French Vanilla Cheesecake

This is NOT your mother’s cheesecake.

French Cheesecake Crust

Gma
A different kind of cheesecake crust.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Course dessert

Ingredients
  

  • 2 1/2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
  • non-stick spray

Instructions
 

  • Line a 9 inch springform pan with foil. Cut and trim so that the cheesecake can be removed easily for serving. Spray foil lined pan with non-stick spray.
  • Place vanilla wafer crumbs and pecans in a food processor and process to coarse crumbs. Add melted butter and process for about 10 seconds to combine.
  • Press crust into pan base and bake on center oven rack for 12 minutes.
Keyword cheesecake crust, pecans, vanilla wafers

 

French Cheesecake Filling

Gma
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Course dessert

Ingredients
  

  • 2 8- oz. packages of cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 5 large eggs beaten
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups sour cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions
 

  • Process cream cheese and sugar in a food processor for 15 seconds. Add eggs, cream, sour cream and vanilla and process for 15 seconds or until smooth.
  • Pour into into prepared springform pan and bake on center rack for 60 minutes at 275°. Center should be jiggly. Turn off oven and leave cheescake in oven for one more hour then remove from and cool.
  • Cover cooled cheesecake with a double wrapping of plastic wrap and place in freezer. Thaw before serving.
Keyword brown sugar, cheesecake filling, cream, cream cheese, eggs, sour cream

 

Sour Cherry Topping

Gma
Prep Time 20 minutes
Course dessert

Ingredients
  

  • 2/3 cup water
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 pints sour cherries pitted
  • 2 tsp balsamic vinegar

Instructions
 

  • Put sugar and water in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Cook until sugar is dissolved and syrup has thickened.
  • Add cherries and balsamic vinegar and cook until cherries soften, 2-3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove cherries to a bowl.
  • Continue cooking the liquid in the pan until sauce reduces by half, about 10 minutes.
  • Remove pan from heat and stir cherries and any juice in the bowl back in.
  • Spoon over each slice of cheesecake as it is served.
Keyword balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, cheesecake topping, sour cherries