A well-loved creamy classic, elevated with a luscious, red cherry swirl.
Time: 60 Mins
Ingredients
The base
250g digestive biscuits
125g butter, melted
Vanilla cheesecake filling
750g cream cheese, at room temperature
3 tsp vanilla essence
¾ cup caster sugar
3 eggs
300g sour cream
2 tbsp cornflour, sifted
Icing sugar, for dusting
Fresh berries, to serve
Cherry swirl cheesecake filling
750g cream cheese, at room temperature
3 tsp vanilla essence
¾ cup caster sugar
3 eggs
300g sour cream
2 tbsp cornflour, sifted
⅓ cup cherry jam
75g dark chocolate, melted
75g white chocolate, melted
300g cherries, stems on
Method
The base
Release the base from a 23cm springform pan and invert. Secure the base back into the pan and line it with baking paper.
Place the biscuits in a food processor and process until finely crushed. Add the butter and process until combined. Transfer to the prepared pan and using the back of a spoon or a straight-sided glass, spread and press the biscuit mixture firmly over the base. Refrigerate it for 30 minutes to set.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 170°C/150°C fan-forced. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, vanilla and sugar until the mixture is smooth. Beat in the sour cream and flour. Once combined, start to add the eggs one at a time. Continue to beat the mixture until all is combined.
Vanilla cheesecake filling
Pour the cream cheese mixture into the prepared pan. Bake the cheesecake in the oven for 1 hour or until almost set in the centre and turn the oven off. Leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door slightly ajar until it has cooled as this will prevent the cake from cracking. Refrigerate overnight.
To serve, remove the cheesecake from the pan, dust it with icing sugar and add fresh berries.
Cherry swirl cheesecake
Pour the cream cheese mixture into the prepared pan. Place small dollops of cherry jam over the surface of the cheesecake and using a skewer, swirl gently to create a marble effect. Bake the cheesecake in the oven for 1 hour or until almost set in the centre, and turn the oven off. Leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door slightly ajar until it has cooled as this will prevent the cake from cracking. Refrigerate overnight.
Place melted dark and white chocolate in separate bowls and dip half the cherries halfway into the melted dark chocolate. Set aside on a baking paper lined plate. Repeat this with the remaining cherries in the melted white chocolate. Refrigerate the cherries for about 10 minutes or until the chocolate sets.
To serve, remove the cheesecake from the pan and top with the choc-dipped cherries.
Notes
Tip: To cut cheesecakes, dip your knife into a bowl of hot water. Wipe dry. Use the hot knife to cut, reheating and drying the knife between slices.