Cheesecake Recipe

Cheesecake is one dessert so many people enjoy and it comes in so many variations. Whether you are looking for a plain cheesecake recipe, strawberry cheesecake recipe or chocolate cheesecake recipe, the choices are endless.

Plain Cheesecake Recipe

What you need

How to prepare the cheesecake

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Take a 9-inch springform pan and to the bottom of it press this mixture. Graham crumbs, 3 Tbsp. sugar and butter.

Soften the cream cheese and beat it together with 1 cup sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla. Add the eggs one at a time until mixture is just blended. Pour into pan over crust.

Bake for 55 minutes in the oven or until the center is almost set. Loosen rim of cake pan and let cook before removing the bottom. Store in the refrigerator four hours before serving.

Serve the cheesecake

Slice refrigerated cheesecake into small slices and serve.

Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe

What you need

How to prepare the cheesecake

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 13×9 inch pan with foil. The ends of the foil should drape over the sides of the pan. To the bottom of the pan add this mixture. Graham cracker crumbs, 3 Tbsp. sugar and butter. When mixture is pressed into the bottom of the pan, bake for 10 minutes.

Soften cream cheese and beat with 1 cup sugar, flour and vanilla. Add the sour cream, mixing well. Add the eggs one at a time until just blended. Pour mixture over the crust. Drop small spoonfuls of strawberry jam over the cheesecake batter and swirl with a knife.

Bake for 40 minutes or until the center is almost set. Cool completely before refrigerating for four hours.

Serve the cheesecake

Slice the completely cooled cheesecake into small slices and serve.

 

Pumpkin Cheesecake

What you need

• 1 3/4 cups chocolate wafer crumbs
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

FILLING:

• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

TOPPING:

• 2 cups sour cream
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

How to make the pumpkin cheesecake

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 10-inch springform pan and press into the bottom and 1 inch up the side, a mixture of wafer crumbs and butter.

Beat the cream cheese and sugars until smooth then add eggs until just combined. Whisk in pumpkin, cornstarch, vanilla and pumpkin pie spiceand pour into the crust. Place the cheesecake on a baking sheet. Bake for 60-65 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool for 10 minutes.

Prepare the topping to put over the cheesecake. Spread and then bake at 350 degrees F for six minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before running a knife around the pan edges. Cool for one hour before refrigerating overnight.

Serve

To serve the cheesecake, remove the sides of the pan and cut into small slices.

Substitutions and enhancements

To enhance the strawberry cheesecake recipe, add fresh, sliced strawberries to the top and add a chocolate covered strawberry to the plate before serving.

To modify the basic cheesecake recipe, make the crust out of chocolate graham crackers rather than plain. Add some crushed oreos to the recipe to add a chocolate flavor. Or drizzle some chocolate sauce over the cheesecake prior to serving. 

Cover photo: © Tray Berry | Dreamstime.com