Being a baking blogger can come with certain challenges. Among them are:
1) Several epic fails while testing out recipes
2) Taking bad pictures of delicious food
3) Getting sticky residue on every available kitchen surface
4) Turning down a night out because you need to wait for dough to rise
5) Figuring out how to share all of your baked goods
6) Constantly thinking of new ideas for recipes
And, my challenge of the week:
7) Sharing a recipe when the subject (in this case, a cheesecake) was a gift to another person, thereby preventing me from taking pictures of a sliced version and making you drool.
To make a long story short, I baked this cheesecake for our amazing babysitter’s birthday. She’s been lovingly caring for my daughter and I figured the least I could do was send her home with a birthday treat. I’m so glad it turned out well!
How do I know it turned out well? She told me, for one. But I also got a sampling of the stuff that stuck to the side of the springform when I released the pan sides, and it was really awesome.
The white chocolate portion of the cheesecake has two sources. The sneakiest part is the white chocolate melted into the graham cracker crust, my favorite of all baking tricks. But I also melted white chocolate and spread it all over the top of the cake. Very simple!
For the cheesecake itself, I decided to keep it free of anything but cheesecake. White chocolate is very easy to overdo because of its overwhelming sweetness, so it’s better in this case to leave the tangier filling to stand on its own.
Everybody deserves a birthday cake, but especially the people who treasure your children as much as you do. So here’s to somebody amazing! And I’m totally okay with not having pictures of the slices. She’s worth it!
Cheesecake:
- 3 packages (24 oz.) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup fat-free vanilla Greek yogurt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3 eggs
Crust:
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
Topping:
- 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350. Spray a springform pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and white chocolate chips for 45-55 seconds. Stir until smooth and combined. Add the brown sugar and graham cracker crumbs, mixing until the crumbs are moistened. Press into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake for 10 minutes.
While the crust is baking, beat the cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer until creamy. Add the yogurt and vanilla and beat again. Finally, add the eggs and beat until just incorporated.
Pour the filling into the graham cracker crust and bake for 50 minutes. Do not open the oven door while baking.
When the cheesecake is done, turn the oven off and crack the oven door. Remove the cheesecake once the oven is cool.
Melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave for about one minute and stir until smooth. Spread the melted white chocolate on top of the cheesecake, swirling with a knife or spatula.
Chill the cheesecake overnight. Cut into wedges and serve.
I’ve not had to turn down a night out yet, but I also haven’t worked with yeast in a loooong time! Mir, this is a fantastic recipe. I love that you used white chocolate in everything but the filling! You are right, it is SO easy to overdo, and you solved that problem by letting the cheesecake be cheesecake, but give us a different texture and flavor on top and in the crust. Genius!
Mary Frances recently posted…{Gluten and Dairy Free} Pear and Almond Mug Cake
Mary Frances, you are always such a sweetheart! Thanks so much!
And I try to avoid yeast, but sometimes…yeah. It happens more than I want it to!
Mir, this cheesecake looks amazing, even without a slice of it showing! I haven’t baked with white chocolate too much, but I am definitely trying this out! And I know what you mean about blogging challenges! I had an epic white chocolate brownie disaster about a month ago that was quite disappointing. I’ve taken thousands of bad pictures (still working on my photography skills), and even though I’m a clean-as-you-go person in the kitchen, I always manage to make a giant mess, especially with flour! I absolutely love that you added white chocolate into the crust. Such a creative twist!
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Fresh Peach Cake
Thanks, Gayle! I’m so glad I’m not alone. Sorry to hear about your brownie disaster, though. I know it still hurts, even a month later! As for the flour, that’s my number one complaint. It gets everywhere no matter how much I clean!
YUM.. can i have a slice? this looks amazing.. i can never pass up a good cheesecake. definitely a recipe worth saving!
Thalia @ butter and brioche recently posted…Chocolate Pots de Creme with Earl Grey Cream and Chocolate Almond Biscotti
Thanks, Thalia! I can never say no to cheesecake either!
I love your list! When I am dealing with one of the things you mentioned my husband will smile and say “food blogger issues” Well he is right, they are food blogger issues! ha! This cheesecake looks fantastic! I love that you added greek yogurt!
Annie @Maebells recently posted…Bacon, Ham, and Egg Wrap with Honey Dijon Sauce
Your husband is totally right! I love how families learn to adjust to our craziness.
Thanks so much! Greek yogurt is a much healthier sub for sour cream, and nobody will be the wiser!
That looks so decadent! I bet she loved it. Genius how you melted the white chocolate into the crust. ;-D
Michele @ Alwayzbakin recently posted…Lemon Cream Icebox Cookie Bars
Thanks so much, Michele! It’s my favorite baking trick. Try it and let me know what you think!
I love this cheesecake! Want to make one for me on my birthday?! 😉
Jocelyn@Brucrewlife recently posted…Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats
If you’re up for coming out here, absolutely!