Tuesday, December 30, 2008

TWD - Tall and Creamy Cheesecake

This week's Tuesdays with Dorie recipe, Tall and Creamy Cheesecake, was chosen by Anne at Anne Strawberry. I was already a huge fan of Anne's blog so I was very excited to see what she would chose when it was her turn. Normally, cheesecake is not my favorite dessert. I usually find it too heavy and high cholesterol is an issue for both M and I. If I'm going to rocket my LDL up a notch, I prefer to do it with decadent cookies like these or these. But Anne chose this one and, on top of that, I missed so many weeks of TWD while the kitchen was being renovated that I wanted to do this one.

I opted to make it plain (the "basic" option Dorie offers). The recipe gives the baker the flexibility to use sour cream, heavy cream or a combination. Many of the other bakers opted for sour cream or a combination as they wanted the tanginess. I figured the cream cheese would give me a nice tang and opted for all heavy cream. The recipe was the easiest I've ever made. The crust (graham cracker) was a cinch, and the filling (which Dorie instructs should be beaten a long time) was a snap. My cheesecake lightly browned on top but did not crack. I cooled completely before putting it in the refrigerator overnight.

The verdict? We LOVED this cheesecake! It was creamy and rich, but without the clumps of fat sticking to the roof of your mouth like denser cheesecake recipes (sorry to be gross!) It was a huge hit at work, with many people saying it was better than Cheesecake Factory, and others saying comparing this cheesecake to CF was an insult to my cheesecake! I plan to make this one again, like, soon. I'm thinking about making it espresso flavored with a chocolate cookie crust.

Thanks to Anne for choosing this recipe and opening my eyes to how great cheesecake can be. If you'd like the recipe, I'd encourage you to pick up the book we're all baking from Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan, or you can get the recipe on Anne's website here. Check out what the other TWD bakers did here. Even though TWD was closed to new bakers on 10/31/08, Laurie has generously opened it up to new bakers until 1/1/09 in honor of TWD's one year anniversary. If you'd like to join us, here's how you do it.

34 comments:

Welcome to our crazy blessed life said...

Looks delicious! Glad you liked it even though you don't like cheesecake much! :)

Christine said...

Love the comment about the fat not sticking to the roof or your mouth! Your cheesecake looks delicious I am glad that you enjoyed it!

Spike said...

Glad you loved this one too! I made it s long ago that looking at everyones posts makes me want to make another!

Katrina said...

Yummy! This was a good one. Looks great.
Happy New Year!

The Food Librarian said...

Yummy! Looks fantastic and soooo much better than Cheesecake Factory!!!

Maria said...

Nice job on the cheesecake! Looks so good!

Danielle said...

Your cake looks great. I know I am going to make it again and try it in chocolate!

Amanda said...

Looks great! I too loved it and would like to try the expresso and chocolate wafer crust too. Soon, soon!

Laura said...

Looks wonderfully tall and creamy! Makes me wish I'd had some of the one I made for my friend!

Anne said...

I totally know what you mean about too-fatty cheesecakes! :) Yours looks absolutely perfect, though- I'm glad you liked it!

TeaLady said...

Cheesecake looks delicious. And now you like cheesecake. Fantastic!!! A convert.

Thanks for visiting. Come back any time.

Sweet as Coco said...

Leslie! Yours looks great. Did you do a 'mini' cake also? You are just like me...high cholesterol...but I sacrificed in the name of Dorie and made it anyway. :) Happy New Year!

Amanda said...

Your cheesecake looks great. I enjoyed this weeks recipe too!

Ellen and Tom said...

Looks and sounds delicious! I had to skip this week but reading everyone's comments, I'm going to have to make this another time.

Engineer Baker said...

I'm glad you've found a recipe that isn't too heavy for you - it looks wonderful!

PheMom said...

It sure is one serious cheesecake and yours looks great. I am with you on the cookie love though - in fact those are the exact two cookies that I haven't been able to get my mind off of. I had them all printed and ready to make for Christmas and never got the time. I still can't wait to whip them up!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog! Happy New Year to you and your family!

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you liked it. It looks super.

Pamela said...

Anything with a chocolate cookie crust is going to be good, but this is going to be FABULOUS! I finally got a taste of this tonight and I really enjoyed it. So did my family, so I'm happy.

Mary Ann said...

It looks fantastic! I am glad that you loved it and plan to make it again!

threesidesofcrazy said...

YUM, it looks perfect. I can't wait to make it again plain.

betty geek said...

I am so glad you liked this cheesecake recipe as well . . it's so aweome! Honey, your cheesecake looks waaaaaaaay better than Cheesecake Factory! I am sure it tastes much better to! ;) Happy New Year!

Di said...

Mmm, espresso with chocolate sounds like a great combo to try next time. I can say from experience that Oreos make good crust. =) I'm glad that you enjoyed this cheesecake recipe--it looks terrific!

Peggy said...

your cheesecake looks fabulous!

Kimberly Johnson said...

Your cheesecake looks fabulous! The espresso - chocolate version sounds like a great idea!

CB said...

Dude. Make your espresso version and let me know how it goes. My coffee cheesecake loving hubs will be forever in your debt! haha.
Clara @ iheartfood4thought

Amy of Sing For Your Supper said...

Well done! It looks delish!

-Amy
www.singforyoursupperblog.com

Unknown said...

Looks light and delicious! Well, light texture wise, not calorie wise, of course. But I think if you're going to eat cheesecake, you might as well eat a good one, right?

Carla said...

I've never had a cheesecake from CF, but I do know this recipe was amazing! Glad to hear yours didn't crack either :)

AmyRuth said...

So excited you were pleased with your cheesecake. It looks beautiful and since I am sort of a purist I like that you made a basic, simple version. Have you tried Instant Espresso called Medaglia D'oro? I think you'll like it for your espresso version. Thank you so very much for your kind words on my blog today. Such an inspiration!
AmyRuth

Sherry Trifle - Lovely Cats said...

Your cake looks luscious! It was wonderful tasting wasn't it.

Marthe said...

Your cheesecake looks amazing!! We absolutely loved it!!

Amanda said...

Looks wonderful! I loved this recipe :)

Anonymous said...

Definitely, Definitely, DEFINITELY better than cheesecake factory cheesecake. I went the half sour cream, half heavy cream route.

Cakelaw said...

What a fab cheesecake - glad you and your co-workers enjoyed it.