Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Tall and Creamy Cheesecake (TWD)


This week's Tuesdays with Dorie (TWD) recipe was chosen by Anne of Anne Strawberry: Tall and Creamy Cheesecake. It's smooth, velvety, and rich... basically your classic cheesecake recipe.


You can adapt this recipe several ways to suit your taste. You can flavor it with fruits, nuts, extracts, or chocolate. The recipe calls for 1-1/3 cups heavy cream or sour cream, or a combination of the two. If you prefer a milder cheesecake, use all heavy cream. For a tangier cheesecake, use all sour cream. I used 1 cup of sour cream and 1/3 cup heavy cream, mostly just because I didn't want to purchase a huge tub of sour cream and the next size down was 8 ounces.



I had every intention of doing something creative and fun with this recipe, but with the holidays and our travel plans, I was happy just to get it done. This was probably the nicest looking cheesecake I've ever made. I was elated when I pulled it from the oven and there wasn't a single crack on top! Though I'm not sure why it browned so much - I know that Dorie says it's supposed to brown, but the one pictured in her book is pristine and white, without the faintest hint of browning. Regardless, it did not affect the taste and I considered it to be a success :)


As pretty as it was, I still thought it looked a bit too naked, so I decided to whip up a batch of caramel sauce to drizzle on top.


This cheesecake is everything Dorie promises it to be. It is super smooth and velvety. It's fairly dense, but not quite New York cheesecake dense. It is rich without being too heavy. Just look at how creamy it is!


What's the secret to cutting the perfect slice? I've never had much luck using a knife that's been run through hot water, though that's also what Dorie recommends. I find that I'm able to get much better looking slices if I use dental floss :)


Thanks Anne, for choosing this cheesecake. I loved it and will use it as my go-to cheesecake recipe from now on. If you would like the recipe for the cheesecake, you can find it here. If you're interested in the caramel sauce recipe, you can find it here (along with a pumpkin cheesecake recipe). Make sure you visit the TWD Blog Roll to see how everyone else enjoyed this creamy treat.

* Recipe notes:
- Be very careful when double wrapping your springform pan in aluminum foil. If you inadvertently poke any holes in it, you'll end up with a water logged crust.
- Don't worry if you can't get your water bath half way up the sides of the springform pan. Even an inch of water will help.
- This cheesecake puffs up significantly in the oven, but deflates after it is cooled.
- If you're going to use dental floss to slice your cheesecake, make sure you use the non-flavored kind ;) You'll also want to wipe off any bits that stick to the floss after each run through the cake.
- Wrapped well, the cheesecake will keep for about 1 week in the refrigerator or 2 months in the freezer. If you're freezing it, defrost it in the refrigerator overnight when you are ready to eat.
- For more recipe tips, click here.


48 comments:

  1. Wow, that's one beautiful cheesecake. And caramel sauce *never* hurts. Dental floss, you say?

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  2. Your cheesecake looks perfect and the brown crust on top make it look even better. I love it when there is a crust. I'm jealous of your no cracks, mine were everywhere! I was just thinking about flavoured dental floss.. eww. ahah.. thanks for the tip!

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  3. Loved this cheesecake: the best I ever had!! YUM....

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  4. Very pretty cake! Yours came out perfect great job!

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  5. Naked or with the sauce, that is one gorgeous cheesecake! Thanks for the tip about the dental floss. The hot knife didn't work for me very well.
    Nancy

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  6. Wow, your cheesecake looks great! I'm making mine today and hope it turns out half as good :)

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  7. Beautiful job and that caramel sauce looks amazing. I love that rich amber color of caramel you achieved!

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  8. I love the tip about the floss! Your slices look perfect and caramel must have been wonderful on top. Nice job!

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  9. That is one gorgeous looking cheesecake.

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  10. Wow! Jaime this cheesecake is perfection. I will try this next week , hubby's been asking for cheesecake.

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  11. The sauce on your cheesecake looks delicious! Your cheesecake came out perfect good job!

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  12. Talk about gorgeous! Woow Wee! I love that yours is browner than Dorie's. Golden Brown is so appealing and especially with that caramel drizzle.

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  13. Absolutely beautiful! Looks delicious!

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  14. What a perfect looking slice! The caramel sauce looks wonderful.

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  15. Looks perfect to me:) Bravo!

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  16. looks gorgeous...i didn't make the recipe this week but after seeing so many good looking cheesecakes, i might have to change my mind!

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  17. j'adore tes photos avec le caramel :) vraiment très très appétissantes !

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  18. That looks amazing! I want some! I'll have to try the dental floss tip

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  19. Wow! Your cheesecake turned out so beautiful! I tried using a hot knife and it didn't work so good. Thanks for the dental floss tip!

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  20. I was intending to make a white chocolate raspberry cheesecake using a different recipe but between you and Cristine I've changed my mind and am going to make this one! Both of your cheesecakes look so luscious and creamy I want one for myself! Thanks for all the helpful hints. I love that you always have them so neatly laid out for us!

    Happy 2009!
    ~ingrid

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  21. This looks like food you'd feed the gods in heaven, Jaime!
    Perfect, fluffy and totaly divine!
    WOW! I'm floored! ...too bad I don't have a direct connection with Saint-Peters! LOL

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  22. You know, I use dental floss to cut my cinnamon roll dough, but I hadn't thought to use it for this. That is genius.

    Your cheesecake is perfect!

    Happy New Year!

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  23. That is defenetly tall and creamy and most probably my next cheesecake!

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  24. Plain cheesecake with caramel is nothing less than bees knees in my opinion. Wonderful work.

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  25. That is a beautiful cheesecake! The texture looks perfect and your photos are gorgeous.

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  26. Simply beautiful! The caramel drizzle takes it the that next perfect level!

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  27. Nothing better than a good basic plain cheesecake. Well, except caramel sauce. **SIGH** it looks perfect.

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  28. Ugh! I am loving that caramel you've drizzled on there. Yum! Great job. The cake looks fab.

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  29. That cheesecake looks perfect!

    Happy new year!

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  30. Your cheesecake looks great. I am hoping to get back in the TWD groove soon. I have been an admirer of your blog from afar so I decided to tag you and learn more about ya. Hope you will check it out.

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  31. Awesome! It looks divine. Love the perfect cut, love the idea of using dental floss, that is what I use for cutting cinnamon rolls, and never even thought of it for cheesecake.
    Your cheesecake looks perfect. Love the caramel!
    Must.not.think.about.more.cheesecake! Okay, I'm fine now.
    Happy New Year!

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  32. Talk about a perfect looking cheesecake! Fantastic job! Happy New Year!

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  33. Wow...that looks so good! I haven't made a cheesecake in so long.

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  34. Wow, your cheesecake looks perfect! That caramel sauce just makes it that much more amazing. You did a wonderful job!

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  35. Cheesecake and caramel topping...sign me up!

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  36. how can you make something so perfect even more perfect? why, topping it with caramel, of course! very nice, jaime. :)

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  37. Very beautiful cheesecake, Jaime! I like how the surface looks so smooth, and ah that caramel drizzle on top must tasted divine!

    Happy new year!
    I wish you have a wonderful health and good luck for year 2009,
    Cheers,
    Elra

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  38. Your cheesecake is prettier than the one in the book! Great tip about using dental floss - my pieces came out a bit ragged. And my cake also browned more than I was hoping for. But it was good nonetheless!

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  39. Looks terrific Jaime! Wish my cheesecake had come out so nicely!

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  40. Wow, your cheesecake is beautiful. Picture perfect! I passed on this one, but your pictures make me wish I hadn't. I'll have to make it in the future.

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  41. wow, it is SO smooth and perfect!! the caramel sauce doesn't hurt, either :) awesome job and happy new year!

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  42. This is the exact way I love to eat cheesecake - yours looks perfect!!

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  43. Jaime, your cheesecake is incredible. The texture is beautiful and yep, I like the caramel sauce on there too. Your comment about slicing is valid. However, I have found that a hot knife tends to sort of melt the cheesecake making for a messier cut. I have a very long knife (same width as a cake) and I just rinse after each cut with cold water and dry it of course. It works just fine. I've always had trouble with getting the floss through the crust. Funny how things work for everyone. Anyway your work is amazing. Perfecto!
    Happy New Year to you and yours!
    BTW do you have the cookbook entitled Cowgirl Cuisine -Paula Disbrowe?

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  44. You definitely can't go wrong with caramel sauce! Your cheesecake looks totally delicious.

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  45. Thanks for the dental floss tip. Your cheesecake looks like it came from the pages of Gourmet!!! Happy New Year!

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