Grannie's Cheesecake - Oma's Käsekuchen

Submitted by Renate

"This old cheese cake came from Lithuania. My grannie told me her oma said they used to make this with cheese made from Reindeer milk. Grannie adjusted these for todays markets. I still make it occasionally."

 

• Ready In: 3hrs
• Ingredients: 16
• Serves: 16

ingredients

• Crust

• 3⁄4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon water or 1 tablespoon milk
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

• Filling

• 2 (3 1/2 ounce) packages vanilla pudding mix, the boiling kind
• 2 cups milk, separated
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon lemon extract or 1/4 teaspoon bitter almond extract
• 2 -3 lbs cottage cheese, uncreamed works best,but no ricotta
• 1⁄4 cup sultanas or 1/4 cup raisins
• 3 egg whites
• 4 tablespoons sugar

• Brushing

• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon water

directions

1. Crust: Sift flour, baking powder and sugar together on a flat surface.
2. Make a well in the center.
3. Add egg yolks, and liquid.
4. Mix with some of the flour to make a thick paste.
5. Cut butter into small pieces, put on top of paste, cover with flour and quickly mix into a smooth dough.
6. Pat about 1/2 of the dough on bottom of 9" spring form pan.
7. Knead one tbsp flour into the remaining dough.
8. Attach side of pan to bottom.
9. Shape dough into a roll and lay on side of pan and work up the side about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2".
10. Prick dough several times with a fork.
11. Bake at 400ºF for about 10 minutes or till lightly golden brown.
12. Filling: Place cottage cheese in solid weave straining bag.
13. Drain overnight or squeeze as much liquid as possible from cheese to make about 3 1/4 to 3 1/2 cup cheese.
14. Mix the pudding mixes with 1/2 cup milk, set aside.
15. Bring remaining milk and sugar to boil, stirring constantly.
16. Remove from heat.
17. Add pudding/milk mix and bring back to boiling, stirring constantly until thick.
18. Remove from heat.
19. Add cheese and extract and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
20. Remove from heat.
21. Add sultanas.
22. Beat egg whites into snow, slowly adding sugar beating well after each addition.
23. Fold egg white into cheese mix and turn into crust lined pan.
24. Smooth out surface.
25. Brush: Mix egg yolk and water.
26. Gently brush top of cheese mixture.
27. Bake at 275ºF to 300ºF for 45 to 60 minutes.
28. This cake should not rise very much during the baking.
29. It seems that it gets too tall reduce the heat.
30. To tell if the cake is done, shake the form gently, the center should jiggle just a little.
31. Remove cake from oven and, unlatch the side and gently remove crust from side.
32. Leave sides in place and let cake cool completely.