Vanilla Bean Cheesecake

cream cheese

🥗Healthier: ricotta cheese

💰Cheaper: neufchâtel cheese

Ricotta is lower in fat and calories, while neufchâtel is a budget-friendly option.

sour cream

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: plain yogurt

Greek yogurt is higher in protein and lower in fat, while plain yogurt is often less expensive.

Mist an 8-inch diameter by 3-inch high round cake pan with PAM Cooking Spray and line with a circle cut from parchment paper.

Place the cookies in the bowl of a food processor and process until fine.

Drizzle in the melted butter and toss together until combined.

Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.

Preheat the oven to 400° F.

Place the cream cheese, sugar, and cornstarch in a large mixing bowl and mix on medium-low speed until smooth.

Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula after each addition.

Add the cream, vanilla bean paste, and vanilla extract, and stir to combine.

Pour the batter over the crust, and rap sharply on the counter a few times to release any air bubbles.

Place the cake pan in a larger baking dish and pour very hot water ¾ of the way up the sides of the pan.

Bake the cheesecake for 15 minutes, then lower the oven temperature to 300° F and bake for an additional 70-80 minutes, or until the cheesecake is set around the edges but still slightly jiggly toward the center.

Turn off the oven, leave the door slightly ajar, and allow the cheesecake to cool for one hour.

Remove the cheesecake from the oven and cool completely at room temperature.

Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve, then flip the cheesecake out of the pan and invert onto a serving plate.

Place the heavy cream in a medium mixing bowl and whip on high speed until just beginning to thicken.

Sprinkle in the sugar, gradually, while continuing to whip.

When the whipped cream holds soft peaks, whip in the vanilla bean paste.

Transfer the mixture to a piping bag fitted with a 1A tip.

Pipe whipped cream around the outside edge of the cheesecake.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens