Thursday, December 23, 2021

Cheesecake Baking with Mom

 We have never made or eaten a Cannoli Cheesecake before.  This is the year for it!

The recipe:

biscotti (large dry almond-anise, or your favorite biscotti)
tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
16 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature)
ounces mascarpone cheese (at room temperature)
3/4 cup sugar
teaspoon pure vanilla extract
teaspoon grated lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
eggs (at room temperature)
3/4 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips
cherries (Italian, in syrup, such as Amarena, for serving, optional)
  
Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan.

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Pulse the biscotti to fine crumbs in a food processor. Drizzle in the butter, add the salt and pulse until the mixture has the texture of wet sand. Press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
  • Bake for 8 minutes, until the crust smells toasted and is beginning to brown. Set aside to cool while you make the filling. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
  • In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, mascarpone and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally with a rubber spatula. Add the salt, vanilla and lemon zest; beat on medium speed until combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again. Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in the chocolate chips.
  • Pour the cream cheese mixture over the crust and spread evenly. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the center of the cake still moves just slightly.
  • Allow the cheesecake to cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Run a knife around the edge of the pan before releasing the collar.
  • Top each slice of cheesecake with a spoonful of cherries, if using.
We started with the anise cookie crust.   Mom doesn't have a food processor so we have to do it the old fashioned way.
The crust after 8 minutes baking in the oven~
It smells wonderful!

We have never had mascarpone before.   To mom, it tastes like a spreadable heavy cream that is VERY rich!  

The batter is on top of the baked crust and ready for the oven but not before I got to lick the beaters!

Yes, the batter really is that white!

It took our cheesecake about an hour to bake.  It was still too jiggly at 45 minutes.

We need to wait for it to cool before we can proceed.

It was cold this morning on our walk and the weather peeps are saying that we may be waking up to a wee bit of snow tomorrow☺

Happy Thursday, everybuddy!

Love ya lots♥

Molly



12 comments:

  1. That looks like a wonderful Recipe and so glad you got a taste Molly. You are so lucky that you may get some snow for Christmas, we do hope you do and there is enough to play in. Here it is just grey cloud and rain boooooooo! Have a wonderful day. Hugs & Love, Susie & Treacle xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Did mom save me a piece of this? I'm sure she did. You're such a wonderful helper, Miss Molly.

    Have a woof woof day. Scritches to you and a hug to mom. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  3. Looks so yummy. Hope your lady shares some with you. Lee and Phod

    ReplyDelete
  4. That cake recipe sounds delish and it turned out great. We can't wait to hear about your taste test.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh my yum, our Mom and Dad love cheesecake!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hari Om
    OMD that looks and reads beyond scrumoolushus!!! Festive indeed. Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Our Mom is the only person in the entire world that doesn't like cheesecake so we probably won't try this one even though Dad loves it and we dogs would sure like to taste it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh...My...Goodness!!!

    Mama has drool running down her face...
    xoxo,
    Rosy, Sunny and Jakey

    ReplyDelete
  9. oooh chessecake? we are on the way... are there still some bowls and things to clean? Merry chrismas to youuuuuu

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh Molly you are all kinds of lucky to be Mom's #1 beater licker! WOW the cheese cake has to be delicious with all the love mom added to it
    Hugs and love you lots
    Cecilia

    ReplyDelete