The Frugal Gourmets New York Cheesecake Recipes

CHEESECAKE, NEW YORK STYLE - JEFF SMITH'S RECIPE

Steps:

• Blend the cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup melted butter, and line the bottom of an 8- or 9-inch ungreased spring form pan.
• Blend the sour cream, 1/2 cup sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a food blender for 1 minute.
• Add the cream cheese. Blend until smooth.
• Pour 2 tbsp melted butter through the top of the machine. Pour into the spring form pan.
• Bake in the lower third of a 325 degree oven for 45 minutes.
• When baking is finished, remove from oven, and turn oven onto broil. Broil the cheesecake just until the top begins to show attractive brown spots.
• Refrigerate for 4 hours, preferably overnight, before cutting and serving. This is not a low calorie version. Cut into small pieces - it is very rich. Serves 8-12.

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For crust, combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter.
• Stir until well combined.
• Press onto bottom and about 2-1/2 inches up the sides of a 9x3-inch springform pan.
• Mix cream cheese, sugar, flour, and vanilla.
• Beat with an electric mixer until fluffy.
• Add eggs and egg yolks, beating on low speed just until combined.
• Stir in whipping cream and lemon peel.
• Pour into pan.
• Place pan in a shallow baking pan in the oven. (Does not mention anything about a water bath)
• Bake in a 325 degree F oven about 1-1/2 hours or until center appears nearly set when shaken.
• Cool 15 minutes.
• Loosen crust from sides of pan.
• Cool 30 minutes more; remove sides of pan.
• Cool completely.
• Chill 4 to 24 hours.
• If desired, garnish with fresh berries.

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Make crumb crust as directed in separate recipe. Preheat oven to 550°F.
• Beat together cream cheese, sugar, flour, and zests with an electric mixer until smooth. Add eggs and yolks, 1 at a time, then vanilla, beating on low speed until each ingredient is incorporated and scraping down bowl between additions.
• Put springform pan with crust in a shallow baking pan. Pour filling into crust (springform pan will be completely full) and bake in baking pan (to catch drips) in middle of oven 12 minutes, or until puffed. Reduce temperature to 200°F and continue baking until cake is mostly firm (center will still be slightly wobbly when pan is gently shaken), about 1 hour more.
• Run a knife around top edge of cake to loosen and cool completely in springform pan on a rack. Chill cake, loosely covered, at least 6 hours. Remove side of pan and transfer cake to a plate. Bring to room temperature before serving.

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Generously butter the inside of a 10-inch springform pan. Wrap a double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil tightly around the outside bottom and sides, crimping and pleating the foil to make it conform to the pan. This will help to prevent water seeping into the pan when you put it into the bain-marie (water bath). Position the baking rack in the center of the oven; preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the eggs with the sour cream until well blended.
• In a medium-sized bowl, beat the cream cheese with the butter until smooth and creamy. Add this to the egg-sour cream mixture and beat until smooth.
• Add the sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, lemon juice and lemon zest and beat thoroughly, about 2 minutes.
• Pour into the prepared springform pan and place in a roasting pan (or other pan) large enough to prevent the sides from touching. Place in the oven and carefully pour in enough very hot tap water to reach halfway up the sides of the springform pan.
• Bake for 2 hours, 15 minutes or until the cake is very lightly colored and a knife inserted in the center emerges clean. Remove from the water bath and carefully peel the aluminum foil from around the pan. (Be very careful not to burn yourself. Have a spot ready to set the pan.) Let stand at room temperature until completely cool, about 4 hours. Refrigerate, covered, until well chilled. For best flavor and texture, this cheesecake is best chilled overnight.
• When you first remove the cheesecake from the oven, it looks light and puffy, and there may be some hairline cracks in the top. As the cheesecake cools, it will gently deflate and the hairline cracks deminish.