Ingredients:
Brian's Cheesecake
(Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake)
For the Crust:
1 cup chocolate wafer cookie crumbs (or chocolate graham cracker crumbs)
1/2 cup finely chopped nuts (preferably almonds)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick/2 oz./56g) butter or margarine, melted
For the Raspberry Sauce:
2 1/2 cups raspberries, fresh or frozen (thawed, if frozen)
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons lemon juice
For the Cream Cheese Filling:
3 (8 oz.) packages low-fat cream cheese
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large egg whites
1 cup half and half cream (Half and Half is a type of cream that is sold in the US. It consists of half cream and half milk)
Cooking Spray
Garnish: (optional)
1 cup raspberries, fresh or frozen (thawed, if frozen)
2 tablespoons raspberry liqueur (such as Chambord), water, or juice
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/180 degrees C.
To Make Crust:
Place chocolate wafer crumbs and nuts in a food processor or blender; process until finely ground and combined. Stir crumb mixture and melted butter together. Press onto the bottom of an 8 or 9-inch springform pan. Bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until slightly set. Let cool while making raspberry sauce.
Turn oven temperature up to 375 degrees F/190 degrees C.
To Make Raspberry Sauce:
Blend the 2 1/2 cups raspberries until smooth; press through a sieve to remove seeds. Add water if necessary to make 1 cup. Combine 2/3 cup sugar with cornstarch in a small saucepan; stir in sieved raspberries. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes more. Stir in lemon juice. Remove approximately 1/4 cup of sauce and chill until serving with cheesecake. Cool remaining 3/4 cup sauce slightly while making cream cheese filling.
To Make Cream Cheese Filling:
Combine cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar, flour and vanilla in large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy. Add egg whites, beating on low speed just until combined. Stir in half and half. Spray sides of springform pan with cooking spray. Pour half the mixture into the crust-lined pan. Drizzle the 3/4 cup raspberry sauce over cream cheese mixture in pan. Carefully top with remaining cream cheese mixture, covering sauce completely.
To Bake and Chill Cheesecake:
Place springform pan on a baking sheet in preheated 375 degree F/190 degree C oven. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until center appears nearly set when shaken. Run a think blade around edge of pan; cool on wire rack for 15 minutes. Loosen crust from pan sides. Cool 30 minutes more; remove sides from pan. Cool completely; chilling in refrigerator for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight.
To Serve:
At serving time, top cheesecake with 1 cup raspberries, if using. Stir raspberry liqueur or juice into remaining sauce and spoon over top of cheesecake and berries.
Note from Anne:
I modified the original recipe from full fat cream cheese and cream to this version with low-fat cream cheese and half and half, and it is much creamier than the original. I tried fat-free cream cheese, but we didn't like it as much.
Makes 12 servings.
Source: Anne Kornow
Submitted By: Anne Kornow
Date: February 26, 2007