Lemon Cheesecake (Baking Illustrated)

Monday, October 6, 2008

Lemon Cheesecake (Baking Illustrated)
Lemon Cheesecake

Sacrificial animal crackers.
Cream cheese.
Lemon curd.

Just one question...
Lemon Cheesecake (Baking Illustrated)
Why did it take me so long to make this?

I made Baking Illustrated Lemon Cheesecake (also found online here) this weekend. My first real cheesecake made in a water bath! Whoo hoo!

Lemon Cheesecake (Baking Illustrated)
The crust is made with animal crackers. Apparently the graham cracker crust is so yesterday. And since I have an affinity to grind up cookie species for my crust (see my crust made of cute little bears here), I was all for this. (Except for the fact that animal crackers are expensive now - $1.50 per box at my janky Ralphs.)

Answer me this riddle...when did the fuzzy marsupial koala bear get into the Barnum's Animal Cracker box?! What the heck? I get the tigers, bears, elephants and perhaps a polar bear (oh my), but a koala?! Is this the new cirque de outback circus? Not to diss the adorable koala, but what exactly does it do in the circus? Trapeze? Leap through a ring o' fire? Sarah Palin-like playing flute? I thought koalas only sleep, eat and look cute. Anyway, if you've seen a koala at your circus, let me know. And it didn't really matter anyway, because I ground him and his friend up into little crumbs!

Lemon Cheesecake (Baking Illustrated) Lemon Cheesecake (Baking Illustrated)
Lemon Cheesecake (Baking Illustrated) Lemon Cheesecake (Baking Illustrated)
Mostly endangered species were ground up fine, sugar added and then a stream of melted butter goodness added. After pressed into a 9" springform and baked off, a nice fine crazy butter film on the bottom of the pan will appear. Yes, a successful cheesecake begins with a butter delivery device crust.

Lemon Cheesecake (Baking Illustrated) Lemon Cheesecake (Baking Illustrated)
Some lemon zest is pulsed with sugar and then three blocks of cream cheese, eggs, lemon juice, vanilla, and cream are mixed together. Note: No flour or cornstarch is added. The cake was baked in a water bath for about an hour, then sit in the oven with the door ajar for another hour. Then, it cools outside for another 2 hours. (Cheesecake isn't hard, it's just time consuming!)

I also made a lemon curd for the topping. I think I'm going to marry lemon curd. I just love you so.

Lemon Cheesecake (Baking Illustrated)
The cake needs to chill out overnight for best results and is best served very cold. It is way, way rich so thin slices are helpful. I think the lemon curd cuts a bit of the overall richness and wouldn't make cheesecake without it!
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12 comments:

betty geek said... [Reply to comment]

Are you going to share this or what? Yum-yum in my tum-tum!

Patricia Scarpin said... [Reply to comment]

Those cuties were sacrificed for a greater good. you did them proud. ;)

eatme_delicious said... [Reply to comment]

I have been dying to make this cake since I saw it on Taste and Tell. I must find an excuse to make it soon! Looks beautiful.

Snooky doodle said... [Reply to comment]

hmmm yummy. Poor little koalas . they re dead now :( Ha but the cheesecake looks great. si maybe its ok :)

Snooky doodle said... [Reply to comment]

hmmm yummy. Poor little koalas . they re dead now :( Ha but the cheesecake looks great. si maybe its ok :)

mimi said... [Reply to comment]

yummm!! lemon curd on top of cheesecake sounds absolutely brilliant! i would love a slice (or two!)

Steph said... [Reply to comment]

Your cheesecake looks perfect! If you think it's too rich, you should definitely try CI's light cheesecake.. its amazing and you can handle more than a sliver without feeling nauseaus!!

Deborah said... [Reply to comment]

I've made this before, and it is still one we talk about in my house!

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

lemon desserts are my favourite, followed by cheesecake. as such, this dessert sounds like my personal heaven. thanks for posting!

Andrea said... [Reply to comment]

I'm all for citrus desserts, they're always my first choice. And even though I really love animals, I'd be willing to sacrifice a few "endangered" ones for the cause! (Great line, by the way. I laughed out loud.) I want some!

Irene said... [Reply to comment]

Oh, god, this looks soooooooooo good!!!!!!! I love grinding up cute little cookies, always makes me feel a little vicious. :)

KK said... [Reply to comment]

you totally brought back memories with the mention of animal crackers...

I'm six again! Yippee...

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