Lavender Brownie Cheesecake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325. Put sugar and lavender buds in a food processor and pulse together.
• Set a double boiler or a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water. Add butter, lavender sugar, cocoa and salt, stirring occasionally until the butter melts and the mixture becomes fairly smooth and hot. Remove from heat and let cool until the mixture is warm.
• With a wooden spoon, stir in vanilla, then add eggs, one at a time, stirring vigorously after each one. The mixture will be smooth and shiny. Add the flour and stir until well incorporated, then stir the mixture vigorously for 40 more strokes. Pour into an 8x8 baking pan lined with parchment paper or foil, making sure two ends overhang the edges of the pan.
• Bake at 325 for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with just a bit of batter on it. Let pan cool completely on a wire rack, then use the ends of the foil or parchment to lift the brownies out.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a small saucepan over low heat melt the butter, chocolate and cocoa powder. Transfer to a large bowl. Add sugar, eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, flour, and cayenne. Using a hand-held electric mixer beat until well combined.
• Spread batter into a buttered and floured 8 by 8-inch pan.
• In a medium bowl add the cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, 1 teaspoon vanilla and beat until thoroughly mixed.
• Dollop the cheese mixture on top of the batter in the pan.
• Bake for 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool before slicing.

Steps:

• For the brownies: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 10-inch springform pan with nonstick baking spray.
• Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder and salt in a medium bowl. Melt the butter and chocolate in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until completely melted, then let cool for 10 minutes. Stir in the sugar and eggs. Add the flour mixture, and stir to combine. Pour brownie batter into the prepared pan and tap the pan gently to ensure the batter is even. Bake until the top is set and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a baking rack.
• For the cheesecake: Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the sour cream and mix until just incorporated. Stir in the eggs and vanilla extract by hand, one by one, taking care not to overmix or your cheesecake will turn into a souffle.
• Wrap the bottom of the pan and up the sides with foil and place in a roasting pan. Pour the cheesecake batter on top of the brownie layer and spread it evenly on top. Fill the roasting pan with water until it reaches halfway up the side of the springform pan. Bake until the center is jiggly but the surface is set, about 1 hour. Turn off the oven and leave the cheesecake inside for 30 minutes.
• Remove the cheesecake from the oven and run a sharp knife around the edges of the cake to release from the pan. Let rest on a baking rack until completely cool. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or up to overnight before serving.
• Slice and garnish each slice with chocolate syrup and whipped cream.

Steps:

• To make crust, crumb the graham crackers.
• Stir in the powdered sugar and butter until well blended.
• Press mixture into 9" springform pan, going halfway up the sides.
• Bake crust at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes, let cool before filling.
• To make lavender syrup, mix sugar and water in a saucepan.
• Add lavender to water (you don't need to use the whole package, I used about 3/4 pkg).
• Simmer until you have a heavy syrup (approx reduced by half).
• Remove lavender buds (place buds on a plate to cool and crystallize for use as decoration if desired). You now have the lavender syrup used in later steps.
• To make filling, soften the cream cheese in a large mixing bowl (it helps to remove from refrigerator a little beforehand).
• Add sugar 1/2 cup at a time, mixing in well after each addition.
• Mix in sour cream.
• Mix in vanilla and lavender syrup.
• Whisk eggs and yolks in a small bowl.
• Add egg mixture to batter and mix in until just mixed.
• Fold in whipped cream taking care not to over mix.
• Pour into cooled crust.
• Bake at 450 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 225 degrees and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Turn off heat and open oven door slightly, let cool in oven 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let cool on the counter 30 minutes.
• At this point it should be cool enough to run a knife around the outside to make sure it has separated from the pan and remove the springform side.
• Leave on pan bottom and refrigerate for 3 hours.
• To make frosting, mix sour cream and sugar, sweetening to taste.
• Spread on top of chilled cheesecake to make a smooth flat surface, quantity of sweetened sour cream may need to be adjusted depending on amount of shrinkage in the middle.
• To make piping, whisk together lavender syrup and cornstarch in a saucepan.
• Add lemon juice and water.
• Stir over medium heat until mixture thickens.
• Color with food dye to desired shade of purple (or whatever you prefer).
• Let cool before decorating.