This summer I was into cupcakes. I was trying a new recipe every weekend.
Now, I'm into cheesecakes. Ever since I bought my springform pan, I've been looking for cheesecakes to make, and picking up 5 or so packs of cream cheese every time I turn around.
Anyway, the
pumpkin cheesecake I made at Thanksgiving was a success. I've adventured on to make two more for Christmas:
Peppermint Bark Cheesecake and Mocha Truffle Cheesecake.
Both were very very good and would be great to take to any Christmas gathering, or just to have sitting around your house. But, if your anything like me, I can't have desserts just sitting around or they will be eaten in record time. Feel free to follow my own personal philosophy: Make it then take it!
Peppermint Bark Cheesecake
Please note that this is very "pepperminty" and if you love peppermint and chocolate the way I do, you will love this cheesecake. I first saw the recipe
here and adapted it to the following recipe:
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups oreos crushed
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
FILLING:- 3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 eggs
- 2 tablespoons vanilla or white chips
- 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1/4 cup mini-chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet)
- Crushed peppermint candy (I used Andy's peppermint chips) and whipped topping, optional
Directions
- Combine
the first two ingredients; press onto the bottom of a 9-in.
springform pan. Chill. In a bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until
smooth; add flour and mix well. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating
just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips and peppermint chips. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, melt vanilla chips.
Remove from the heat. Add 1/4 cup cream cheese mixture, and extract. Mix well. Pour the remaining cream
cheese mixture over crust. Top with the peppermint mixture.
- I put just a few drops of red food coloring on top of the mixture and used a knife to make a swirl design on the top.
- Bake at 325° for 35-40 minutes longer or until the center
is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a
knife around edge of pan; cool 1 hour longer.
- Refrigerate overnight. Just before serving, remove sides of
pan. Garnish with crushed candy and whipped topping if desired.
Refrigerate leftovers.
Here is a pic of my version just before baking:
The finished product:
My husband is not a fan of peppermint and chocolate, but he does love coffee, so that is where I went for this next cheesecake:
Mocha Truffle Cheesecake:
I had a cookbook with this recipe, but it can also be found here. I copied it straight from the book, but I would suggest using vanilla extract instead of almond extract in the whipped topping. I wasn't a fan of the topping, but the cheesecake itself was AMAZING!! I served this cheesecake to the same family members as the peppermint bark and they were equally divided on which one was better. The only thing I added was some melted chocolate piped onto the top.
Ingredients
- 1 package (18-1/4 ounces) devil's food cake mix
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 egg
- 1 to 3 tablespoons instant coffee granules
FILLING/TOPPING:- 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
- 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
- 2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled
- 3 to 6 tablespoons instant coffee granules
- 1/4 cup hot water
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Directions
- In
a large bowl, combine the cake mix, butter, egg and coffee granules
until well blended. Press onto the bottom and 2 in. up the sides of a
greased 10-in. springform pan.
- In another large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat
in milk and melted chips. Dissolve coffee granules in water. Add coffee
to cream cheese mixture. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until
combined. Pour into crust. Place pan on a baking sheet.
- Bake at 325° for 50-55 minutes or until center is almost
set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around
edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Chill overnight.
- Just before serving, in a large bowl, beat cream until soft
peaks form. Beat in sugar and extract until stiff peaks form. Spread
over top of cheesecake. Refrigerate leftovers.
Please continue to check back this week as I will be posting four different cookie recipes. Every year I make a large cookie tray. This serves as a great dessert dish to take to the 8 different places we travel each year. I can keep them in containers and refill the tray after each visit. We also put some on Santa's plate and save a few to snack on. :) These recipes are super easy, but super yummy, and always a hit!
