Freeform Cheesecake Poured Over Fresh Fruit Recipes

FRUITY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325ºF.
• Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides. Combine wafer crumbs, butter and 3 Tbsp. sugar; press onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 10 min.
• Beat cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and flour in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add sour cream; mix well. Blend in dry pudding mix. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 1 hour or until center is almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate 4 hours. Use foil handles to transfer cheesecake to tray; discard foil. Spread cheesecake with COOL WHIP. Top with fruit just before serving.

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE WITH HOMEMADE FRUIT SAUCES

Steps:

• Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Break the graham crackers into pieces, then pulse in a food processor with the sugar until finely ground; drizzle in the melted butter and pulse to combine. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and about 1 inch up the side of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake until golden, about 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack and let cool completely. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
• Make the filling: Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and slightly fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then beat in the lemon juice and vanilla.
• Pour the batter into the prepared crust. Transfer to the oven and bake until the edge is set but the center still jiggles slightly, 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes. Turn off the oven and keep the cheesecake in the oven with the door ajar, 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and run a knife around the edge of the cheesecake to loosen. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely, then refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Top with homemade fruit sauce (see below).
• Rasberry-Rose
• Combine 3 cups raspberries, 1 1/2 cups rose wine, 1 cup sugar, 1 strip orange zest, the juice of 1 orange, 2 teaspoons vanilla and a pinch of cinnamon in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half, 30 to 40 minutes. Whisk 2 teaspoons cornstarch with 3 tablespoons water; whisk into the sauce until thickened, 3 minutes. Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve, using a ladle to push it through. Let cool, then cover and refrigerate. (Makes 1 1/2 cups.)
• Honeydew-Avocado
• Puree 2 cups cubed honeydew melon, 1 small peeled and pitted avocado, 1/3 cup sugar and the juice of 1 lime until smooth. If the sauce is still lumpy, strain through a fine-mesh sieve, using a ladle to push it through. Cover and refrigerate. (Makes 1 3/4 cups.)
• Mango-Coconut
• Combine 2 cups coconut water and 1/2 cup sugar in a saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally; cook until reduced to 1/2 cup, 10 to 15 minutes. Add 2 chopped mangoes and cook until just tender, 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the juice of 1 lime and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Puree until smooth, then strain the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve, using a ladle to push it through. Let cool; cover and refrigerate. (Makes 1 3/4 cups.)
• Maple-Blueberry
• Combine 3 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup maple syrup, 1/4 cup sugar, the juice of 1 lemon and 1 teaspoon vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, then lower the heat and simmer until reduced by half, 20 to 30 minutes. Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve, using a ladle to push it through. Let cool; cover and refrigerate. (Makes 1 3/4 cups.)
• Strawberry-Rhubarb
• Toss 2 cups sliced fresh or frozen rhubarb, 1 pound quartered strawberries and 3/4 cup sugar in a saucepan; let sit until juicy, 20 minutes. Add 1/4 cup water, bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until very tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve, using a ladle to push it through. Let cool, then cover and refrigerate. (Makes 1 1/2 cups.)
• Apricot-Ginger
• Combine 1 cup dried apricots, 1/3 cup sugar, 3 thin slices ginger, 1 1/4 cups water, 1/2 cup cranberry juice and the juice of 2 lemons in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer until the apricots are very soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool; discard the ginger. Puree until smooth, then cover and refrigerate. Stir in up to 1/2 cup water if the sauce seems thick. (Makes 2 cups.)

FRESH CREAM CHEESECAKE WITH SUMMER BERRIES

Steps:

• For the cheesecake: Line a medium (about 8-inches wide) sieve, fine strainer or colander with a double layer of damp cheesecloth and set over a bowl.
• Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl with a hand-held mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add the sugar, lime zest and juice, and vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl and beaters as needed.
• In another bowl, beat the cream just until it holds a stiff peak. Stir about 1/3 of the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture to lighten the cream cheese. Gradually fold in the remaining whipped cream to make a light mousse. Transfer mixture into the lined sieve and fold the cheesecloth over top and press gently. Cover and refrigerate to drain for at least 4 hours or up to 3 days.
• Just before serving, prepare the berries: Cook about half of the blueberries in a small skillet with the water and sugar, over medium heat until the berries get juicy, about 8 minutes. Toss all the berries together in a large bowl, along with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
• Unwrap the cheesecake and invert onto a platter. (Discard the cheesecloth.) Use a large ladle or spoon to press a well in the center of the cake. Spoon the berries into the well and drizzle the juices over the top or serve on the side. Serve a scoop of summer cheesecake with some of the fresh berries.