Cassata Style Cheesecake Recipes

ITALIAN EASTER CASSATA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350.
• Grease two 9 inch pans lightly with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
• Mix all the dough ingredients in a bowl until it forms a ball.
• Roll the dough out thin and line your prepared pans with it.
• Pour in the filling.
• Make a lattice-style crust and place the strips on the bottom and top like a weave.
• You can brush the top with beaten egg wash.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the crust looks brown and the middle looks solid around 35 to 45 minutes depending on how thick your cassata is and the pans you used.
• Cool completely before cutting.
• Store leftovers in the refrigerator covered.

CASSATA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and line with parchment paper 2 nine inch round layer pans.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together.
• Separate the eggs and set the egg whites aside. Beat the egg yolks together on medium-high speed until very thick, about 4 minutes. Gradually add the cold water. Add 1- 1/4 cups of the white sugar, slowly, and beat well for about 3 more minutes. Add 1 teaspoon of the vanilla. Sift the flour mixture over the egg yolk mixture and fold in.
• Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar together until stiff peaks form. Fold this into the yolk mixture. Divide batter between the pans.
• Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 25 minutes. Cool on rack for 10 minutes and then invert and cool completely.
• Cut each cake layer in half. Place one of the 4 halves on a cake board or plate and sprinkle with a little of the Rum Syrup. Spread about 1-1/2 cups of the Filling over this layer. Add a second layer of cake and repeat this procedure. Top the cake with the last layer of cake. Chill at least 4 hours. Spread Chocolate Glaze over top of cake.
• To Make Ricotta Cheese Filling: Beat the ricotta cheese well and add the confectioner's sugar and cinnamon. Add 1-1/2 teaspoons of the vanilla and grate 2 ounces of the chocolate in using the coarse side of a grater. Stir in the candied lemon peel and mix. Chill until ready to use.
• To Make The Rum Syrup: Place 1/3 cup of the sugar and the water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Boil 1 minute and then remove from heat and add the rum. Cool to room temperature.
• To Make The Chocolate Glaze: Melt 6 ounces of the chocolate and the cream in the microwave, whisk smooth. Add the butter and whisk until dissolved. Cool mixture until spreadable. Spread over the top of the cake.

CASSATA-STYLE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F Lightly coat or spray a 9- or 9 1/2-inch springform pan with oil.
• For crust:.
• Place 3/4 cup flour and 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor. Pulse to mix. Add butter. Pulse until small crumbs form. Turn into pan. Press firmly and evenly over bottom. (Don't worry about cleaning processor.)
• Bake crust in centre of preheated oven until lightly golden around edge, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove pan and reduce heat to 300F
• For filling:.
• Finely grate peel from orange. Cut cream cheese into chunks.
• Place in a food processor with ricotta and vanilla. Whirl until smooth, occasionally scraping down side of bowl.
• Add 1 cup sugar and whirl to mix. Add eggs, one at a time, whirling after each addition. Then add 3 tbsp flour and orange zest. Whirl just until evenly mixed.
• Scrape filling into a large bowl. Stir in chocolate, candied fruit mix and pistachios.
• Pour filling over warm base.
• Lay a piece of foil loosely overtop. Don't seal.
• Bake in centre of 300F oven until centre is slightly jiggly, 2 hours.
• Remove to a rack. Run a knife around outside edge of cake, but don't remove from pan. Cool in pan, then refrigerate at least 3 hours or cover and refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 2 months.
• If centre cracks, cover with orange slices or whipped cream and chopped pistachios, if you wish!
• Hint: if you cannot find the mixed chopped candied fruits and peel use diced candied cherries and pineapple.

EASY NO- BAKE CASSATA CAKE

Steps:

• Take the angel food cakes and cut each into three layers by making two evenly spaced cuts.
• Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, blend the ricotta half the chips and the sugar together.
• On a large cake tray, place the a layer of cake, top it with the ricotta cheese (cassatta cream) mixture.
• Alternate cake and cream until you have joined three layers.
• I often add an extra layer of cassatta cream on the top layer since I usually have leftovers and it will be covered by whipped cream anyway.
• Take another large bowl and beaters, chilled if I remember to do that, and whip your cream.
• Cover the entire cake in fluffy white whipped cream and serve or refrigerate.
• The cake will only stay looking pretty for a day or so although it will remain edible for a few more days than that.

CASSATA SICILIANA

Steps:

• The day before, preheat the oven to 160C/Gas 3/fan oven 140C. Brush a 25cm/10in springform cake tin with the melted butter and then dust with flour.
• Make the sponge. Using an electric mixer fitted with balloon whisks, beat the eggs with the sugar until pale and airy. The mixture should be thick enough to leave a ribbon trail on the surface when the whisks are lifted - it takes about 8-10 minutes to get to this stage. Gently fold in the flour and lemon zest using the whisks or a spoon, trying not to deflate the beaten eggs and sugar.
• Working quickly, transfer to the prepared cake tin and bake for about 30 minutes until firm to the touch (the cake should not have risen). Stand the tin on a wire rack and leave to cool, then remove the cake from the tin.
• Make the ricotta cream. Finely chop the crystallised fruits and frozen chocolate. Mix the ricotta with the sugar and gently incorporate the fruit and chocolate. Place in the fridge until you are ready to assemble the cake.
• Make the icing just before assembling the cake. Mix the icing sugar with the lemon juice and 1 tablespoon milk, then add a drop of green food colouring to give the icing a subtle green tinge, and beat vigorously. You should have a spreadable paste with a thick, non-liquid consistency - you may need a little extra milk.
• Assemble the cake. Melt the jam with 1 tablespoon liqueur and 1 tablespoon water. Slice the sponge in half horizontally. Place the less perfect half on a flat serving plate and spread with half the jam mixture. Spread all the ricotta mixture on top. Spread the remaining jam mixture on the remaining sponge, then turn it over and put it jam side down on the ricotta cream. Spread the icing evenly across the top and smooth over with a palette knife, then place in the fridge for at least 1 hour (or for up to two days).
• On the day, a few hours before serving decorate the top of the cake with crystallised fruits, peel and angelica as the fancy takes you.