Chocolate Cranberry Cheesecake Recipes

Steps:

• Make the crust: Set racks in the lower third and middle of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Mix the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, nutmeg and salt in a bowl. Add the melted butter and mix with your hands until combined. Press into the bottom and 1 inch up the side of a 9-inch springform pan. Freeze until ready to fill.
• Make the filling: Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a small pot; remove from the heat. Put the white chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl and set over the pot (do not let the bowl touch the water); stir until melted, about 4 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pot and set aside.
• Beat the cream cheese, sour cream and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 7 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then add the cornstarch and beat 2 minutes. Beat in the melted white chocolate, vanilla and salt until combined.
• Fill a roasting pan halfway with water and set on the lower oven rack. Pour the filling into the prepared crust and set on the middle oven rack. Bake until the edge is set but the center still jiggles slightly, 1 hour, 10 minutes. Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake sit in the oven, 30 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
• Make the compote: Spread the cranberries on a rimmed baking sheet, sprinkle with 1/3 cup sugar and set aside until they release some of their juices, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, combine the remaining 2/3 cup sugar, the orange zest and juice, and 3/4 cup water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes.
• Drain the cranberries and add them to the saucepan. Cook, stirring, until they begin to burst, about 7 minutes. Transfer the compote to a bowl and refrigerate until completely cool.
• Before serving, run a hot knife around the edge of the cheesecake, then remove the springform ring. Top with the cranberry compote and shaved white chocolate.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Place a greased 10-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Wrap foil securely around pan., In a small bowl, mix crushed cookies and melted butter. Press onto bottom of prepared pan., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in cranberry juice and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Fold in white chocolate and cranberries. Pour over crust. Place springform pan in a larger baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan., Bake 60-70 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove foil. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight, covering when completely cooled. Remove rim from pan before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F In small saucepan, combine cranberry sauce and chocolate. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until melted.
• In medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, crushed gingersnaps, granulated sugar and flour. Stir in melted butter. Press onto bottom and 1 1/2 inches up side of 8-inch springform pan.
• In large bowl, combine cream cheese and powdered sugar. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla; beat on low speed just until combined. Set aside 3/4 cup of the mixture.
• Spread remaining cream cheese mixture in crust-lined pan. Spread with cranberry mixture. Top with reserved cream cheese mixture. Gently swirl narrow metal spatula through layers to marble.
• Place sprinform pan in shallow baking pan. Bake about 45 minutes or until center appears nearly set when gently shaken.
• Cool on wire rack for 15 minutes. Loosen crust; cool for 30 minutes. Remove side of pan; cool cheesecake.
• Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours.

Steps:

• Bring all cranberry ingredients except vanilla to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium low. Cook, covered, 5 minutes. Uncover, cook 1-2 min or until mixture thickens, pressing cranberries against side of saucepan until they pop. cool to room temperature. Stir in 1 tsp vanilla. (Cranberries can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refridgerate. Bring to room temperature before using).
• Meanwhile, heat oven to 375. Combine all crust ingredients in medium bowl until blended. Press into bottom of 9 inch spring form pan. Bake 8-10 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack.
• Reduce oven temp to 300. Bring 1 inch water to a simmer in small skillet. Remove from heat. Let stand until steam subsides. Place white chocolate in medium bowl (one that won't melt heated), place bowl in water. Stir occasionally until chocolate is melted and smooth; remove bowl from water.
• Beat cream cheese in large bowl at medium speed until smooth. Beat in 1/2 cup sugar, flour, lemon juice, and 2 tsp vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, beating just until blended. At low speed, beat in chocolate and cream just until blended.
• Pour half of the batter into pan; spoon half the cranberry mixture over batter. Pour in remaining batter, spoon remaining cranberry mixture over top. Swirl cranberry mixture with knife.
• Bake at 300 for 55-60 minutes or until edges are puffed and top is dry to the touch. Center should move slightly when pan is tapped, but should not ripple as if liquid. Cool on wire rack to room temperature. Refrigerate uncovered overnight. (Cheesecake can be made 3 days ahead, covered and refrigerated).

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• FOR THE CRUST, mix the two crust ingredients in a bowl, then press onto bottom of 9 inch springform pan.
• Chill to set.
• FOR THE FILLING, beat cream cheese on medium speed until fluffy.
• Beat in sugar until blended, then beat in eggs until blended.
• Stir in white chocolate, cranberries, zest & vanilla.
• Pour into prepared crust & bake 45-50 minutes or until center is ALMOST set.
• Cool in pan for 30 minutes, then refrigerate.
• Run knife around sides of pan to loosen, then chill 4 hours or more.
• Remove rim & cut into wedges. Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Finely grind shortbread cookies and toasted hazelnuts in processor. Add melted unsalted butter and process until moist clumps form. Press crumb mixture onto bottom of prepared springform pan. Bake until crust is pale golden, about 8 minutes. Cool completely. Maintain oven temperature.
• Make filling:
• In top of double boiler set over barely simmering water, stir white chocolate until melted. Remove pan from over water.
• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl until blended and smooth. Add sour cream and Frangelico and beat until well blended. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Beat in melted white chocolate.
• Pour filling into prepared crust. Bake cake until top is golden and puffed and center is set, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Cool in pan on rack (cake will fall in center). Refrigerate until cold.
• Make topping:
• Dissolve 1 teaspoon cornstarch in 1 teaspoon Frangelico in small bowl; set aside. Combine 1 cup cranberries, 1 cup sugar and 3/4 cup water in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture boils, about 5 minutes. Add remaining 2 cups cranberries, grated lemon peel and cornstarch mixture. Simmer until cranberries just begin to pop and mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Cool. Cover and refrigerate until mixture gels. (Cheesecake and cranberry topping can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.)
• Run small sharp knife around sides of springform pan to loosen cake. Remove pan sides. Smooth sides of cheesecake with knife. Transfer cheesecake to platter. Transfer cranberries to strainer and drain well, reserving any syrup. Spoon cranberries evenly atop cheesecake. Cut cheesecake into wedges and serve, passing any reserved cranberry syrup separately.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Wrap foil securely around pan. Place on a baking sheet. , In a small bowl, mix cracker crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 6 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. , Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar and water. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat until berries pop, about 12-15 minutes. Add lemon juice. Press cranberry mixture through a food mill into a small bowl; discard pulp and seeds. Set aside. , For filling, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Pour into crust. Spoon 1/4 cup topping over filling; cut through filling with a knife to swirl. Place springform pan in a larger pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. , Bake 55-65 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove springform pan from water bath; remove foil. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Pour remaining topping over cheesecake. Refrigerate cheesecake overnight, covering when completely cooled. Remove rim from pan.