Minty Middle Cheesecake Recipes

MINT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8-inch square metal baking pan with nonstick spray and line with foil.
• Pulse the cookies in a food processor with the butter, sugar, and salt to make a fine crust. Evenly press the crust into the prepared pan taking care to cover the bottom completely. Bake until the crust sets, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl; heat at 75 percent power until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir, and continue to microwave until completely melted, up to 2 minutes more. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water, and stir occasionally until melted and smooth.)
• Blend the cream cheese, 2/3 cup of the sugar, and 1/2 cup of the sour cream together in the food processor until smooth. Scrape down the sides, as needed. Add the eggs and melted chocolate then pulse until just incorporated and smooth. Pour the filling evenly over the crust and bake until the filling puffs slightly around the edges and just set in the center, about 20 minutes.
• Mix the remaining cup of sour cream and 2/3 cup sugar with the creme de menthe and food coloring, if using. Carefully, spoon the mixture over the top of the chocolate and gently spread into an even layer. Bake until topping becomes glossy but is still a bit loose, about 15 minutes more. (The topping will set when cooled.) Cool on a rack. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Lift cheesecake out of the pan, cut into 2-inch squares, and top with chocolate curls.

MINT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

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. In a small bowl, mix cookie crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto bottom of prepared pan., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in cooled chips, creme de menthe, flour, creme de cacao and extract. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Pour half the batter over crust; sprinkle with crushed Oreos. Carefully spoon remaining batter over top. Place springform pan in a larger baking pan; add 1 in. hot water to larger pan., Bake until center is just set and top appears dull, 75-80 minutes. 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 from pan. Place chocolate chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; stir with a whisk until smooth. Spread over cheesecake.

MINTY MIDDLE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
• For the crust, mix flour, cocoa, and 3 tablespoons sugar together in a bowl. Stir in oil and water until well blended. Press dough into the bottom and up the sides of a well-greased 8 inch springform cake pan.
• Place baking chocolate and 4 tablespoons sugar in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute, stir, and continue heating until chocolate is completely melted. Add butter, and heat for another 30 seconds. Stir, and spread over bottom of the crust. Refrigerate or freeze crust while preparing filling.
• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese to soften. Add white chocolate syrup and flour, and stir until well blended. Add one egg at a time until all are just incorporated into the mixture. Set aside.
• Pour 1/2 cup of filling into a small bowl, and stir in mint jelly. Pour half of original filling into prepared pan, spreading evenly over crust. Pour in mint filling, spreading as evenly as possible without blending into bottom layer, then top with remaining filling.
• Bake cake in the preheated oven at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C), and continue baking for another 30 minutes. When done baking, open oven door and allow cake to cool completely to prevent cracking, about 3 hours. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

MASCARPONE CHEESECAKE WITH BLUEBERRY COMPOTE AND MINTY WHIPPED LEMONADE

Steps:

• For the cheesecake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Stir together the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of the sugar, the ginger, cinnamon, salt and melted butter in a large bowl.
• Add the cream cheese, mascarpone, sour cream, vanilla extract, zest and juice of 1 of the Meyer lemons and 1 cup of the sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until incorporated. Reduce the speed to low and add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until fully combined.
• Set eight 4-inch baking rings onto a sheet tray lined with a silicone baking mat. Fill each ring mold with 2 tablespoons of the graham cracker crust and pat firmly to create a crust on the bottom. Pour the cheesecake mixture into the ring molds and fill two-thirds of the way to the top. Place into the oven and bake until no longer jiggly and the center is set, 25 to 30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. Place into the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes. Run an offset spatula around the inner edges of the cheesecake to release the cheesecake from the mold.
• Add the blueberries, water, the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, the star anise and the remaining Meyer lemon juice and zest into a small saucepan. Turn the heat to medium and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the mixture has thickened, 15 to 20 minutes.
• For the almond tuile: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add the butter, sugar, almonds, flour, vanilla and salt to a small saucepan. Stir until the butter is melted and starts to bubble, then add the heavy cream. Turn off the heat and allow to cool down. Line a sheet tray with a silicone baking mat. Spoon 1-tablespoon mounds onto the baking mat, spaced at least 2 inches apart. Place into the oven and bake until they just begin to turn golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. To remove the tuiles, carefully lift with an offset spatula.
• For the whipped lemonade: Whip the heavy cream to soft peaks. Add the ice, mint, lemon juice and sweetened condensed milk to a blender. Blend on high until smooth. Add in two-thirds of the whipped cream and blend to combine. Pour into glasses and garnish with the remaining whipped cream, lemon zest and mint leaves.
• Top the cheesecake with the blueberry compote and garnish with the almond tuile. Serve alongside the whipped lemonade.

MINTY MIDDLE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
• For the crust, mix flour, cocoa, and 3 tablespoons sugar together in a bowl. Stir in oil and water until well blended. Press dough into the bottom and up the sides of a well-greased 8 inch springform cake pan.
• Place baking chocolate and 4 tablespoons sugar in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute, stir, and continue heating until chocolate is completely melted. Add butter, and heat for another 30 seconds. Stir, and spread over bottom of the crust. Refrigerate or freeze crust while preparing filling.
• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese to soften. Add white chocolate syrup and flour, and stir until well blended. Add one egg at a time until all are just incorporated into the mixture. Set aside.
• Pour 1/2 cup of filling into a small bowl, and stir in mint jelly. Pour half of original filling into prepared pan, spreading evenly over crust. Pour in mint filling, spreading as evenly as possible without blending into bottom layer, then top with remaining filling.
• Bake cake in the preheated oven at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C), and continue baking for another 30 minutes. When done baking, open oven door and allow cake to cool completely to prevent cracking, about 3 hours. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.