Carmelas New Jersey Cheesecake Recipes

THE ULTIMATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• For the Crust:
• In a mixing bowl, combine the ingredients with a fork until evenly moistened. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of an 8-inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Pour the crumbs into the pan and, using the bottom of a measuring cup or the smooth bottom of a glass, press the crumbs down into the base and 1-inch up the sides. Refrigerate for 5 minutes.
• For the Filling:
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese on low speed for 1 minute until smooth and free of any lumps. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to beat slowly until combined. Gradually add sugar and beat until creamy, for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add sour cream, lemon zest, and vanilla. Periodically scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters. The batter should be well-mixed but not over-beaten. Pour the filling into the crust-lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
• Set the cheesecake pan on a large piece of aluminum foil and fold up the sides around it. Place the cake pan in a large roasting pan. Pour boiling water into the roasting pan until the water is about halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan; the foil will keep the water from seeping into the cheesecake. Bake for 45 minutes. The cheesecake should still jiggle (it will firm up after chilling), so be careful not to overcook. Let cool in pan for 30 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator, loosely covered, for at least 4 hours. Loosen the cheesecake from the sides of the pan by running a thin metal spatula around the inside rim. Unmold and transfer to a cake plate. Using a spatula spread a layer of Warm Lemon Blueberry topping over the surface.
• Slice the cheesecake with a thin, non-serrated knife that has been dipped in hot water. Wipe dry after each cut.
• In a small saucepan add all the ingredients and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes or so until the fruit begins to break down slightly. Leave to cool before spreading on cheesecake.

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• For the crust: Melt the butter, covered in the microwave, in a medium microwave-safe bowl, or a saucepan. Brush a 9-inch springform pan with some of the butter. Stir the remaining butter together with the crumbs, sugar, and salt. Press the crumb mixture over the bottom of the pan, taking care to get the crust evenly into the edges. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool. Wrap the bottom and up the sides of the pan with foil and put in a roasting pan.
• For the filling: Beat the cream cheese on medium speed with a hand-held mixer until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and beat just until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl and beaters as needed. Slowly beat in the sour cream, then eggs, vanilla and both citrus zests; take care not to over whip. Pour into the cooled crust.
• Bring a medium saucepan or kettle of water to a boil. Gently place the roasting pan in the oven (don't pull the rack out of the oven). Pour in enough hot water to come about halfway up the side of the springform pan. Bake the cheesecake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes---the outside of the cake will set but the center will still be loose.
• For the topping: Stir together the sour cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Spread over the top of the cooked cheesecake and return to the oven for 5 minutes. Turn the oven off, cook the cheesecake in the residual heat in the oven for about 1 hour. This gentle finish minimizes the risk of the dreaded crack in your cheesecake.
• Remove cheesecake from the roasting pan to a rack. Run a knife around the edges and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Bring cheesecake to room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Remove the springform ring. Dip a knife in warm water, wipe dry before slicing each piece. Serve with berries, if desired.

A NEW YORKER'S REAL ITALIAN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Wrap the outside of a 10-inch springform pan with foil to prevent water from seeping in while baking.
• Mix sugar, crumbs, and melted butter together well to form crust.
• Press this mixture into the bottom of the springform pan and up the sides until you run out.
• Bake crust for about 7-10 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cool on wire rack while preparing the batter.
• With a mixer, cream together ricotta cheese, cream cheese, flour, and sugar until very smooth.
• Mix in the eggs one at a time, blend well but DO NOT OVER MIX THE BATTER!
• Stir in the sour cream and vanilla by hand.
• Pour mixture into cooled crust.
• Place cheesecake into a large rectangular pan filled with about 1 1/2 inches of hot water.
• Make sure foil is high enough around the springform pan so that no water seeps into it while baking.
• Bake for 90 minutes.
• After 90 minutes, turn oven off but leave cake in oven for another 60 minutes (DO NOT OPEN OVEN DOOR).
• Carefully remove cake from water pan and remove foil from springform pan.
• Cool on wire rack for 1 hour.
• Cover cake with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator overnight.
• Enjoy!

JUNIOR'S FAMOUS CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Sponge cake: Preheat the oven to 350 F and generously butter a 9-inch springform pan.
• Sift the cake flour, baking powder, and salt together ina medium sized bowl and set aside.
• Beat the egg yolks together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high for 3 minutes.
• Then, with the mixer still running, gradually add the 1/3 cup of sugar and continue beating until thick light-yellow ribbons form in the bowl, about 5 minutes more.
• Beat in the vanilla and lemon extracts.
• Sift the flour mixture over the batter and stir it in by hand until mo more white flecks appear.
• Then blend in the butter.
• In a clean bowl, using clean dry beaters, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar together on high until frothy.
• Gradually add the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form (the whites should stand up in stiff peaks, but not be dry).
• Stir about 1/3 cup of the whites into the batter, then gently fold in the remaining whites (don't worry if a few white specks remain).
• Gently spoon the batter into the pan.
• Bake the cake just until the center of the cake springs back when lightly touched, only about 10 minutes (watch carefully!) Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack while you continue making the cheesecake filling.
• Do not remove the cake from the pan.
• Cream Cheese Filling---------------.
• Place one 8-ounce package of the cream cheese, 1/3 cup of the sugar, and the cornstarch in a large bowl.
• Beat with an electric mixer on low until creamy, about 3 minutes, then beat in the remaining 3 packages of the cream cheese.
• Increase the mixer speed to high and beat in the remaining 1 1/3 cups of the sugar, then beat in the vanilla.
• Blend in the eggs, one at a time, beating the batter well after each one.
• Blend in heavy cream.
• At this point mix the filling only until completely blended (just like they do at Junior's) Be careful not to overmix the batter.
• Gently spoon the cheese filling on top of the baked sponge cake layer.
• Place the springform pan in a large shallow pan containing hot water that comes about 1 inch up the side of the pan.
• Bake the cheesecake until the center barely jiggles when you shake the pan, about 1 hour.
• Cool the cake on a wire rack for 1 hour.
• Then cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate until it's completely cold, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Remove the sides of the springform pan.
• Slide the cake off of the bottom of the pan onto a serving plate.
• Or, if you wish, simply leave the cake on the removable bottom of the pan and place it on a serving plate.
• Store any leftover cheesecake in the refrigerator.

CHANTAL'S NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 inch springform pan.
• In a medium bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter. Press onto bottom of springform pan.
• In a large bowl, mix cream cheese with sugar until smooth. Blend in milk, and then mix in the eggs one at a time, mixing just enough to incorporate. Mix in sour cream, vanilla and flour until smooth. Pour filling into prepared crust.
• Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour. Turn the oven off, and let cake cool in oven with the door closed for 5 to 6 hours; this prevents cracking. Chill in refrigerator until serving.

CARAMEL CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a small bowl, mix wafer crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto bottom and 3/4 in. up sides of a greased 10-in. springform pan., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in flour and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Pour into prepared crust. Place pan on a baking sheet., Bake 30-35 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight, covering when completely cooled., In a large heavy saucepan, melt caramels with milk over low heat; stir until smooth. Stir in walnuts. Cool to room temperature. Remove rim from springform pan. Serve cheesecake with caramel sauce.