Raspberry Cheesecake

Submitted by Hey Jude

"This is the best cheesecake recipe I've come across. The recipe (from Barefoot Contessa) is written to include the raspberry topping but the cheesecake is good enough to serve all on it's own, or with whatever topping you like. This cake has to be made the day before you plan on serving it so, plan ahead! Making this the day before makes this a perfect dessert for a dinner party. I'm sorry about the way the topping ingredient list looks...I could not, for the life of me, get it through the editor correctly. Should read: 1 C. raspberry jelly or currant jelly or strawberry jelly (do not use jam)."

 

• Ready In: 3hrs 10mins
• Ingredients: 12
• Serves: 12-15

ingredients

• Crust

• 1 1⁄2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

• Filling

• 2 1⁄2 lbs cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 1⁄2 cups sugar
• 5 whole extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 extra-large egg yolks, at room temperature
• 1⁄4 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

• Raspberry Topping

• 1 1 cup currant jelly (do not use jam) or 1 cup strawberry (do not use jam)
• 1 1⁄2 pints fresh raspberries

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To make crust: combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter until moistened. Pour into a 9-inch springform pan. With your hands, press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan and about 1 inch up the sides. Bake for 8 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
3. Raise the oven temperature to 450°.
4. To make filling: cream the cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce the speed of the mixer to medium and add the eggs and egg yolks, two at a time, mixing well. Scrape down the bowl and beater as necessary. With the mixer on low, add the sour cream, lemon zest and vanilla. Mix thoroughly and pour into the cooled crust.
5. You can set the springform pan on a foil-lined baking sheet to catch any leaks.
6. Bake for 15 minutes then turn down the oven temperature to 225° and bake for another 1 hour and 15 minutes. Turn the oven off and open the door wide. The cake will not be completely set in the center. Let the cake sit in the oven with the door open for 30 minutes. Take the cake out and let it sit at room temperature for another 2 to 3 hours, until completely cooled. Wrap and refrigerate overnight.
7. Remove the cake from the springform pan by carefully running a hot knife around the outside of the cake. Leave the cake on the bottom of the springform pan.
8. Melt the jelly in a small pan over low heat. In a bowl, toss the raspberries and the warm jelly gently until well mixed. Arrange the berry mixture on top of the cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Reviews

[Pinot Grigio]

LUSCIOUS!!! I am a huge cheesecake fan - I do not like store-bought and even worse - no bakes! If I'm going to splurge on the calories on cheesecake - it better be good and this is FABULOUS. I made this from her cookbook at home (Barefoot Contessa Family Style) over the holidays and if you think you could never make a cheesecake at home - you simply must give this a TRY! The directions are simple - just follow to the tee. I couldn't believe I could actually bake something so delicious and professional looking. Make sure you let it sit overnight - even though it is so tempting to try right away! Terrific recipe!

 

[nikkid]

This is AWESOME!!!!!!!!! So easy and delicious. Was loved by one and all.

 

[Zetty66]

My 11 y/o has gotten into cooking and this cheesecake is his specialty. I'm not a huge cheesecake fan but there's something different about this particular cheesecake that really makes it pop. I love this one and hope he'll make it often!

 

[Marsha H.]

I got a new kitchenaid and this was my first recipe I made. I had so many compliments that this is THE BEST cheese cake they had ever eatten. AWESOME! Must ty so tall and light and fluffy!

 

[rgstahl]

I also have this exact recipe which I got from watching the foodnetwork show the Barefoot Contessa. I have made it twice and you are exactly right about it. Everyone says it's the absolute best cheesecake ever. I have been making cheesecakes for years, but this one is so light and fluffy and so tall. I have also served it with just fresh strawberries instead of making the topping. And it's wonderful by it's self with no topping. One of the times I made it I used orange zest instead of lemon zest and that was good too.