Cheesecake Supreme & Variations
Submitted by prenticemearns
Classic cheesecake supreme with a cinnamon-walnut graham cracker crust and a creamy lemon-vanilla filling, plus four variations: low-fat berry marble, sour cream, chocolate, and chocolate swirl.
YIELD
1 CakePREP
25 minCOOK
45 minREADY
1 hrsThis is the go-to cheesecake recipe that gives you a template and four real variations, not just garnishes. The master version is a tall, silky cream cheese filling on a buttery graham cracker crust studded with walnuts and cinnamon.
Two details make the base filling work. A scant 2 tablespoons of flour stabilizes the custard so it slices cleanly instead of weeping, and the eggs get beaten in just until combined, never whipped. Overbeating incorporates air that leads to cracks on top as the cake cools.
From there, you can take it in four directions: a low-fat berry-marbled version made with nonfat cream cheese, a tangy sour cream variation, a straight chocolate cheesecake, or a dramatic chocolate swirl for when you want both.
Kitchen Tips
- Bring the cream cheese fully to room temperature before beating. Cold cream cheese leaves lumps that never fully smooth out.
- The center should still jiggle slightly when you pull it from the oven. Overbaking is the number one cause of cracked, dense cheesecake.
- Run a thin knife around the edge after 15 minutes of cooling. This releases the cake as it contracts and prevents the sides from pulling and cracking.
Variations
- Berry marble: Swap to nonfat cream cheese and egg product, top with nonfat sour cream and swirled raspberry preserves for a lighter option.
- Chocolate swirl: Beat melted semisweet chocolate into half the batter and swirl with a spatula for a marbled look.
- Sour cream version: Cut the cream cheese and add three 8-ounce cartons of sour cream for a tangier, denser texture. Bake 10 minutes longer.
Ingredients
Directions
For crust: In a medium mixing bowl stir together crushed graham crackers, walnuts and cinnamon.
Stir in butter. If desired, reserve ¼ cup for topping.
Press remaining crumb mixture onto the bottom and about 2 inches up sides of an 8- or 9-inch springform pan. Set pan aside.
For filling: In a large mixing bowl combine cream cheese, sugar, flour, vanilla and lemon peel (if using); beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined.
Add eggs and egg yolk all at once, beating on low speed just until combined (do not overbeat).
Stir in milk. Pour filling into crust-lined pan.
If desired, top with reserved crumbs. Place on a shallow baking pan.
Bake in a 375 oven for 45 to 50 minutes for 8 inch pan or 35 to 40 minutes for 9 inch pan, or until center appears nearly set when shaken gently.
Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Use a sharp, thin bladed knife to loosen the crust from the sides of the pan; cool for 30 minutes more.
Remove the sides of the pan. Cool cheesecake completely.
Cover and chill at least 4 hours before serving.
VARIATIONS: LOW-FAT BERRY MARBLE CHEESECAKE: Prepare crust as above, except reduce crushed graham crackers to ⅓ cup; omit walnuts and butter.
Sprinkle onto bottom side of a well greased 8- or 9-inch springform pan.
For filling, substitute three 8-ounce packages nonfat cream cheese for the regular cream cheese; add ½ cup refrigerated or frozen egg products (thawed) for the eggs and egg yolk.
Prepare as directed. If desired, top with nonfat sour cream; spoon on seedless red raspberry preserves and swirl with a spoon.
SOUR CREAM CHEESECAKE: Prepare Cheesecake Supreme as directed, except reduce cream cheese to 2 packages and omit milk.
Add three 8 ounce cartons dairy sour cream with eggs.
Bake about 10 minutes longer than Cheesecake Supreme.
CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE: Prepare Cheesecake Supreme as directed, omiting lemon peel.
Melt 4 ounces semisweet chocolate. Beat melted chocolate into filling mixture just before adding eggs.
CHOCOLATE SWIRL CHEESECAKE: Prepare Cheesecake Supreme as directed, omiting lemon peel. Melt 2 ounces semisweet chocolate.
Stir melted chocolate into half the filling mixture. Pour chocolate mixture into crust; pour plain filling into crust. Gently swirl fillings with a spatula.
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