DIVINE CHEESECAKE

Cheesecake is a divine and mouth watering dessert that is yummy. I mean, who doesn’t like cheese cake?

An ocassional cheese cake treat is always welcome, however, you can make it at home.

Cheesecake is one of those recipes that can be intimidating but it doesn’t have to be. Making cheesecake at home can be simple, as long you use the right technique and attention to detail.

Below is a simple recipe to follow for this delectable favourite dessert:

This recipe serves 12-16 individuals Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 2 hours and 40 minutes Chilling time: 4 hours here is nothing complicated here! Simple ingredients often make the most amazing desserts. Here’s what you’ll need:

For the crust:

1 3/4 cups (230g) Graham cracker crumbs (from about 15 Graham crackers) 2 tablespoons sugar

Pinch salt

4 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (60g) unsalted butter (if using salted butter, omit the pinch of salt), melted

For the filling:

*2 pounds (900g) cream cheese, at room temperature

* 1 1/3 cups (270g) sugar

*A pinch of salt

*2 teaspoons vanilla extract

*4 large eggs

*2/3 cup (160ml) sour cream

*2/3 cup (160ml) heavy cream

For the sour cream topping:

* 2 cups (475ml) sour cream

* 1/3 cup (35g) powdered sugar

* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Prepare the crust:

-Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), with rack in lower third of oven.

-Process graham crackers; mix with sugar, salt, butter:

- Pulse the crackers in a food processor or blender until finely ground. Put in a large bowl, and stir in the sugar and salt. Stir in the melted butter.

-Press the cracker crumbs into the bottom of the springform pan

-Use a 9” x 2-3/4” round springform pan. Gently press down on the crumbs using your fingers, until the crumbs are a nice even layer at the bottom of the pan, with maybe just a slight rise along the inside edges of the pan.

Bake the crust:

-Place the pan on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.

-Lower the oven temperature to 325°F (160°C). -While the crust is cooling, you can skip ahead and start on the filling. Wait until the crust has cooled to wrap the pan in foil in the next step.

Triple wrap pan in heavy duty foil:

-Prepare the springform pan, so no water leaks into it while cooking. Place a large 18-inch by 18-inch square of heavy duty aluminum foil on a flat surface.

-Place the springform pan in the middle of the foil. Gently fold up the sides of the foil around the pan. Make sure to do this gently, so you don’t create any holes in the foil.

-If there are any holes, water will get into the pan and ruin the crust.

-Press the foil around the edges of the pan. Place a second large square of foil underneath the pan, and repeat, gently folding up the sides of the foil around the pan and pressing the foil against the pan.

-To be safe, repeat with a third layer of heavy duty foil. Gently crimp the top of the foil sheets around the top edge of the pan.

-Beat cream cheese, then add sugar and beat: Cut the cream cheese into chunks and place in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed for 4 minutes until smooth, soft and creamy. Add the sugar and beat for 4 minutes more.

Add salt, vanilla, then eggs, then sour cream: -Add the salt and vanilla, mixing just until incorporated. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed for 30 seconds after each addition. Add the sour cream and mix on medium speed until incorporated.

-Add the heavy cream: Add the heavy cream and mix on low speed until incorporated. Remember to scrape down the sides of the bowl, and scrape up any thicker bits of cream cheese that have stuck to the bottom of the mixer that paddle attachment has failed to incorporate.

-Place in the oven: Place the roasting pan with the spring-form pan in it into the oven on the lower rack.

Carefully pour the hot water into the roasting pan:

-Without touching the hot oven, carefully pour the hot water into the roasting pan to create a water bath for the cheesecake, pouring until the water reaches halfway up the side of the springform pan, about 1 1/4 inches. (Alternatively, you can add the water before putting the pan in the oven, whichever is easier for you.)

**Bake in preheated oven:

-Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 1 1/2 hours. -Turn off the oven and let the cake cool inside: **Turn the oven off and crack open the oven door 1 inch. Let the cheesecake cool in the oven, as the oven cools for another hour. This gentle cooling will help prevent the cheesecake surface from cracking.

-Chill the cheesecake in the fridge: -Carefully cover the top of the cheesecake with foil, so it doesn’t actually touch the cheesecake. Chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours, or overnight.

Finish and Serve the Cheesecake

Prepare the sour cream topping:

- Place sour cream in a medium sized bowl. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla, and stir until smooth. Chill until you are ready to serve the cake.