Basic Cheesecake
Creamy, smooth and simple to prepare.
| “Chocoholics” will love the Double Chocolate variation. | |||
| Makes 12 servings. | |||
| Preparation: 10 - 15 minutes, plus | |||
4 | lowfat honey graham cracker sheets, | 1 | cup (250ml) sugar | |
| broken into | tablespoons (20ml) vanilla | ||
tablespoons (20ml) sugar | ||||
4 | large eggs, at room temperature | |||
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2pounds (900g) lowfat cream cheese, at room temperature
Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C).
Wrap the bottom and sides of an 8 x
Wipe out the work bowl with a paper towel. Insert the dough blade. Process the cream cheese until smooth on Dough Speed, about 45 seconds. Scrape the work bowl. Add the sugar and vanilla; process until smooth, about 30 seconds. Scrape the work bowl. With the machine running, add the eggs, one at a time, processing for 10 seconds after each addition. Scrape the bottom and sides of the work bowl after adding the second egg, and then after adding the last egg. Do not overprocess.
Carefully pour the cream cheese mixture into the prepared pan. Place in a roasting pan, and set on the rack of the oven. Carefully add hot water to the roasting pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the springform pan. This is called a bain marie or water bath. Bake the cheesecake in the preheated oven for 70 minutes. The cheesecake will still look jiggly in the center. Do not worry.
Remove the cheesecake from the bain marie; remove the foil and place on a rack. Cool completely on a rack, then cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.
The cheesecake is best made a day ahead. If desired, garnish with fresh fruit.
Double Chocolate Variation:
Before making the cheesecake, chop 7 ounces (200g) of good quality bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (that has been broken up) and, using the metal blade and the pulse, pulse 20 to 30 times until roughly chopped and the chunks are not bigger than 1/2 inch (1.25cm). Melt 4 ounces (115g) of the chopped chocolate in a double boiler set over barely simmering water; reserve the rest. Prepare the cheesecake batter, and pour
Nutritional analysis per serving:
Basic:
Calories 278 (50% from fat) • carbo 36g • pro 10g • fat 21g
sat. fat 9g • chol 66mg • sod 467 • fiber 1g
Chocolate variation:
Calories 360 (50% from fat) • carbo 36g • pro 10g • fat 21g
sat. fat 8g • chol 66mg • sod 467 • fiber 1g
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