Giada's Limoncello Cheesecake Squares

Submitted by Phil Franco

"Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis Show: Everyday Italian Episode: Summers in Capri"

 

• Ready In: 1hr 45mins
• Ingredients: 10
• Yields: 1 cake

ingredients

• nonstick cooking spray
• 8 ounces purchased biscotti
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons grated lemon zest
• 1 (12 ounce) container fresh whole milk ricotta cheese, drained, at room temperature
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 1⁄2 cup limoncello
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature

directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the bottom of a 9 by 9 by 2-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Finely grind the biscotti in a food processor. Add the melted butter and 1 tablespoon of lemon zest, and process until the crumbs are moistened.
3. Press the crumb mixture over the bottom (not the sides) of the prepared pan.
4. Bake until the crust is golden, about 15 minutes. Cool the crust completely on a cooling rack.
5. Blend the ricotta in a clean food processor until smooth. Add the cream cheese and sugar and blend well, stopping the machine occasionally and scraping down the sides of the work bowl.
6. Blend in the limoncello, vanilla, and remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon zest. Add the eggs one at a time, and pulse just until blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
7. Pour the cheese mixture over the crust in the pan. Place the baking pan in a large roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the baking pan.
8. Bake until the cheesecake is golden and the center of the cake moves slightly when the pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour (the cake will become firm when it is cold).
9. Transfer the cake to a rack; cool 1 hour. Refrigerate until the cheesecake is cold, at least 8 hours and up to 2 days. Cut the cake into squares and serve.

Reviews

[Bobbie S.]

I was going to post this recipe but Phil beat me to it. This is heavenly. I had just purchased some Limoncello to make some cookies -- and just happened to see Giada make this on her show around the same time. It's so creamy and the biscotti crust is wonderful. I used some almond/lemon biscotti. It's a very easy dessert to put together but tastes like it took much more effort. I highly recommend these cheesecake squares.