Thursday, December 10, 2009

Holiday Perfection!

I might have mentioned in passing..maybe not...that I'm taking a pastry class at my community college. So anyway, I just finished my practical final exam and aced it so I thought I'd share the recipe here.


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Graham cracker crumbs 1½ C
Butter, melted 5 T
Cinnamon 1 t

Place the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and cinnamon in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until combined. Pour into a 9-inch springform pan. With your hands, press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool to room temperature.

Bittersweet chocolate 5 oz
Instant coffee granules 2 T

Chop the bittersweet chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Add the espresso and stir until just melted. Set aside until cooled to room temperature.

Cream cheese 1¾ lb
Granulated sugar 1 C
Cornstarch ¼ C
Pure vanilla extract 1 t
Almond extract ¼ t
Kosher salt ½ t
Eggs 3
Sour cream ½ C

Cream the cream cheese, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla and almond extracts and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Reduce the speed of the mixer to medium and add the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well. Scrape down the bowl and beater, as necessary. With the mixer on low, add the sour cream, and the cooled chocolate mixture. Mix thoroughly and pour into the cooled crust. Bake for 1 hour. Turn the oven off and allow the cake to sit in the oven with the door opened wide for 1½ hours. Take the cake out of the oven and allow it to sit at room temperature, until completely cooled.

Semi-sweet chocolate 4 oz
Heavy cream ¼ C

Finely chop the semisweet chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Add the cream and stir until just melted. Set aside until cooled to room temperature.
Remove the cake from the springform pan by carefully running a hot knife around the outside of the cake. Leave the cake on the bottom of the springform pan for serving. Drizzle the ganache over the top of the cheesecake.

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