Herbed Cheesecake Appetizer Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan., Place cream cheese, ricotta cheese, salt and pepper in a food processor; cover and process until smooth. Add eggs; pulse just until combined. Add red peppers, herbs, bacon and garlic; cover and pulse just until blended. Pour filling into prepared pan. Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of boiling water to larger pan., Bake 35-45 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove springform pan from water bath; remove foil. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack 10 minutes; loosen edges from pan with a knife. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight., Remove rim from pan. Just before serving, drizzle cheesecake with oil; top with red pepper strips and chives if desired. Serve with pita chips.

Steps:

• For the crust: Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spray the bottom of four 4-inch springform pans with nonstick spray.
• Mix the cracker crumbs, butter and pecans in a medium bowl until evenly moistened. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pans. Bake until the crusts are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Cool the pans on a rack.
• Once completely cool, spray the sides of the pans with cooking spray and line with strips of parchment.
• For the Cheddar-pimento cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, Cheddar, pimentos, Worcestershire, hot sauce and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment. Top with the candied bacon and scallion greens.
• For the blue cheese cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, blue cheese, cream and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Fold in the dates and shallots. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment. Top with the candied walnuts and a drizzle of honey.
• For the mozzarella-basil cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, cream and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Fold in the chopped basil. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment. Top with the cherry tomatoes, drizzles of balsamic syrup and olive oil and a sprig of basil.
• For the goat cheese-herb cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, goat cheese, cream, parsley, rosemary, lemon zest, Worcestershire to taste and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Spread the jam over top. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, cheese and butter. Press onto the bottom of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., Meanwhile, drain sun-dried tomatoes, reserving 1 tablespoon oil. Chop enough sun-dried tomatoes to measure 1/2 cup and set aside. (Save remaining tomatoes for another use.) In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add garlic, cook 1 minute longer., In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, cream and reserved sun-dried tomato oil until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in the mozzarella cheese, onions, basil, sausage mixture and sun-dried tomatoes. Pour over crust. Return to baking sheet. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until center is almost set., Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. Serve at room temperature with crackers.

Steps:

• Add melted butter to crushed crackers. Press in bottom of a springform pan. Bake 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
• Mix cream cheese with ricotta. Set aside. In food processor, add herbs, garlic and olive oil. Chop. Add to cheese mixture. Add Parmesan cheese. Mix well. Add eggs one at a time. When mixed, pour over crust. Bake 325 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
• Run knife around edge. Cool for 10 minutes. Remove rim. Let cool. Add a sprig of rosemary, thyme and basil leaves for decoration. Serve with crackers, fruit, vegetables, wine or whatever you wish.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Stir in the parsley, chives, chervil, garlic, tarragon and lemon-pepper seasoning., Transfer to a small serving dish. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 15 minutes before serving. Serve with crackers.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350. Line the bottom of an 8x3-inch springform pan with nonstick foil and coat sides with nonstick spray.
• Crust: Pulse pecans and breadcrumbs in food processor until nuts are finely ground. Add butter; pulse until mixture forms moist, coarse crumbs. Press onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 8-10 minutes, until crust is set and pale golden. Cool on wire rack. Raise oven temperature to 425.
• Filling: Beat cream cheese, goat cheese, sour cream and Parmesan in a large bowl with mixer on medium speed until creamy. Beat in eggs until smooth, then remaining filling ingredients until incorporated. Pour into prepared crust and smooth the top.
• Place pan in oven; reduce temperature to 325. Bake 45-50 minutes until light golden on top and set in the middle. Cool in pan on wire rack. Cover and refrigerate. To serve, let cheesecake come to room temperature. Remove sides from pan; slide cheesecake from bottom of pan onto serving plate, removing foil. Garnish with dill and cherry tomato halves.

Steps:

• Mix cream cheese, garlic, vermouth, parsley, salt, basil, tarragon, sage, and white pepper in a food processor until smooth. Refrigerate at least 1 day before serving.