White Chocolate and Raspberry Cheesecake

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...The combination of tangy cream cheese and raspberries is enough to make the angels sing. Add white chocolate to the mix and watch the gods descend Mt. Olympus to search for that mortal ambrosia called cheesecake. To understand my exuberance you have to taste the cake. I know, I know. You are absolutely right. It is ridiculously expensive and time consuming to make. While I can argue its merits, I can't deny it's a near perfect example of wretched excess. That being said, I still hope you will try this when you have some time. Plan to make this a full 24 hours before you plan to serve it. This is a very creamy cake and it is difficult to cut if not properly chilled. The cake can be frozen weeks ahead of time but the glaze should be applied just before serving. I cut the cake in these picture while it was frozen to assure neat slices. Forgive my cheat. Here's the recipe for one of the best cheesecakes I've ever tasted. I know you'll enjoy it.

White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite inspired by The Baking Pan

Ingredients:

Vanilla Cookie Crust:

1 cup vanilla wafer cookie crumbs

1/2 cup toasted almonds, finely chopped

4 tablespoons melted butter, divided use

White Chocolate Raspberry Filling:

12 ounces (about 2 cups) white chocolate chips

4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup sour cream, room temperature

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 large eggs

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2-1/2 cups (about 12 ounces) fresh raspberries

Sour Cream Topping:

1-1/2 cups sour cream, room temperature

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Raspberry Sauce:

1 teaspoon cornstarch

2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam

1 tablespoon raspberry liqueur or cranberry or orange juice

Garnish:

About 1/2 cup fresh raspberries

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Brush bottom and sides of a 9 x 3-inch round springform pan with 1 tablespoon melted butter.

2) To make vanilla cookie crust: Combine vanilla cookie crumbs, toasted almonds and remaining 3 tablespoons melted butter in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Stir until thoroughly mixed and mixture is crumbly. Pour crumb mixture into prepared springform pan. Press crumb mixture firmly into bottom of pan. Place pan on a cookie sheet and transfer to oven. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove pan and cool on a wire rack. When pan is cool to touch, wrap bottom and sides of pan with a double layer of heavy-duty cooking foil. Reduce oven heat to 325 degrees F.

3) To make white chocolate and raspberry filling: Melt white chocolate in a double boiler set over hot water. Set aside to cool slightly. Place cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Mix at medium-slow temperature, scraping sides of bowl as necessary, until mixture is smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add sour cream, vanilla and salt and beat until mixed. Add melted chocolate and beat until thoroughly combined, about 1 minute. Add the eggs 2 at a time, beating until thoroughly combined, about 1 minute, scraping sides of bowl bowl between additions. Do not over beat. Combine raspberries and flour in a separate bowl and toss gently. Fold into batter with a light hand. Let rest for 5 minutes. Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Meanwhile, pour filling into springform pan and set it in a large roasting pan. Transfer roasting pan to an oven rack. Carefully pour boiling water halfway up sides of springform pan. Bake for 70 to 80 minutes, or until edges are set but center of cake is still jiggly. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Immediately run a thin knife around edge of pan, being careful not to gouge sides of cake. This helps prevent cracking. Let sit for one hour.

4) To make sour cream topping: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Combine sour cream, sugar and vanilla in a small bowl. Mix well. Spread it over surface of cheesecake. Return cake to oven and bake for about 5 minutes to set topping. Remove cake and cool completely on a wire rack. When completely cool, cover with plastic and refrigerate for 24 hours.

5) To make raspberry sauce: Combine cornstarch and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Add raspberry jam and stir until combined. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute longer. Remove from heat. Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

6) To serve: Spoon raspberry sauce over center of cheesecake, then spread almost to edges of cake. Garnish with fresh raspberries if desired. Yield: 12 to 16 servings.