Aunt Margarets Cheesecake Recipes

AUNT MARGARET'S CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Grind graham crackers in food processor.
• Add 3 Tbl sugar and stir, then add melted butter.
• Press into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan.
• Separate eggs reserving yolks. Beat egg whites in stand mixer until firm stiff peaks but not dry.
• Remove whites to a separate bowl and beat yolks with sugar.
• Add vanilla and add cream cheese, one at a time until incorporated and beat for about 10 minutes on medium speed.
• Fold in egg whites gently until incorporated.
• Reduce oven to 300°.
• Pour into springform pan and bake for about 40-45 minutes.
• In the meantime, mix sour cream with sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla.
• After removing cake from oven, increase oven temp to 400°.
• Cool cake for about 10 minutes and then add topping.
• Bake for another 10 minutes.
• Remove from oven and cool completely before serving.
• We like our cheesecake room temperature, but, of course, feel free to chill in the frig if you prefer.

MARGARET'S CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Prepare two 9 x 13 cake pans by greasing them.
• Mix tog graham wafer crumbs, 1/2 cup sugar and 2/3 cups melted butter.
• Divide into the 2 pans: press crumbs into an even layer and bake at 350 degF for about 10-15 minutes, then set aside to cool.
• Beat tog cream cheese, 1 1/2 cups sugar and instant pudding powder till its really fluffy.
• Set aside.
• Whip Nutri Whip until it forms soft peaks, then set this aside.
• In another bowl whip the whipping cream to stiff peaks.
• In a large bowl mix the above three mixes together really well.
• Pour this mixture onto the two baked and cooled crumb bases and chill.
• When ready to serve top with fresh fruit or pie filling.
• This cheese cake freezes well without the toppings.

MARY'S CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar and margarine until well blended . Press mixture into a 9 inch springform pan.
• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with sugar until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine cream, flour, eggs, lemon juice and vanilla. Beat together, and then pour into cream cheese mixture. Mix well. Pour filling into prepared graham cracker crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 65 minutes. Turn off oven, and cool cake in oven for 30 minutes. Prop door open and cool in oven for an additional 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. Refrigerate for as long as possible before serving.

AUNT MARLENE'S CHEESECAKE WITH CINNAMON GRAHAM CRUST

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees and place oven rack in the middle of the oven.
• Throughly mix ingredients for crust.
• Press them into the bottom of a 9" spring form pan (10" ok too). Do sides too if you can.
• Chill the crust about one hour or more.
• Combine eggs, cream cheese, sugar, salt, flour, vanilla extract, almond extract and beat until smooth with an electric mixer at medium speed.
• Now blend in sour cream. Don't over beat the mixture as this causes air to get into the batter and causes cracks later.
• Pour this mixture into the crust and bake, on a middle oven rack about 60 minutes, until it sets. It will lightly brown and not jiggle much when moved. (I used a cookie sheet with some water in it and I put foil around the bottom of the spring form pan). Do not open the oven within the first 30 minutes of cooking.
• Let cake cool on a wire rack at room temperature completely, and then chill in the refrigerator for at least 5 hours.
• Invert the cake to serve, so that the crumbs are on the top. Serve like this or with the glaze on top or along side.
• For the Glaze: Cook the berries in 3/4 cup water until simmering.
• Mix cornstarch with 1/4 cup water and pour into berry mixture and add sugar. Bring to a boil, stir constantly, until thick and clear, a couple of minutes. Add the red food coloring if using strawberries.
• Chill the glaze and coat the top of the cake or serve along side the cake.