Caramel ‘cheesecakettes’ with raspberries
I wanted to devise a recipe that resembled a no-bake cheesecake, with a filling based on a peppermint crisp tart, yet easy enough so that there would be no heavy whisking involved – something fun that could be assembled and enjoyed immediately after mixing. This is the result – a totally delicious caramel cheesecake mixture made with cottage cheese, canned caramel and fresh cream – spread over digestive cookies and topped with raspberries. The cookies are delightfully crisp if eaten immediately, but soften to a pliant, “forkable” texture after a few hours of refrigeration, thus easy to make ahead.
6
Serves Preparation time 10 minutes, plus refrigeration time
YOU NEED
• 1 tub (250 g) smooth full cream plain cottage cheese (see Notes)
• 60–125 ml (¼–½ cup ) fresh cream
• 1 can (360 g) Nestlé Caramel Treat
• 200 g digestive biscuits
• 250 g fresh raspberries
• salt flakes, for garnishing (optional)
THIS IS HOW
Mash the cottage cheese and half the cream together in a bowl, first with a fork and then mixing with a balloon whisk until smooth – it should be a luxuriously thick, super-smooth mixture that can hold its shape, so don’t add all the cream if you don’t need to. Stir the caramel in the can to loosen it, then add it to the cottage cheese mixture along with a pinch of salt, stirring with the whisk until it’s smooth and free of any lumps. Spoon some of the mixture onto each biscuit, then top with raspberries and salt flakes (if using). Serve at once, or cover (in a deep, flat container with a lid) and refrigerate until ready to serve.
NOTES
• Not all brands of full cream smooth cottage cheese react the same – some need less cream to become luxuriously smooth and blended, so start with a few tablespoons of cream and continue to add more as required.
• The mixture will continue to set and become more stable once refrigerated, but the cookies will become less crispy.
Choose which option you prefer – soft cream with crisp biscuits, or thicker cream with soft biscuits. • The mixture, crushed biscuits and berries may also be assembled in layers in small dessert glasses, served with spoons.