Contest Winning Tropical Cheesecake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• For the Crust:
• In a mixing bowl, combine the ingredients with a fork until evenly moistened. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of an 8-inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Pour the crumbs into the pan and, using the bottom of a measuring cup or the smooth bottom of a glass, press the crumbs down into the base and 1-inch up the sides. Refrigerate for 5 minutes.
• For the Filling:
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese on low speed for 1 minute until smooth and free of any lumps. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to beat slowly until combined. Gradually add sugar and beat until creamy, for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add sour cream, lemon zest, and vanilla. Periodically scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters. The batter should be well-mixed but not over-beaten. Pour the filling into the crust-lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
• Set the cheesecake pan on a large piece of aluminum foil and fold up the sides around it. Place the cake pan in a large roasting pan. Pour boiling water into the roasting pan until the water is about halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan; the foil will keep the water from seeping into the cheesecake. Bake for 45 minutes. The cheesecake should still jiggle (it will firm up after chilling), so be careful not to overcook. Let cool in pan for 30 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator, loosely covered, for at least 4 hours. Loosen the cheesecake from the sides of the pan by running a thin metal spatula around the inside rim. Unmold and transfer to a cake plate. Using a spatula spread a layer of Warm Lemon Blueberry topping over the surface.
• Slice the cheesecake with a thin, non-serrated knife that has been dipped in hot water. Wipe dry after each cut.
• In a small saucepan add all the ingredients and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes or so until the fruit begins to break down slightly. Leave to cool before spreading on cheesecake.

Steps:

• 1. Crush graham crackers into crumbs.
• 2. Put into pie plate. Add sugar and butter to graham cracker crumbs and combine.
• 3. Make into a pie shell. Put pie plate in the refrigerator.
• 4. Whip cream cheese and confectioners sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy.
• 5. Stir in drained pineapple.
• 6. Fold Cool Whip into pineapple mixture.
• 7. Spread over crust. Sprinkle reserved crumbs on top of pie.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Spray bottom and side of 9-inch springform pan with baking spray with flour. Wrap foil around outside of pan to catch drips. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cake mix. In large bowl, beat remaining cake mix, the oil, 1 egg and lime peel with electric mixer on low speed until crumbly. Press in bottom and 2 inches up side of pan.
• In same large bowl, beat reserved 1/4 cup cake mix, the cream cheese, sugar, cream of coconut and rum extract on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until mixed. Pour into crust.
• Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes or until cheesecake is set at least 2 inches from edge of pan but center of cheesecake still jiggles slightly when moved. Turn oven off; remove cheesecake from oven and run metal spatula around edge to loosen. Return cheesecake to oven; open oven door at least 4 inches. Leave cheesecake in oven 30 minutes (top may crack as it cools).
• Remove cheesecake from oven; place on cooling rack. Without releasing side of pan, run metal spatula around edge of pan again to loosen cheesecake. Cool in pan on cooling rack 2 hours. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
• To serve, run metal spatula around edge of pan again and remove side of pan. Arrange mango and kiwifruit on top of cheesecake. Sprinkle with coconut. Store covered in refrigerator.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, soda, eggs, and oil; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. , Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Place on a wire rack. , In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, flour, eggs, butter and pineapple. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture is thickened and a thermometer reads 160° or is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Remove from the heat; stir in coconut. Spread over warm cake. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line the base and sides of a 20 x 30cm rectangular tin with baking parchment. Put the biscuits into a large food bag and bash with something heavy like a rolling pin, alternatively blitz in a food processor. Put the biscuit crumbs into a large bowl and pour over the melted butter, stir well to combine then tip into your prepared tin. Press the mixture down well with the back of a spoon to form a compressed layer. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 mins. Take it out of the oven to cool and turn the oven down to 120C/100C fan/gas ½.
• In another large bowl whisk together the remaining cheesecake ingredients until smooth, you can do this with electric beaters or with a balloon whisk. Pour onto the biscuit base then scatter over the mango pieces here and there, pushing some of them into the cheesecake and letting others sit proud on the surface. Bake for 1hr then prop the oven door open and leave to cool for a further 30 mins. Once cold, chill the whole cheesecake in the fridge overnight.
• When you're ready to serve, push the passion fruit flesh through a sieve to get rid of the seeds then mix the resulting pulp with the lemon curd. Drizzle the mixture over the cheesecake and decorate with fresh mango, pineapple and mint leaves.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine gingersnap crumbs and butter. Press onto bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; set aside. , In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the pumpkin, cinnamon and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour over crust; sprinkle with nutmeg., Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of baking dish to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. , Cut into squares; serve with syrup and, if desired, sweetened whipped cream. Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until fluffy. Stir in pineapple. In another bowl, combine dessert topping mix with milk and vanilla; beat until stiff. Fold into pineapple mixture. Spread evenly into crust. Chill.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a greased 10-in. springform pan. , In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla until well blended. Add eggs and yolks; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in white chocolate. Pour over crust. Place pan on a baking sheet. , Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until center is just set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. , For sauce, in a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and water until smooth. Add strawberries. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in a few drops of food coloring if desired. Cool. , Spread strawberry sauce over top of cheesecake; drizzle with melted white chocolate. Refrigerate leftovers.