cheese, mascarpone, and sugar until very smooth. Add 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur, and mix. Add the eggs and the flour; mix SLOWLY until just smooth. The consistency of the mascarpone will vary. If the cheesecake batter is too thick, add a little cream. Do no overmix at this point. Pour batter into crust.
4. Place the pan on middle rack of oven. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until just set. Open oven door, and turn off the heat. Leave the cake to cool in over for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, and let it finish cooling. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight. Right before serving, grate the semisweet chocolate over top.
*Use the hard ladyfinger cookies NOT the sponge ones. Even if you let the sponge ladyfingers go stale, they will still be too soft for this recipe. This is especially important if you ever try making a regular tiramisu cake.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Red Velvet Cheesecake
Here is the recipe I used for the red velvet cheesecake I made last year for my birthday.
What I like about this recipe is that it has the cocoa powder, buttermilk, vinegar, and the red food coloring in it like a traditional red velvet cake, maintaining a degree of authenticity. In addition, the cream cheese frosting is carried over into the recipe as well. The chocolate graham cracker is easy and is a nice color contrast to the vivid red of the cheesecake and the purity of the white frosting. ENJOY!!!!
RED VELVET CHEESECAKE
1 1/2 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon sugar
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
2 (1 ounce) bottle red food coloring
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. Stir together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 1 tablespoon sugar; press mixture into bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
2. Beat 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups sugar at medium-low speed with an electric mixer for 1 minute. Add eggs and next 6 ingredients, mixing on low speed just until fully combined. Pour batter into prepared crust.
3. Bake at 325 degrees F for 10 minutes; reduce heat to 300 degrees and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until center is firm. Run knife along outer edge of cheesecake. Turn ove off. Let cheesecake stand in oven for 30 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven; cool in pan on wire rack for 30 minutes. Cover and chill for 8 hours.
4. Beat 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth; gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until smooth. Spread evenly over top of cheesecake. Remove sides of springform pan.
What I like about this recipe is that it has the cocoa powder, buttermilk, vinegar, and the red food coloring in it like a traditional red velvet cake, maintaining a degree of authenticity. In addition, the cream cheese frosting is carried over into the recipe as well. The chocolate graham cracker is easy and is a nice color contrast to the vivid red of the cheesecake and the purity of the white frosting. ENJOY!!!!
RED VELVET CHEESECAKE
1 1/2 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon sugar
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
2 (1 ounce) bottle red food coloring
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. Stir together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 1 tablespoon sugar; press mixture into bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
2. Beat 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups sugar at medium-low speed with an electric mixer for 1 minute. Add eggs and next 6 ingredients, mixing on low speed just until fully combined. Pour batter into prepared crust.
3. Bake at 325 degrees F for 10 minutes; reduce heat to 300 degrees and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until center is firm. Run knife along outer edge of cheesecake. Turn ove off. Let cheesecake stand in oven for 30 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven; cool in pan on wire rack for 30 minutes. Cover and chill for 8 hours.
4. Beat 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth; gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until smooth. Spread evenly over top of cheesecake. Remove sides of springform pan.
Birthday Cheesecakes
I love to bake and cook so any time I get an excuse to do so I take and run with it. My birthday is December 23 (yes, I'm a Christmas baby) and every year I would wait and hope that my mom would make me a birthday cake. And just about every year I would either not get one or I would have to wait until after New Years and I would have to share one with my dad (his birthday is January 4). It sounds like I'm complaining and I am.
Anyway, last year I decided just to make my own birthday cake. See, I'm taking it and running with it. I decided to make cheesecakes since they're really awesome and, if made properly, are DELICIOUS!!! I love red velvet cake and the tiramisu my grandma makes so choosing the kinds of cheesecakes was a pretty obvious answer. After much research and pooring through countless recipes I found recipes to use that seemed reliable.
Since I had to work every day before my birthday I had to make the cheesecakes after work. This meant I had to pass a few late nights to make sure I got the cheesecakes done in time for my birthday. But, in the end, they turned out FANTASTICALLY!!!! I brought the cheesecakes to work as my "birthday treat" and they were a HUGE hit. They went through both cheesecakes before the end of the day. Many of my coworkers asked that I bring a cheesecake the next day but I told them that wasn't happening, they would just have to wait until my next birthday. With my birthday next month, I have already decided on this year's additions but you'll have to wait until another day to find out what I have chosen!
Anyway, last year I decided just to make my own birthday cake. See, I'm taking it and running with it. I decided to make cheesecakes since they're really awesome and, if made properly, are DELICIOUS!!! I love red velvet cake and the tiramisu my grandma makes so choosing the kinds of cheesecakes was a pretty obvious answer. After much research and pooring through countless recipes I found recipes to use that seemed reliable.
Since I had to work every day before my birthday I had to make the cheesecakes after work. This meant I had to pass a few late nights to make sure I got the cheesecakes done in time for my birthday. But, in the end, they turned out FANTASTICALLY!!!! I brought the cheesecakes to work as my "birthday treat" and they were a HUGE hit. They went through both cheesecakes before the end of the day. Many of my coworkers asked that I bring a cheesecake the next day but I told them that wasn't happening, they would just have to wait until my next birthday. With my birthday next month, I have already decided on this year's additions but you'll have to wait until another day to find out what I have chosen!
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