Limoncello Cheesecake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the bottom of a 9 by 9 by 2-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Finely grind the biscotti in a food processor. Add the melted butter and 1 tablespoon of lemon zest, and process until the crumbs are moistened. Press the crumb mixture over the bottom (not the sides) of the prepared pan. Bake until the crust is golden, about 15 minutes. Cool the crust completely on a cooling rack.
• Blend the ricotta in a clean food processor until smooth. Add the cream cheese and sugar and blend well, stopping the machine occasionally and scraping down the sides of the work bowl. Blend in the limoncello, vanilla, and remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon zest. Add the eggs one at a time, and pulse just until blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Pour the cheese mixture over the crust in the pan. Place the baking pan in a large roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the baking pan. Bake until the cheesecake is golden and the center of the cake moves slightly when the pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour (the cake will become firm when it is cold).
• Transfer the cake to a rack; cool 1 hour. Refrigerate until the cheesecake is cold, at least 8 hours and up to 2 days. Cut the cake into squares and serve.
• *Limoncello liqueur can be found at most liquor stores and in the liquor department of some specialty markets. If limoncello liqueur is unavailable at stores near you, use the following recipe to make your own limoncello liqueur.
• Limoncello:
• Using a vegetable peeler, remove the peel from the lemons in long strips (reserve the lemons for another use). Using a small sharp knife, trim away the white pith from the lemon peels; discard the pith. Place the lemon peels in a 2-quart pitcher. Pour the vodka over the peels and cover with plastic wrap. Steep the lemon peels in the vodka for 4 days at room temperature.
• Stir the water and sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Cool completely. Pour the sugar syrup over the vodka mixture. Cover and let stand at room temperature overnight.
• Strain the limoncello through a mesh strainer. Discard the peels. Transfer the limoncello to bottles. Seal the bottles and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours and up to 1 month.
• Makes: 7 cups
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Inactive Prep Time: 4 days and 4 hours

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the bottom of a large spring form pan with nonstick cooking spray. Finely grind the biscotti in a food processor. Add the melted butter and 1 tablespoon of lemon zest, and process until the crumbs are moistened. Press the crumb mixture over the bottom (not the sides) of the prepared pan. Bake until the crust is golden, about 15 minutes. Cool the crust completely on a cooling rack.
• Blend the ricotta in a clean food processor until smooth. Add the cream cheese and sugar and blend well, stopping the machine occasionally and scraping down the sides of the work bowl. Blend in the limoncello, vanilla, and remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon zest. Add the eggs one at a time, and pulse just until blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Pour the cheese mixture over the crust in the pan. Place the baking pan in a large roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the baking pan. Bake until the cheesecake is golden and the center of the cake moves slightly when the pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour (the cake will become firm when it is cold).
• Transfer the cake to a rack; cool 1 hour. Refrigerate until the cheesecake is cold, at least 8 hours and up to 2 days. Cut the cake into squares and serve.

Steps:

• Crust: Crumb the cookies, mix with the graham cracker crumbs and melt butter and press the mixture in the bottom and about an inch up the sides of a 9 1/2-inch springform pan.
• Batter: Beat together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth and fluffy.
• Add the eggs one at a time without excessive beating to avoid removing the air, followed by mixing in the remaining batter ingredients.
• Pour into the pan and bake at 350F for about an hour or until the center of the surface is somewhat solid.
• Remove from the oven and let rest 10 minutes.
• Topping: Mix together the sour cream, sugar and limoncello and spread evenly over the top.
• Bake another 10 minutes; remove and let cool to room temperature.
• Refrigerate at least 12 hours before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat over to 325.
• For Crust: Crumbled gingersnaps and mix with sugar and melted butter. Press into a greased springform pan. Bake for 10 minutes. After crust is done, turn oven down to 300.
• For Filling: Mix all ingredients, EXCEPT eggs, at low speed just until blended. Add eggs, individually, mixing at low until blended.
• Pour into crust. Tap to remove air bubbles. Bake at 300 for 55-60 minutes until center is just set. Cool in the oven for another hour.
• Run a knife around the edge to loosen before removing pan. Cool in the fridge for about 4 hours.
• Topping: Mix sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan, add liquids slowly. Bring to a slow boil and stir until thick.
• To incorporate the egg yolk, first stir a tablespoon of the hot liquid into the yolk, then add to the lemon mix.
• Stir and heat until jelled. Cool before pouring over cheesecake.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 9-inch glass pie plate with cooking spray. Stir together crust ingredients. Press firmly and evenly in bottom of pie plate.
• Bake 9 minutes. Cool 20 minutes.
• In medium bowl, beat cheesecake ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth; spoon over crust. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.