Vanilla Chai Cheesecake

Miss JJ's Note:

This recipe is from the Oregon Chai website. I LOVE Oregon Chai- because of course I am from Oregon- but its great really! If you don't have Oregon Chai substitute another brand like TAZO. I haven't tried this yet but wanted to post it so I don't loose it! Cooking time includes crust.

• Total Time: 3 hrs
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 1 1/4 cups nila wafers, pulverized
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup chai latte concentrate
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
• 3 large eggs, loosely beaten
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions:

1. Simmer 1 cup Oregon Chia Original Concentrate until reduced to 1/2 cup.
2. Cool.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
4. Mix together crust ingredients.
5. Press well into the bottom of a greased 9-inch springform pan.
6. Bake for 12 minutes.
7. When you take pan out of the oven, reduce heat to 290 degrees.
8. Beat cream cheese with mixer until smooth.
9. Add chai reduction and vanilla, blend just until smooth, scraping down sides as you go.
10. Add sugar, cornstarch, and spices. Taste to adjust flavors, but be aware that spices will intensify in the oven.
11. Add eggs, stir by hand until just incorporated.
12. Pour into springform pan, sprinkle a little cardamom on top.
13. Put a baking dish with 1 inch water in the bottom of your oven.
14. Cook cheesecake on middle rack for 55 minutes.
15. Turn off oven, just barely crack oven door until steam stops coming out (30 seconds or so).
16. Close it back up and let it go for another 55 minutes.
17. Take out of oven, slide knife around the edges of the pan to release cake and allow for contraction while cooling.
18. Place on a cooling rack and cover with a large bowl. Let cool until it's room temperature, then move to refrigerator.
19. When cold, you can freeze it for longer storage.

Reviews

[Leasa2]

What a great recipe! I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out beautifully. Perfect balance of sweet with just enough spice. Nice smooth, creamy cheesecake. I love chai tea and will definitely be keeping this recipe.