Monday, March 16, 2009

Cheesecake- You make me SMILE


I made my 1st Cheesecake this weekend!!! I finally did it! I don't have any actual pics of it because my husband and I dug into it as soon as it cooled....LOL!! Well I used the following recipe (cut in half from original) and a pre-made graham cracker crust (9 in).

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 inch springform pan.
In a medium bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter. Press onto bottom of springform pan.
In a large bowl, mix cream cheese with sugar until smooth. Blend in milk, and then mix in the eggs one at a time, mixing just enough to incorporate. Mix in sour cream, vanilla and flour until smooth. Pour filling into prepared crust.
Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour. Turn the oven off, and let cake cool in oven with the door closed for 5 to 6 hours; this prevents cracking. Chill in refrigerator until serving.


**Tips**
I left all the ingredients out for about 3 hours so they were room temperature.
I added a bit more sour cream than required.
Place in a “Water Bath” (a jelly roll pan with water in it)
WARNING – Please watch this cake CLOSELY!! Don’t overcook. Even though it might not look done…. It really is done after about 1 hour. I added approx 15-18 more min and almost had a disaster....
Simply turn off the oven after 1 hour and leave the door closed. The slow cool will keep it from cracking.
Be careful not to over mix, it will crack if you do

I have a springform pan but I just wanted to do something quick and simple the 1st time around… If you wish to use a springform pan- Be advised of the following:
Double wrap the springform pan in aluminum before placing it in the water bath
Use the 12 serving recipe as follows:

15 graham crackers, crushed
2 tablespoons butter, melted

4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3/4 cup milk
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 inch springform pan.
In a medium bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter. Press onto bottom of springform pan.
In a large bowl, mix cream cheese with sugar until smooth. Blend in milk, and then mix in the eggs one at a time, mixing just enough to incorporate. Mix in sour cream, vanilla and flour until smooth. Pour filling into prepared crust.
Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour. Turn the oven off, and let cake cool in oven with the door closed for 5 to 6 hours; this prevents cracking. Chill in refrigerator until serving.

1 comment:

  1. I wish I could eat some cheesecake!! :( Oh well, next time!! :D

    ReplyDelete