Just Right Easy Cheese Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• For the crust: (If you don't have prepared graham crumbs: use about 18 graham crackers and and process until coarse crumbs are formed). Add remaining crust ingredients: margarine/butter, sugar(s), and cinnamon and process until blended, approximately 5 to 6 seconds. Press into a sprayed 10-inch springform pan. Wipe bowl and blade with paper towels.
• For the filling: Process cheeses with sugar until blended, about 15 seconds. Add eggs and vanilla extract. Process until smooth and creamy, approximately 20 to 30 seconds. Pour over crust.
• Place a pie plate half-filled with water on the lowest rack of oven. Place cheesecake on the middle rack. Bake for approximately 50 to 60 minutes. When done, edges will be set but center will jiggle slightly. Turn off heat and let cheesecake cool in oven with door partly open for about 1 hour. It will firm up during this time.
• Refrigerate and chill approximately 3-4 hours.
• Variations: You can substitute chocolate or vanilla wafers in the crust. You can use all granulated white sugar or all brown sugar in the crust. You can substitute 4 egg whites for 2 of the eggs in the filling. You can substitute 2 Tbs. of lemon juice for the vanilla in the filling. Fresh berries is our favorite topping. For mini cheese cakes: Omit crust. Line muffin tins with 24 paper liners. Place a vanilla wafer in each liner. Top with cheesecake mixture. Bake in preheated 360 degree oven for approximately 12 minutes, until set. Refrigerate. You can top each with fresh berries or spoonful of thick jam.

Steps:

• Put graham crackers in a large resealable plastic bag, and crush them with a rolling pin until very fine crumbs form.
• Pour crumbs into a medium bowl; stir in sugar. Add butter, and stir until well combined.
• Press the crumb mixture into a 9-inch springform pan, spreading it 1 1/2 to 2 inches up the side; press flat. Chill crust in freezer at least 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Using an electric mixer set at medium-high speed, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth. Beat in the condensed milk a little at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl, as necessary. Beat in the lemon juice and vanilla.
• Pour the filling into the crust; smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
• Unclasp sides of pan, and remove cheesecake.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. In small bowl, mix crust ingredients; press in bottom of ungreased 10-inch springform pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool 3 to 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat both kinds of cream cheese, 1 1/4 cups sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla and 2 tablespoons lemon juice with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and well blended. On low speed, add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition until blended. Add flour; beat until smooth.
• Pour filling over crust. Bake 55 minutes. Cool on cooling rack 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix sour cream layer ingredients.
• Spoon and spread sour cream mixture evenly over top of cheesecake. Bake 10 minutes longer. Run knife around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 2 hours. Cover; refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.
• Before serving, remove side of pan. Garnish each serving with fresh strawberries and a drizzle of strawberry sundae syrup and a dollop of whipped cream. Store in refrigerator.