Best Maple Cranberry Cheesecake Recipes

MAPLE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 325˚. Combine the crushed cookies, melted butter and salt in a large bowl. Press into the bottom of a 9-inch round springform pan. Bake until golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer to a rack; let cool 20 to 30 minutes.
• Make the filling: Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the maple sugar and beat, scraping down the bowl as needed, until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the sour cream. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until combined. Beat in the maple syrup and vanilla until smooth.
• Brush the side of the pan above the crust with melted butter. Wrap the outside of the pan (bottom and halfway up the side) with foil to prevent leaks; set in a large roasting pan. Pour the filling into the prepared crust.
• Transfer the cheesecake in the roasting pan to the oven and carefully pour boiling water into the roasting pan so it comes about halfway up the side of the springform pan. Bake until the edges of the cheesecake are set but the center still jiggles slightly, 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. Turn off the oven and open the door for 5 seconds to let out some heat. Close the oven door and leave the cheesecake in the oven until fully set on top but the center still jiggles slightly, about 1 hour.
• Remove the cheesecake from the water bath and remove the foil. Transfer to a rack and let cool 2 hours in the pan. Run a thin knife around the edge of the cheesecake to loosen (do not remove the springform ring), then cover and refrigerate until chilled and set, at least 8 hours or overnight. Serve with maple syrup for drizzling.

CREAMY CHEESECAKE WITH CRANBERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• For the crust: Brush a 10-inch springform pan with some of the melted butter. Stir together the remaining butter with the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and 1 inch up the side of the pan. Use the back of a measuring cup or a drinking glass to pack the crust firmly and evenly into the edges of the pan. Bake until browned, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool completely, then set the pan on top of a large sheet of aluminum foil and wrap the foil around the bottom of the pan and up the sides. Place the pan on a baking sheet.
• For the filling: Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1 minute. Add the sour cream, and mix until just combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the cream and vanilla extract, and mix until just combined. Beat in the eggs one at time, beating the mixture after the last egg until just combined (take care not to overmix or the cake will turn into a souffle).
• Pour the filling in to the crust. Bake until the cheesecake is slightly golden and barely set in the middle when the pan is tapped, about 1 hour and 20 minutes (the cake might puff up slightly while in the oven, but that is okay; it will deflate as it cools). Turn off the oven, and leave the cake inside with the door shut for 1 hour. It will continue to set and color slightly in the oven.
• Run a thin knife or spatula around the cake to release it from the sides (this also helps reduce cracks in the top of the cake as it chills). Cover the cheesecake with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• For the cranberry compote: Stir the sugar, dried cranberries and 1 cup water together in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and then add the fresh cranberries. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the fresh cranberries have burst and the sauce is slightly thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the compote to a heat-safe bowl and let it cool slightly before covering the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerating until it is completely chilled. The cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools. (This can be made up to one day in advance.)
• For serving: Spread the cranberry compote in an even layer on top of the chilled cheesecake. The cheesecake will sink a bit in the center as it cools so it creates a perfect well for the cranberry compote. Run a thin knife or spatula between the cake and the sides again, then release the sides of the springform pan and remove the ring from the cheesecake base. Set the base on a cake platter, slice and serve.

CRANBERRY SWIRL CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wrap exterior of a 9-inch springform pan (including bottom) in a double layer of foil.
• Pulse graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add butter and 2 tablespoons sugar; pulse until mixture has the texture of wet sand. Press firmly into bottom of prepared pan. Bake until set and darkened slightly, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack; let cool completely.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add remaining 1 1/4 cups sugar in a slow, steady stream. Beat in salt and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just combined after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl as needed (do not overmix). Place springform pan in a large, shallow roasting pan. Pour filling into crust.
• Dollop cranberry sauce, 1 teaspoon at a time, over filling; swirl sauce into filling with a skewer or toothpick.
• Transfer roasting pan to oven. Carefully pour enough boiling water into roasting pan to come halfway up sides of springform pan. Bake until cake is set but still slightly wobbly in center, about 1 hour, 15 minutes.
• Carefully transfer springform pan to a wire rack; let cool completely. Refrigerate, uncovered, 6 hours, or loosely covered, up to 1 day. Before unmolding and slicing, run a knife around edge of cake.

CRANBERRY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Wrap foil securely around pan. Place on a baking sheet. , In a small bowl, mix cracker crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 6 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. , Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar and water. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat until berries pop, about 12-15 minutes. Add lemon juice. Press cranberry mixture through a food mill into a small bowl; discard pulp and seeds. Set aside. , For filling, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Pour into crust. Spoon 1/4 cup topping over filling; cut through filling with a knife to swirl. Place springform pan in a larger pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. , Bake 55-65 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove springform pan from water bath; remove foil. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Pour remaining topping over cheesecake. Refrigerate cheesecake overnight, covering when completely cooled. Remove rim from pan.