Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Spotted cow baked vanilla cheesecake


My Wishlist
I need several new whitegoods and appliances:
1. A new washer/dryer because the dryer part of the combo no longer works (though I don't mind drying clothes outside on the line, in summer, at least).
2. A stand mixer because I have puny arms and holding a handheld (plastic) mixer for even a small length of time is exhausting.
3. A 28cm non-stick frypan (Jamie Oliver Professional Series, please) because my current frypan's non-stick coating has rubbed off and it's no longer non-stick (and I've probably ingested several grams of non-stick coating in the process)
4. A new oven because the current oven has hotspots that flare unexpectedly, resulting in unattractive lesions on my baked goods...

Case in point - this is my all-time favourite cheesecake recipe, and it's been disfigured by my temperamental oven.  I really should have let it preheat for a bit longer before putting the cheesecake in, but I just didn't realise it would flare up and burn the top of the cheesecake.  Now my cheesecake looks like a weird piebald cow or something.  And not even some perfect strawberries could cover up the damage.  Just as well it did not affect the taste!

Regardless, you must give this cheesecake a try - it really is the best and so easy and classic to boot.  But make sure to get on your oven's good side beforehand.

Footnote: I've written about this lovely cheesecake before, here, although the pictures this time around are hopefully better.

Vintage Vanilla Cheesecake
Serves 6-8

Ingredients

The base:
1 cup Arnotts Scotch Finger or Nice biscuit crumbs (about 9 Nice biscuits, crushed in food processor)
6 tablespoons melted butter

The filling:
375g cream cheese (light cream cheese is fine), softened
2 eggs
½ cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla essence
1 cup light sour cream

Method
1.  To make the base:  Line a 20cm springform cake tin with aluminium foil, leaving an overhang to lift out the cheesecake. Combine all the biscuit crumbs with the melted butter and and press firmly into the cake tin.  Place in the refrigerator while you make the filling.
2.  To make the filling:  Beat the cream cheese a little until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, sugar and vanilla and beat until smooth. Stir in sour cream and mix well. Spoon into the base and bake in the centre of a pre-heated 120 deg C oven for 35 minutes or until the filling is set.
3. Remove from the oven and cool in the tin on a cake rack. Refrigerate if not serving straight away.
4. Serve at room temperature.
recipe adapted from Vogue Entertaining (Oct/Nov 1989).

Ingredients, including light cream cheese, Nice biscuits, melted butter, eggs, sugar, vanilla, sour cream, a reliable oven
These strawberries were utterly perfect (in taste and appearance), though the same could not be said for the spotted cheesecake
Never mind, it still tastes wonderful, and so creamy and smooth.


I was so disappointed with the blasted oven that I made another cheesecake the following week.  This time, I kept an eagle eye on the baking, and made sure the oven temperature was stable before putting the cheesecake in.  Ah, that's better...


15 comments:

  1. damn oven! Nonetherless, it looks amazing. Reading this post reminds me of the Baked Cheesecake hunt I did in NY...so good but kicked up a case of severe indigestion

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  2. lol maybe icing sugar could've covered up the spots? but yum love a simple cheesecake recipe with fresh fruit

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  3. I'm so sorry your oven had to do this to you. That cheesecake still looks quite cute though. It's the imperfections that make it beautiful. :)

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  4. haha...I was wondering what the spotted cow was referring to :) I love how only half of the cake turned spotty! It looks delicious though!

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  5. Hehe I thought that the effect was totally deliberate! I mean that's a cute name and selling point no? :)

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  6. Bummer about the oven. The cheesecake still taste good so that is good enough for me.

    BTW, I need a new non-stick as well...

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  7. I think your cheesecake has character! And those strawberries look so juicy :)

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  8. I think it looks cute =) Would putting the pan in hot water prevent the spots?

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  9. Haha, as long as it tastes good! And when serving to people who may question its appearance, just tell them it's a brulee top =D

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  10. Ohh so that's why it's a spotted cow cheesecake! =D You should patent that you know ;) I think it looks rather lovely with the caramelised spots, gives it character!

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  11. You know, I would have eaten it anyway. I hate when ovens decide to have hissy fits and ruin peoples baking mojos... The cheesecake is gorgeous and I would happily take it off your hands.

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  12. Thought the spotted cake was really cute.
    Will try this recipe soon!

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  13. Looks like your perseverance paid off. Your cheesecake looks fantastic. Glad you mastered it after all. I have a sweet treat linky party going on at my blog and I'd like to invite you to stop by and link your cheesecake up. http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/2011/02/sweets-for-saturday-4.html

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  14. you have a sweet cheesecake ; on my blog I have posted a savoury version for a change !!!
    cheers Pierre

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  15. Spotted or not, you'd be my sister's hero for making this cheesecake, Bel! I'm bookmarking this, so that I can make it for her when I'm in Atlanta in a month....:)

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