Aunt Margarets Cheesecake Recipes

APRICOT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with a parchment round.
• Make the crust: Stir together graham-cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom of pan. Bake until set, about 10 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack to cool completely.
• Make the filling: Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Wrap the exterior of the springform pan with a double layer of foil. Set a kettle of water to boil. With an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese on medium speed until fluffy and smooth, about 3 minutes. Reduce to low speed; add sugar in a slow, steady stream. Add the salt and vanilla; beat until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each until just combined (do not over-mix). Pour the cream cheese filling over crust.
• Set springform pan inside a large, shallow roasting pan. Carefully pour boiling water into roasting pan to reach halfway up side of springform pan. Bake until cake is set but still slightly wobbly in center, about 75 minutes.
• Transfer springform pan to a wire rack and remove foil; let cool completely. Refrigerate, uncovered, at least 24 hours. Run a knife around edge of cake to loosen before unmolding.
• Make the topping: Sprinkle the gelatin over the water in a small bowl and let soften for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the apricot preserves over medium-low until warm, about 2 minutes. Add softened gelatin and stir to combine. Let cool slightly and then strain over cheesecake. Spread into an even layer and chill to set, about 2 hours.

AUNT RUTH'S FAMOUS BUTTERSCOTCH CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan. In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom of prepared pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 325° for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., In a small bowl, whisk the milks and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set., Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in pudding and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour over crust. Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. , Bake at 325° for 65-75 minutes or until center is almost 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. Garnish with whipped cream and butterscotch candies if desired.

BEST CLASSIC CHEESECAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Adjust the oven rack to the lower-middle position and preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
• If you're starting out with full graham crackers, use a food processor or blender to grind them into fine crumbs. Pour into a medium bowl and stir in sugar until combined, and then stir in the melted butter. Mixture will be sandy. Try to smash/break up any large chunks. Pour into an ungreased 9-inch or 10-inch springform pan. With medium pressure using your hand, pat the crumbs down into the bottom and partly up the sides to make a compact crust. Do not pack down with heavy force because that makes the crust too hard. Simply pat down until the mixture is no longer crumby/crumbly and you can use the flat bottom of a small measuring cup to help smooth it all out if needed. Pre-bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and place the hot pan on a large piece of aluminum foil. The foil will wrap around the pan for the water bath in step 4. Allow crust to slightly cool as you prepare the filling.
• Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed in a large bowl until the mixture is smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the sour cream, vanilla extract, and lemon juice then beat until fully combined. On medium speed, add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition until just blended. After the final egg is incorporated into the batter, stop mixing. To help prevent the cheesecake from deflating and cracking as it cools, avoid over-mixing the batter as best you can. You will have close to 6 cups of batter.
• Watch my video tutorial below; the visual guide will assist you in this step. Boil a pot of water. You need 1 inch of water in your roasting pan for the water bath, so make sure you boil enough. I use an entire kettle of hot water. As the water is heating up, wrap the aluminum foil around the springform pan. Pour the cheesecake batter on top of the crust. Use a rubber spatula or spoon to smooth it into an even layer. Place the pan inside of a large roasting pan. Carefully pour the hot water inside of the pan and place in the oven. (Or you can place the roasting pan in the oven first, then pour the hot water in. Whichever is easier for you.)
• Bake cheesecake for 55-70 minutes or until the center is almost set. If you notice the cheesecake browning too quickly on top, tent it with aluminum foil halfway through baking. When it's done, the center of the cheesecake will slightly wobble if you gently shake the pan. Turn the oven off and open the oven door slightly. Let the cheesecake sit in the oven in the water bath as it cools down for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and water bath, then cool cheesecake completely uncovered at room temperature. Then cover and refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Use a knife to loosen the chilled cheesecake from the rim of the springform pan, then remove the rim. Using a clean sharp knife, cut into slices for serving. For neat slices, wipe the knife clean and dip into warm water between each slice.
• Serve cheesecake with desired toppings (see Note). Cover and store leftover cheesecake in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

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.

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.

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.

MARGARITA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Crust: Preheat oven to 375 degrees, with rack in center. In a food processor, pulse pretzels until fine crumbs form (you will have a little more than 1 cup). Add sugar and melted butter; process until combined. Press evenly in bottom and 1 inch up sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake until golden brown, about 9 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
• Filling: Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Wrap exterior of springform pan with a double layer of foil. Set a kettle of water to a boil. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese on medium-high speed until fluffy and smooth, about 3 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Reduce speed to medium. Mix in sour cream, sugar, Grand Marnier, tequila, lime zest, and salt; beat until well incorporated. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.
• Pour cream-cheese mixture over cooled crust (filling will come up higher than crust). Set springform pan in a roasting pan; carefully pour in enough boiling water to reach halfway up side of springform pan.
• Bake on center rack until cake is set and slightly firm to the touch, about 65 minutes. Transfer springform pan to a wire rack and remove foil; let cool completely. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 6 hours or up to overnight. Run a knife around edge of cake to loosen before unmolding. Garnish top of cheesecake with lime slices.