Banana Cream Cheesecake (Copycat)

SJG3483's Note:

I found this recipe in Robbie's Recipe Collection (recipes.robbiehaf.com) and it is as close to the Cheesecake Factory's recipe as I have tasted.

• Total Time: 2 hrs
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 12

For the crust

• 20 vanilla cream-filled sandwich style cookies
• ¼ cup margarine , melted

For the filling

• 24 ounces cream cheese , softened
• 2⁄3; cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 eggs
• ¾ cup mashed banana
• ½ cup whipping cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• shredded coconut , for topping (optional)

Directions:

1. Use a blender to finely chop the cookies.
2. Add margarine and blend until they are well combines.
3. Press mixture into the bottom of a 10" springform pan and smooth it out.
4. Refrigerate the crust while you make the filling.
5. Beat cream cheese with electric mixer until creamy.
6. Beat in sugar and cornstarch followed by the eggs (one at a time).
7. Beat in bananas, whipping cream, and vanilla.
8. Pour mixture into crust.
9. Place pan on a cookie sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.
10. Reduce oven temperature to 200 degrees and bake an additional 75 minutes, or until center is almost set, adding coconut for last 20 minutes.
11. Allow to cool completely before removing rim of pan -- Before removing the pan, run warm water over a knife and slide a knife around the edge of the cake to separate the cake from the pan cleanly.
12. Refrigerate cheesecake, uncovered, at least 6 hours.

Reviews

[icook87]

I have made this three times. The first, I didn't have a springform pan yet so I used a pie pan and used neaufachatel cheese to cut the fat and agave instead of sugar, half the amount of sugar since agave is very sweet. The second time I made it with mango puree instead of banana. The last time I followed the recipe exactly and it was amazing! Served it with whipped cream and it was a hit!

[[e-mail]]

I have made this three times now. The last two times I used a peanut butter filled vanilla cookie and used a package of 25. The peanut butter and the banana combination is great. Also I used fresh whipped cream but used a cup verses 1/2 as the recipe calls for.. I also added a sliced banana after it was poured into the pie pan and dropped the slices in on the top of the cake and pushed them in below the surface. Also another trick is to use more bananas and use very ripe (black) bananas. If you do the above the cake will blow your mind. Randy

[Realtor by day, Chef by night]

I made this with a water bath but followed all the rest of the directions exactly. The texture was the perfect, creamy consistency with NO cracks. The cooking times stated were perfect. Everyone thought it was yummy. Mine came out really short so next time I think I'll use a smaller pan- maybe an 8 or 9 inch. I only used one banana cause somebody around here ate all the bananas up! It was fine with just the one but next time I'll use 2 or 3 to give it more banana flavor. Thanks for sharing this one with us!