Best Deconstructed Italian Cheesecake Recipes

ITALIAN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the dough: In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and granulated sugar together. Scrape down the sides and add the lemon and orange zests. Turn the mixer back on to low speed. Add the milk and egg. Turn the speed to medium and mix until well combined (scrape the sides of the bowl if necessary). Turn the mixer off and add the flour. Carefully turn the mixer on a slow speed and mix just until a dough forms, scraping down the sides as necessary.
• Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface dusted with flour. Knead until it forms a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• For the filling: Combine the ricotta cheese, granulated sugar, custard/pudding, lemon zest, orange zest and semolina flour in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until combined. Add the vanilla orange and blossom water. Add in the whole eggs and egg yolks in 3 batches. Mix on slow speed in between each addition.
• Grease the inside of a 9-inch nonstick springform pan with pan spray. Roll the dough into a circle approximately 14 inches wide. Roll the dough into the pan and press it out into an even layer across the bottom and up the sides of the pan.
• Pour the filling into the pan and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until cheesecake is golden brown, 80 to 90 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before removing from the pan.
• Remove from the pan and put onto a decorative plate or platter. Dust the top with powdered sugar using a small mesh strainer. Decorate the center with fresh cranberries and sprigs of rosemary.

CLASSIC ITALIAN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F if using a silver 9-inch springform pan (or to 325°F if using a dark nonstick 9-inch springform pan). Mix crumbs, butter and 2 Tbsp. sugar. Press firmly onto bottom of pan. Bake 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, beat ricotta cheese, 1-1/4 cups sugar and flour in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add whipping cream, vanilla and zest; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing just until blended after each addition. Pour over crust.
• Bake 1 hour and 20 minutes or until center is almost set. Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

ITALIAN CREAM CHEESE AND RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan.
• Mix the cream cheese and ricotta cheese together in a mixing bowl until well combined. Stir in the sugar, eggs, lemon juice, vanilla, cornstarch, flour, and butter. Add the sour cream last and stir. Pour the mixture into the prepared springform pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven 1 hour; turn oven off and leave in oven 1 hour more. Allow to cool completely in refrigerator before serving.

HONEYED YOGURT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the cheesecake: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat it to 325 degrees F. Lightly spray an 8-inch springform pan with 3-inch-high sides with nonstick cooking spray.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, place the egg whites and salt. Beat on medium-high speed to soft peaks, 2 to 3 minutes. With the mixer running, slowly rain in the evaporated cane juice. Increase the mixer speed to high and beat until the egg whites are glossy and hold stiff peaks, about 2 minutes. Sift the flour over the whipped whites and gently fold until smooth. Scrape the meringue into a clean bowl. (And hey, guess what? You just made a small batch of angel food cake batter!)
• Into the mixer bowl (no need to clean it), place the cream cheese. Place the bowl back on the mixer and fit the mixer with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until creamy. Add the honey and beat until smooth. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time. Add the lemon juice, vanilla extract and lemon zest and beat to blend well. Reduce the mixer speed to low and stir in the yogurt.
• Carefully fold about a third of the egg white mixture into the batter to lighten it. Gently fold in the remaining whites until the batter is smooth. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake until the cake is puffed, lightly golden and mostly set but with a slight wobble when the pan is jostled, 45 to 50 minutes (a toothpick won't tell you much about doneness; it's best just to rely on visuals here). Turn off the oven and let the cake continue to cook in the oven for 1 hour. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours. When ready to serve, unmold the cheesecake and put onto a serving platter.
• For the topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, hot water and vanilla. Add the apricots and blackberries to the bowl and gently toss to coat. Top the cheesecake with the honey and fruit mixture, slice and serve.

DECONSTRUCTED ITALIAN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Mix ricotta cheese, sunflower seeds, currants and honey in a bowl. Divide among 4 dessert dishes.

RICOTTA RAISIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a bowl, mix the ingredients together. Thickly butter a 9 or 10-inch springform pan and press the mixture into the bottom of the pan. Refrigerate, uncovered, while you make the filling.
• Filling: Filling: In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer), mix the ricotta, sour cream, egg yolks, and flour until smooth (the mixture will remain a bit grainy from the ricotta). Add the sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla and blend until creamy. Fold in the raisins.
• In a clean dry bowl, whip the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Fold them into the filling mixture. Pour into the prepared pan and bake until the top of the cake is set and dry to the touch, though still a bit soft in the center, 70 to 80 minutes. It should "shimmy" a bit when you shake the pan; it will firm up more as it cools. Let cool in the pan. The cake will deflate a bit as it cools. Cover and refrigerate the cake at least 2 hours. (Or refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 48 hours.) Remove the sides of the pan and serve cold.

DECONSTRUCTED CHERRY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• DECONSTRUCTED CHEESECAKE: Whip mascarpone in a stand mixer or with electric mixer until softened and creamy. Add stilton and whip until incorporated. Add whipping cream and whip until incorporated. NOTE: it's OK if the mixture is a little lumpy with bits of Stilton. Add dollop to tiny ramekin or just add to the serving plate. Refrigerate and serve chilled.
• SOURCHERRY AND THYME SAUCE: In a saucepan over medium high heat, combine the cherries, thyme and Port. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until thickens slightly, about 2-4 minutes. Remove from heat. Let cool to room temperature before using.
• ALMOND CRUNCH: Preheat oven ot 350°F.
• Whisk the egg white by hand until frothy. Add almonds, orange zest, sugar and salt. Toss to combine well. Transfer to a baking sheet, lined with parchment paper and spread mixture out in a single layer. Bake in oven until golden and crisp, about 15-20 minutes, until golden brown and crisp. Cool.
• ASSEMBLY: To serve, add the following to individual plates, ramekin filled weith the deconstructed cheesecake garnished with a sprig of thyme, a spoon of the sauce and a piece of the almond crunch - Simply Delicious!

DECONSTRUCTED STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Cohere the graham cracker crumbs and butter into a dampened sand.
• In a bowl, cream together the cheese, sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice. In a larger bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Fold the cheese mixture into the whipped cream until combined.
• To plate, start with a portion of the cheesecake cream, smearing it with a spatula. Next, decorously arrange the fresh berries and dust with the graham cracker sand and crushed freeze-dried strawberries. For a temperature contrast, finish with a scoop or two of the sorbet or ice cream.

DECONSTRUCTED CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl mixer until blended. Stir in COOL WHIP and vanilla.
• Spread 1 Tbsp. of the cream cheese mixture onto each graham square just before serving.
• Top each cracker with caramel sauce and nuts.