Please excuse me for a moment while I declare this THE. BEST. CHEESECAKE. RECIPE. EEEEEEVVVVVERRRRR.
Ok, now that that’s out of the way…I made this cheesecake the other night with my friend Nicole. She wanted to make it for her family for Christmas and I am SO glad she did. It’s truly amazing, super creamy, has THE BEST gingerbread flavor and is heavy on the molasses which I love! And I have a newfound faith in water baths..we actually used one, after my ranting and raving that I didn’t think they actually made a difference. Well, they DO. There was not even a hint of a crack on the top of the cheesecake and I really believe it contributed to the creaminess of it. Just divine. Perfect if, say, you have a party this weekend…there might be a couple happening. Just maybe.
(Recipe from Cooking Pleasures Magazine)
- 2 c. Finely Ground Gingersnaps
- 6 T. Unsalted Butter, melted
- 2 T. Granulated Sugar
- 4, 8 oz. packages Cream Cheese, softened
- ½ c. Light Brown Sugar, packed
- ½ c. Granulated Sugar
- 4 Eggs
- ½ c. Sour Cream
- ½ c. Molasses
- 2 t. Ground Ginger
- 1 t. Ground Cinnamon
- ½ t. Ground Cloves
- 1 c. Heavy Whipping Cream
- ½ c. Powdered Sugar
- ½ t. Pure Vanilla
- 1 T. Rum (optional...but recommended)
- Heat oven to 300 degrees. Grease a 9-inch springform pan and wrap outside of pan with a couple pieces of heavy-duty foil.
- Combine all crust ingredients in a medium bowl. Press into bottom and halfway up sides of springform pan. Refrigerate while you make the rest of the cheesecake.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and both sugars until smooth and creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Add all remaining filling ingredients and mix until combined. Pour into crust.
- Place pan in a large baking or broiler pan. Add enough water to baking pan to come a couple inches (no more than halfway) up the sides of the springform pan. Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until edges are puffed and top is dry to the touch. Center should move slightly when pan is tapped but should not ripple as if liquid.
- Remove cake from water bath; Remove foil. Cool on wire rack 1 hour. Refrigerate, uncovered, overnight.
- Beat heavy whipping cream in the bowl of an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Beat in powdered sugar, vanilla and rum. Spread over top of cooled cake.
Nicole mentioned, and I agree, that even though we cooked it for an hour and a half (five minutes longer than the recipe called for), it could have probably used another 5-10 minutes. So, use your judgement.