Southern Living Cheesecake Recipes

SAVORY CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• For the crust: Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spray the bottom of four 4-inch springform pans with nonstick spray.
• Mix the cracker crumbs, butter and pecans in a medium bowl until evenly moistened. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pans. Bake until the crusts are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Cool the pans on a rack.
• Once completely cool, spray the sides of the pans with cooking spray and line with strips of parchment.
• For the Cheddar-pimento cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, Cheddar, pimentos, Worcestershire, hot sauce and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment. Top with the candied bacon and scallion greens.
• For the blue cheese cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, blue cheese, cream and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Fold in the dates and shallots. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment. Top with the candied walnuts and a drizzle of honey.
• For the mozzarella-basil cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, cream and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Fold in the chopped basil. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment. Top with the cherry tomatoes, drizzles of balsamic syrup and olive oil and a sprig of basil.
• For the goat cheese-herb cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, goat cheese, cream, parsley, rosemary, lemon zest, Worcestershire to taste and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Spread the jam over top. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment.

AMARETTO CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the Amaretto, extracts and salt. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust. Place pan on a baking sheet., Bake at 325° until center is almost set, 55-60 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes. Combine the sour cream, sugar and almond extract; spread over top of cheesecake. Bake 5 minutes longer., Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan.

SOUTHERN PECAN PIE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°.
• Thaw pecan pie according to package directions.
• Cut evenly into 20 thin slices, keeping wedges intact, and set aside.
• Line the outside of a 10-inch springform pan tightly with foil.
• Stir together cracker crumbs and next 3 ingredients; press mixture onto bottom and 1 1/2-inches up sides of a 10-inch springform pan.
• Arrange 10 pecan pie wedges in a spoke design in prepared pan, placing 1 cut side of each wedge on crust with narrow end towards center of pan.
• Reserve remaining pecan pie wedges for another use.
• Beat cream cheese until smooth; add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition.
• Add sour cream, half-and-half, and vanilla; beat until blended.
• Fold in powdered sugar and flour.
• Carefully pour cream cheese mixture evenly over pecan pie wedges in pan, making sure wedges remain in place.
• Arrange pecan halves evenly around edge.
• Bake at 325° for 50 minutes in a water bath.
• Turn off oven, and let cheesecake stand in oven 1 hour.
• Remove to a wire rack, and let cool completely.
• Chill at least 8 hours or overnight before serving.
• Note: Baking in a water bath means that you set the cheesecake in a roasting pan filled with about an inch of water.
• The foil should keep the water out.

SOUTHERN LIVING CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325.
• Combine graham cracker crumbs, butter, and brown sugar.
• Press into the bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch spring form pan.
• Bake crust for 10 minutes, let cool on wire rack.
• For filling, beat cream cheese at a medium speed of an electric mixer until creamy.
• Gradually add sugar, beating well.
• Add eggs, on at a time, beating after each addition and scraping bottom and sides of bowl as needed.
• Stir in sour cream and vanilla.
• Pour batter into prepared crust.
• Bake for 65 minutes, center will not be completely set.
• Turn oven off; partially open oven door, leaving cheesecake in oven for 1 hour.
• Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Cover and chill at least 8 hours.

SOUTHERN LIVING CHEESECAKE FLAN

Steps:

• Sprinkle sugar in a heavy skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until sugar melts and turns light brown.
• Remove from heat. QUICKLY pour hot caramel into a 9" round cakepan, tilting to coat bottom; set pan aside. (Caramel will harden and crack).
• Combine eggs and remaining 7 ingredients in a large food processor or blender. Process just until smooth, stopping once to scrape down sides.
• Pour custard mixture over the caramel syrup in cake pan.
• Place cakepan in a large shallow pan. Cover cakepan with aluminum foil.
• Add hot water to shallow pan to depth of 1".
• Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until knife inserted off center comes out clean. (Center should still be slightly liquid; flan will finish cooking as it cools).
• Remove cakepan from water bath; cool flan completely on a wire rack (while still in cakepan).
• Cover and chill for several hours or overnight. Loosen edges of flan with a spatula and invert flan onto a rimmed serving plate, letting caramel sauce drizzle over the top.