Festive Creamy Cheesecake With Tangy Cranberry Topping Recipes

FESTIVE CRANBERRY-TOPPED CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine cookie crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 325° for 6-8 minutes or until set. Cool on a wire rack., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the orange juice and zest, vanilla and cinnamon. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour filling over crust. , Return pan to baking sheet. Bake at 325° for 45-50 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight., In a large saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Combine cornstarch and orange juice until smooth; stir into cranberry mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened., Remove from the heat; cool to room temperature. Stir in pecans. Spoon over cheesecake. Refrigerate until chilled.

CREAMY CRANBERRY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Combine the cracker crumbs, 1 tablespoon sugar and butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a 9-in. springform pan coated with cooking spray. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream and remaining sugar until smooth. Add egg whites; beat on low just until combined. Stir in lemon juice and extracts. Pour into crust. , Place pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan. Place in a larger baking pan. Add 1 in. hot water to larger pan. , Bake for 55-60 minutes or until center is just set. Remove 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. Remove foil. Chill overnight. , In a small saucepan, combine the first five topping ingredients; bring to a boil. Add cranberries. Cook over medium heat until berries pop, about 10 minutes. Stir in pecans; cool. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour. , Spoon topping over cheesecake to within 1 in. of edges. Refrigerate leftovers.

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.

GRAND MARNIER CHEESECAKE WITH CRANBERRY TOPPING (THANKSGIVING)

Steps:

• For crust: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter 9 1/2 inch round springform pan. Mix all ingredients in bowl. Press mixture firmly onto bottom and up sides of pan to within 1/2 inch of top edge (I find it easiest to do this with a straight-sided and flat-bottomed scoop). Place pan on a heavy baking sheet and bake 10 minutes. Maintain oven temperature. Transfer crust to rack and cool completely. Set aside.
• For filling: Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese in large bowl until very smooth. Beat in sugar, Grand Marnier, cream, vanilla, and orange zest. Add eggs and yolks and beat just until blended. Pour filling into prepared pan. Bake until top puffs and is golden brown, about 50 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool 15 minute (cake will fall as it cools). Maintain oven temperature.
• Meanwhile, prepare topping: Blend ingredients in small bowl. Pour over cooled filling, spreading with back of spoon. Bake 5 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool completely. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Cranberry Topping: In pot, combine cranberries, sugar, marmalade, and Grand Marnier. Over medium heat cook til mix simmers and cranberries start to burst 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat, cool completely. Transfer to covered container and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Candied Orange Peel: Using vegetable peeler, cut peel from orange in 1 inch wide strips. Cut away any white pith from peel. Cut peel into 3 inch long 1/8 inch wide julienne. Blanch peel in small saucepan of boiling water 1 minute. Drain; rinse peel under cold water. Repeat blanching and rinsing of orange peel twice.
• Cook 1/2 cup water and sugar in heavy small saucepan over low heat, swirling pan occasionally until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring to simmer. Add peel and cook until glaze forms and almost all liquid evaporates, swirling pan occasionally, about 10 minutes. Transfer peel to waxed paper lined plate, separating each piece to prevent sticking. Cool completely. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and let stand at room temperature.).
• Remove cheesecake from fridge one hour before serving. Run a small sharp knife around edge of pan. Release pan sides. Set cheesecake on decorative platter. Carefully spoon Cranberry Topping atop cheesecake, leaving a 1-inch border around the outer edge.
• Using electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup chilled heavy cream in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Sweeten with 2 tsp powdered sugar and 1 1/2 tsp Grand Marnier, and beat to firm peaks. Spoon cream into pastry bag fitted with star tip, and pipe a decorative border around the outer edge. Arrange orange peel atop cream.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH CRANBERRY TOPPING

Steps:

• Pastry: Using a food processor, grind almonds.
• Add 1/2 cup of the flour and process until fine.
• Place almond mixture in a bowl.
• Using the processor, cream the butter and powdered sugar.
• Add in egg and vanilla and process.
• Add in remaining flour, the almond mixture and salt, and pulse until a soft dough forms.
• Pat the pastry into a round shape and refrigerate for about an hour, or until firm.
• Preheat oven to 325ºF.
• Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface.
• The pastry should be about a 14 inch round and about 1/4 inch thick.
• Place pastry in a 11 1/2 inch fluted tart pan, with a removable bottom.
• Press pastry into pan, folding excess back into pan and pressing into sides.
• Parbake the pastry (with a layer of parchment and dried beans) for 25 minutes, then remove the parchment and beans and continue to bake another 10 minutes.
• Cool slightly.
• Make Filling: Using a large bowl, combine cream cheese, brown sugar, spices and salt.
• Beat on medium until smooth, then add pumpkin puree and continue beating until smooth.
• Beat in the cream, syrup, vanilla and eggs on low.
• Place the crust on a baking sheet in the oven, and pour in pumpkin mixture.
• Bake 30-35 minutes until custard is set, though slightly jiggles in the center.
• Cool completely.
• Make Cranberry Topping: Place cranberries in a saucepan with a 1/2 cup of water and cook over medium high heat, until cranberries split.
• Allow to cool.
• Puree until smooth and strain.
• Add sugar and 1/4 cup water to a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Allow to cool.
• Add orange juice and cranberry puree and stir until combined.
• Soften gelatin in 2 tablespoons of water--about 5 minutes.
• Finish melting in the microwave, 10 seconds on high.
• Whisk into the cranberry mixture and pour over the pumkin custard.
• Refrigerate until set-- for at least 1 hour, and up to 2 days.
• Remove outer shell of tart pan and serve.

CREAMY PUMPKIN PIE WITH CRANBERRY TOPPING

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375°F.
• Using an electric mixer, blend the cream cheese in a large mixing bowl to further soften it. Beat in the white sugar and the brown sugar, then beat in the eggs one at a time.
• Add the vanilla extract, spices, salt, pumpkin, and cream, and blend the filling on a low speed until it is smooth.
• Pour the filling into the prepared/panned pie shell and bake the pie on the center rack for 30 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to 350° and continue baking until the pie puffs slightly around the edges and the center is no longer soupy, about another 20 minutes.
• Remove it from the oven and let it cool to room temperature. Cover the pie and refrigerate it for at least 4 hours.
• To prepare the topping, blend the orange juice and cornstarch in a small saucepan until smooth. Stir in the cranberry sauce.
• Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring all the while. Let the filling boil for 1 minute, then remove it from the heat and let it cool for 10 minutes.
• Pour 1 1/2 cups of the topping over the pie and smooth it up to the edges with a spoon. Pour the rest of the topping into a serving bowl.
• Chill the pie for 15 minutes before serving, and set out the remaining topping for those who prefer an extra-tart flavor.