Lemony White Chocolate Cheesecake With Shortbread Cookie Crust Recipes

CONTEST-WINNING WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a greased 10-in. springform pan. , In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla until well blended. Add eggs and yolks; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in white chocolate. Pour over crust. Place pan on a baking sheet. , Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until center is just 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. , For sauce, in a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and water until smooth. Add strawberries. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in a few drops of food coloring if desired. Cool. , Spread strawberry sauce over top of cheesecake; drizzle with melted white chocolate. Refrigerate leftovers.

LEMON-WHITE CHOCOLATE MINI CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Melt 2 oz. chocolate as directed on package; set aside for later use.
• Use pulsing action of food processor to process 16 cookies until finely crushed; spoon into medium bowl. Add butter and 2 Tbsp. sugar; mix well. Press onto bottoms of 12 paper-lined muffin cups, adding about 1 Tbsp. crumb mixture to each prepared cup.
• Beat cream cheese, vanilla and remaining sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add lemon zest, lemon juice and melted chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Spoon over crusts.
• Bake 17 to 20 min. or until centers are almost set. Cool completely.
• Melt remaining chocolate. Coarsely chop remaining cookies; sprinkle over cheesecakes. Drizzle with melted chocolate.
• Refrigerate 2 hours.

LEMONY WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Place a 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan; set aside. , In a small bowl, combine the flour, confectioners' sugar and zest; cut in butter until crumbly. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of prepared pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in white chocolate, flour, cream, lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust. , Place pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. Bake 65-85 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. , Remove pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour . Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. Garnish with white chocolate and lemon zest strips if desired. Freeze option: Wrap individual portions of cheesecake in plastic wrap and place in a resealable plastic freezer bag. Seal bag and freeze for future use. To use, thaw completely in the refrigerator.

LEMON CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil.
• Mix shortbread crumbs, flour, and brown sugar in a medium bowl. Cut in butter using 2 knives or a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press over the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, beat cream cheese and white sugar using an electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs and flour. Mix well. Blend in lemon juice, lemon zest, and baking powder. Pour filling over the crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven until center is set, 25 to 28 minutes. Let cool completely, at least 45 minutes. Refrigerate until well chilled, about 2 hours. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar right before serving.

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE WITH SHORTBREAD CRUST

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 flour, sugar and lemon zest; cut in butter until crumbly. Add egg yolks and vanilla, tossing with a fork until mixture pulls together., Press onto bottom and 1-1/2 in. up sides of prepared pan. Bake until lightly browned, 12-16 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in cream, flour, vanilla, lemon juice and zest. Add eggs and egg yolks; beat on low speed just until blended. Pour into crust. Place springform pan in a larger baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan., Bake until center is just set and top appears dull, 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove foil. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight, covering when completely cooled. Remove rim of pan. In a small saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Gradually add cranberry and lemon juices. Stir in 1 cup raspberries. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in butter., Strain sauce; discard seeds. Cool to room temperature. Stir in the blueberries, blackberries and remaining raspberries. Serve with cheesecake.

LEMON CHEESECAKE WITH SHORTBREAD COOKIE CRUST

Steps:

• Make crust:.
• Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together on medium high speed for 3-4 minutes.
• Add flour and ground cookies to the mixture and blend for 3-4 seconds until fully incorporated.
• Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Bake the crust at 350° F for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Allow the crust to cool completely.
• Make cheesecake:.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until light and smooth.
• Add the mascarpone cheese and sugar and continue to beat on medium speed.
• Add the eggs one at a time.
• Blend in the lemon zest and juice.
• Pour mixture into the cooled crust.
• Set the cheesecake pan into a roasting pan, and add enough water to the roasting pan to reach halfway up sides of the cheesecake pan.
• Place in a 350° F oven for approximately one hour or until the cake is set and the top is golden brown.
• Remove the cake from the roasting pan and place on a wire rack.
• Allow cake to cool slightly, then place the cake in the refrigerator for 6 hours or overnight.

LEMONY WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH SHORTBREAD COOKIE CRUST

Steps:

• Place a 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 inches square). Securely wrap foil around pan; set aside.
• Make crust:.
• Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together on medium high speed for 3-4 minutes.
• Add flour and ground cookies to the mixture and blend for 3-4 seconds until fully incorporated.
• Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Bake the crust at 350° F for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Allow the crust to cool completely.
• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, flour, lemon juice, cream and vanilla until well blended. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in white chocolate and peel. Pour into crust.
• Place pan in a large baking pan; add 1 inches of hot water to larger pan. Bake at 325° for 65-85 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull.
• 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. Refrigerate overnight.

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE WITH LORNA DOONE COOKIE CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• For Crust:.
• Finely crush entire pkg of cookies, mix in the butter. This can be done in a food processor on pulse. Butter the sides of the springform pan. Press the cookie mixture into bottom of 9 inch springform pan. DO NOT BAKE.
• For Filling:.
• Beat together cream cheese, sugar, flour and zests (if using). Add the 5 eggs and 2 egg yolks one at a time. Add the vanilla into the cream, and then add the cream to the cheese mixture. Beat on low speed (it's easiest to use a counter top heavy duty mixer) until all ingredients are incorporated.
• Place the springform pan with crust in the center of a shallow baking pan (to avoid oven drips). Pour filling into crust, it will be completely full. Place in the middle of oven for 12 minutes. Reduce oven temp to 250F and continue baking (approx. 1 hr to 1 hr 15 mins) until the center is mostly firm but still has a slight jiggle. (A little jiggle is good, if you overbake it you will end up with cracks that can be covered with a nice fruit topping to hide your sin).
• After removing from oven, run a knife around the edge and cool on a rack for 6 hours Remove side of springform pan and transer to a flat plate.
• It can be kept refrigerated for up to 2 weeks (good luck on it still being around), but is best served after allowing to return to room temperature.

LEMON-WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE BITES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300°F. Place mini paper baking cup in each of 18 mini muffin cups; spray paper cups with cooking spray. In small bowl, mix crust ingredients until crumbs are moistened. Spoon and lightly press 1 teaspoon mixture in bottom of each cup.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. On low, beat in egg just until blended. Add lemon peel and lemon juice; beat until smooth. Spoon about 1 teaspoon cream cheese mixture over crumb mixture in each cup. Place 5 to 6 of the white baking chips on top of each (using 1/4 cup total). Divide remaining cream cheese mixture evenly among cups (about 2 heaping teaspoons each).
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or just until filling looks set. Cool on cooling racks 30 minutes. Refrigerate 1 hour.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave remaining 1/4 cup white baking chips and the oil uncovered on High 30 to 40 seconds until mixture can be stirred smooth. Drizzle over cheesecakes. Store covered in refrigerator.