Craig Claibornes Cheesecake Recipes

Steps:

• Make the crust: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Combine the flour, sugar and lemon zest. Cut in the butter until mixture is crumbly. Add the egg yolk and vanilla. Mix.
• Pat a third of the dough over the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with sides removed. Bake about 6 minutes, or until golden. Cool.
• Butter the sides of the pan and attach to the bottom. Pat remaining dough around the sides to a height of 2 inches.
• Increase the oven heat to 475 degrees.
• Prepare the filling: Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add vanilla and lemon zest.
• In a separate bowl, combine sugar, flour and salt. Gradually blend into cheese mixture. Beat in eggs and egg yolks, one at a time, and the cream. Beat well.
• Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce the oven heat to 200 degrees. Bake 1 hour longer, or until set. Turn off oven heat and allow cake to remain 30 minutes in the oven with the door ajar. Cool on a rack. Chill at least 3 hours before serving. Adorn with fruit if you'd like.

Steps:

• Adjust rack to the lowest oven position and preheat to 350°. Use a round, deep (3 inches) 8 inch cheesecake pan. Butter it lightly all the way up to the rim and inside of the rim itself or the cake will not rise evenly. Any unbuttered spots will prevent the cake from sliding out of the pan. Mix lemon rind and juice and set aside. Beat cream cheese with sugar until completely smooth. Beat in vanilla and eggs, one at a time. Stop beating immediately after least egg has been incorporated. Fold in lemon juice and rind. Spray the buttered pan with a non-stick spray. Turn batter into prepared pan and level top by rotating gently. Place cheesecake pan into a larger pan filled 1-1/2 inches with hot water. Bake for 1-1/2 hours. Lift cheesecake out of water and place on rack to cool for 2-1/2 - 3 hours. do not place in refrigerator. When cooled, cover cake with plastic wrap and invert onto a plate. Then invert again onto an additional plate so that the cake is right side up. Gently peel off plastic wrap. Refrigerate before serving. Cake can be frozen and defrosted.