Savory Sun Dried Tomato Appetizer Cheesecake Recipes

HAVARTI AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, mix crushed crackers and butter until well blended. Press evenly in bottom of 10-inch springform pan. Bake about 10 minutes or until golden brown.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325°F. In large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add whipping cream, eggs and tomato liquid; beat until creamy. Stir in Havarti cheese, tomatoes and onions until well blended. Spoon evenly over crust in pan.
• Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until center is set. Run knife around edge of cheesecake to loosen. Cool completely at room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours but no longer than 24 hours. Remove side of pan. To serve, cut cheesecake into thin wedges.

SAVORY SUN-DRIED TOMATO APPETIZER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Stir together bread crumbs and melted butter. Pat into the bottom of a greased.
• 9-inch springform pan (OR 9-inch deep dish pie plate).
• Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
• In large bowl whip cream cheese just to soften. Add shredded cheese and seasoning and mix to combine. Add eggs, one at a time and beat just until each egg is no longer visible. Fold in tomatoes. Pour filling into crust. Place pan on a cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until almost firm in the middle.
• Combine sour cream and Italian seasonings and pour over cheesecake. Return to oven for 5 minutes. Turn off oven, leaving door slightly open, let cake cool in oven for about 20 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and run a sharp knife around the edge of the cake. Let cool completely before removing sides of pan. When cooled, wrap tightly and chill overnight or preferably a couple days.

SAVORY MASCARPONE CHEESECAKE WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Make the crust:
• In a bowl blend together the cracker crumbs, the walnuts, the butter, and salt and pepper to taste. Press the mixture onto the bottom of a buttered 10-inch springform pan and bake the crust in the middle of a preheated 325°F. oven for 10 minutes.
• Make the pesto:
• In a food processor purée the basil, the sun-dried tomatoes with the reserved oil, the garlic, the Parmesan, the pine nuts, salt and pepper to taste until the mixture is smooth.
• Make the filling:
• In the bowl of an electric mixer blend together the mascarpone, the cream cheese, the eggs, and the flour until the mixture is very smooth.
• Pour half the filling into the crust, spoon the pesto over it, spreading the pesto carefully with the back of a spoon, and spread the remaining filling over the pesto. Bake the cheesecake in the middle of a preheated 325°F. oven for 1 hour.
• In a bowl blend together the sour cream and the flour, spread the sour cream topping on the cheesecake, and bake the cheesecake for 5 to 10 minutes more, or until it is set. Let the cheesecake cool in the pan on a rack and chill it, covered loosely, for at least 3 hours or overnight. Remove the side of the pan, garnish the cheesecake with the sun-dried tomato slices and the basil, and serve it with the greens.

SAVORY BLT 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). Securely wrap foil around pan. , In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and butter. Press onto the bottom of prepared pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake 12 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. , In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and cream until smooth. Beat in the bacon, tomatoes, Gruyere cheese, onions and pepper. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour over crust. Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of boiling water to larger pan. , Bake 45-55 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove springform pan from water bath; remove foil. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack 10 minutes; loosen edges from pan with a knife. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight., Remove rim from pan. Serve cheesecake with toppings and crackers if desired.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND BASIL CHEESECAKE APPETIZER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a food processor, blend the bread, 1/2 cup softened butter and 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese. Spray cooking oil in the bottom of a nonstick 91/2-inch springform pan. Cut a piece of parchment to fit the bottom of the pan. Press crumb mixture into pan, going up 1/4 inch on sides. Refrigerate.
• Beat the cream cheese until smooth in a sturdy electric mixer. Add chopped onion, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup melted and cooled butter, 1 tablespoon oil and herbs from the tomato jar, and the basil. Add eggs, 7 tablespoons chopped sun-dried tomatoes and sour cream, blending until smooth.
• Pour a third of the filling into the refrigerated crust. Add a layer of about 15 coarsely chopped sun-dried tomatoes, followed by another third of the filling. Add a thin layer of pesto (don't go too close to the edge with this) and remaining third of filling.
• Bake 50-60 minutes on second-to-lowest rack of oven, placing a foil sheet underneath to catch drippings. When set in center, turn off oven and let the cheesecake sit 20 more minutes. Cool and refrigerate for a day.
• Remove sides of pan and place cheesecake on a serving platter. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and pieces of sundried tomato. Enjoy with crackers or rustic breads.

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.