Saks Signature Cheesecake Recipes

JOE'S "SAY CHEESE" CHEESECAKE WITH FRESH STRAWBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray the bottom of a 10-inch springform pan with cooking spray; line the bottom with a round of parchment paper; and spray the paper with cooking spray. Place the pan on a sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil and bring the foil up around the sides to enclose the seam between the bottom and the sides of the pan (this will prevent water from leaking in).
• Stir together the graham cracker crumbs and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add the melted butter and mix until the crumbs are coated. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the pan and up the sides. Set aside.
• For the filling: In a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese together with the sour cream. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the sugar, cornstarch and vanilla, and beat until smooth.
• Pour the filling into the prepared crust. Set the foil-wrapped pan inside a larger pan, and carefully pour 1/2 inch of warm water into the larger pan to create a water bath. Bake for 1 hour. Turn off the oven, open the oven door and let the cheesecake stand in the opened oven for 1 hour. Refrigerate the cheesecake for 2 hours or overnight before removing it from the pan.
• For the sauce: Process the strawberries, sugar and lime zest in a food processor or blender until smooth. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving. (The sauce is best served cold from the refrigerator.)

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• For the crust: Melt the butter, covered in the microwave, in a medium microwave-safe bowl, or a saucepan. Brush a 9-inch springform pan with some of the butter. Stir the remaining butter together with the crumbs, sugar, and salt. Press the crumb mixture over the bottom of the pan, taking care to get the crust evenly into the edges. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool. Wrap the bottom and up the sides of the pan with foil and put in a roasting pan.
• For the filling: Beat the cream cheese on medium speed with a hand-held mixer until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and beat just until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl and beaters as needed. Slowly beat in the sour cream, then eggs, vanilla and both citrus zests; take care not to over whip. Pour into the cooled crust.
• Bring a medium saucepan or kettle of water to a boil. Gently place the roasting pan in the oven (don't pull the rack out of the oven). Pour in enough hot water to come about halfway up the side of the springform pan. Bake the cheesecake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes---the outside of the cake will set but the center will still be loose.
• For the topping: Stir together the sour cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Spread over the top of the cooked cheesecake and return to the oven for 5 minutes. Turn the oven off, cook the cheesecake in the residual heat in the oven for about 1 hour. This gentle finish minimizes the risk of the dreaded crack in your cheesecake.
• Remove cheesecake from the roasting pan to a rack. Run a knife around the edges and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Bring cheesecake to room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Remove the springform ring. Dip a knife in warm water, wipe dry before slicing each piece. Serve with berries, if desired.

OUR BEST CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Mix graham crumbs, butter and 1/4 cup sugar; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
• Beat cream cheese and remaining sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours.
• Top with pie filling before serving.

SAKS' SIGNATURE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Coarsely chop the graham crackers, place in a food processor and grind completely. Add the brown sugar and melted butter. Spray a springform pan 10 inches in diameter with shortening. Press the crumb crust into the pan, distributing it evenly. Chill crust while making the filling.
• For the filling, coarsely chop the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl. Using a mixer, soften the two. Continue beating while adding the sugar. In a separate bowl, combine the sour cream, cornstarch, lemon and vanilla extracts and eggs. Add this mixture to the cream-cheese mixture and combine until completely smooth.
• Place the springform pan in a larger baking dish and fill the dish with hot water to reach halfway up the sides of the pan. Pour the mixture into the pan and bake for 35 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 300 degrees and continue baking for 35 more minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cheesecake is clean. Refrigerate overnight. Remove from the pan and serve.

SUZYQ'S ELEGANT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Mix the graham cracker crumbs, butter, 1/4 cup of sugar, and flour together in a bowl; press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Bake the crust until lightly browned, about 8 minutes; allow to cool in the pan. Raise the oven temperature to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with 1 3/4 cup of sugar, lemon peel, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined. Beat in the eggs and egg yolks, one at a time, until the filling is free of lumps; gently fold in the whipped cream.
• Bake in the 450-degree oven for 12 minutes, then reduce oven heat to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Bake until set, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove the cheesecake gently and carefully from the oven, and allow to cool to room temperature while still in pan; refrigerate overnight. Release the pan and gently remove to slice and serve the cheesecake.

SAVORY SUMMER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Butter a 9-inch springform pan well.
• Start the filling: Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Saute peppers and onions with a large pinch of salt until onions just start to turn translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 2 more minutes. Turn off heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
• While the pepper mixture is cooling, prepare the crust: Combine crushed cracker crumbs, dried Italian herbs, and melted butter in a mixing bowl. Stir until crumbs are coated.
• Transfer the buttered crumbs into the prepared springform pan and press down into an even layer. Set aside until needed.
• Continue the filling: Combine eggs, flour, kosher salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and sugar in a large mixing bowl and whisk until smooth. Add the creme fraiche, cream cheese, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and mix until smooth. Stir in parsley, tarragon, thyme, and cooled pepper mixture until evenly combined.
• Transfer cheese mixture into the prepared springform pan. Tap the pan gently to settle the contents and place on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the lower center of the preheated oven until a skewer poked into the center comes out clean, 60 to 75 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Run a knife around the edges and carefully remove the ring.
• Cheesecake should be thoroughly chilled in the refrigerator before serving, about 2 hours. Cheesecake can be served at room temperature, but it will not have the classic smooth, firm cheesecake texture, and will be more like a very light cheese quiche.

A & S CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Place a rack in the upper third of the oven; heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray; line the bottom with a round of parchment paper. spray the parchment. Wrap the outside of the pan with aluminum foil to prevent any water from coming in from the water bath (don't skip this step & be sure to use the heavy gauge foil - seriously).
• Press the farmer cheese through a fine-mesh strainer; place in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or use a large bowl and a hand mixer). Add the cream cheese and sugar; beat on low speed until smooth, about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add the eggs and egg yolks, one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Beat in the lemon juice and vanilla.
• Beat in the sour cream. Slowly add the whipping cream, beating until blended; stop to scrape down the bowl and paddle every 30 seconds. Gently press the finished batter through a fine-mesh strainer.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Place the pan in a baking or a roasting pan; place on the oven rack. Pour enough hot water into the baking pan to come halfway up the sides of the springform pan. Bake 1 hour.
• Turn off the oven; do not open the oven door. Leave in the oven until cake is golden and set, 45 minutes -- 1 hour (if you don't have a window, open the oven door quickly to check) (I just gave it the full hour - no problemo). Remove the cake from the oven; remove pan from the water bath to a rack. Cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Chill at least 4 hours in the refrigerator.
• To serve, run a knife around the inside of the rim of the springform pan; remove the rim. Allow the cake to stand at room temperature 20 minutes before serving.