
I giggle everytime I look a the picture above. It's Daring Bakers time today and my Cherry Blossom Strawberry Cheesecake looks like it is smiling. Maybe it's just me as I am eating some while typing this and smiling to know there is plenty left in the fridge.
And when I mean plenty, I am not exaggerating! For a household of two people this month challenge just kept on giving and we had no problem with it! We were given a simple cheesecake recipe and let loose with our creativity. If you let me loose in the kitchen on a Daring Baker's challenge this can happen, or this.
It might look like I did again but really I did contain myself (no snorting Jen). Somewhat...

This recipe was really straightforward and the end result was smooth, creamy and not overly sweet which I really like. I started by making the entire recipe and used half to make 4 individual cheesecakes. Two were Cherry Blossom and Strawberry Lava Cheesecakes and two were Peanut Butter topped with a chocolate ganache. I piped the remaining batter in different cups and jars and played a bit.
I drew my inspiration from Spring since cherry trees are still blooming and used cherry blossom extract that Rachael from La Fuji Mama sent me while she was still in Japan. For the strawberry lava center, I cooked about a cup of fresh strawberries with some sugar, strained it and thickened it on the stove before spooning it in between the cheesecake layers.

For the remaining batter, I spooned some of the graham cracker crumbs in different jars and topped with some plain cheesecake batter. The others were topped with a quick cranberry compote using frozen cranberries, sugar and lemon zest. And some were baked without crust and topped with a sprinkle of graham cracker crumbs and chopped pistachios.

One year ago: Daring Bakers - Cheesecake Pops.
Two years ago: Outrageous Brownies
The April 2009 challenge is hosted by Jenny from Jenny Bakes. She has chosen Abbey's Infamous Cheesecake as the challenge.
Abbey's Infamous Cheesecake:
Helen's Kitchen Notes: For the cheesecakes baked in individual dessert rings, I lined them with parchment paper and wrapped them around a couple of layers of foil to prevent leaking since they were to be baked in a water bath. Just don't be shy with the foil or you will have some leakage. I lowered the oven to 275F (convection) and baked them for the same amount of time. I also baked all the jars and cups in a water bath at 275F. The possibilities are endless with such an easy going recipe thus I including the recipe as given by the host and my variations and tips at the end.
crust:
2 cups / 180 g graham cracker crumbs
1 stick / 4 oz butter, melted
2 tbsp. / 24 g sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
cheesecake:
3 sticks of cream cheese, 8 oz each (total of 24 oz) room temperature
1 cup / 210 g sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup / 8 oz heavy cream
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. vanilla extract (or the innards of a vanilla bean)
1 tbsp liqueur, optional, but choose what will work well with your cheesecake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (Gas Mark 4 = 180C = Moderate heat). Begin to boil a large pot of water for the water bath.
Mix together the crust ingredients and press into your preferred pan. You can press the crust just into the bottom, or up the sides of the pan too - baker's choice. Set crust aside.
Combine cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of a stand-mixer (or in a large bowl if using a hand-mixer) and cream together until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Make sure to scrape down the bowl in between each egg. Add heavy cream, vanilla, lemon juice, and alcohol and blend until smooth and creamy.
Pour batter into prepared crust and tap the pan on the counter a few times to bring all air bubbles to the surface. Place pan into a larger pan and pour boiling water into the larger pan until halfway up the side of the cheesecake pan. If cheesecake pan is not airtight, cover bottom securely with foil before adding water.
Bake 45 to 55 minutes, until it is almost done - this can be hard to judge, but you're looking for the cake to hold together, but still have a lot of jiggle to it in the center. You don't want it to be completely firm at this stage. Close the oven door, turn the heat off, and let rest in the cooling oven for one hour. This lets the cake finish cooking and cool down gently enough so that it won't crack on the top. After one hour, remove cheesecake from oven and lift carefully out of water bath. Let it finish cooling on the counter, and then cover and put in the fridge to chill. Once fully chilled, it is ready to serve.
Pan note: The creator of this recipe used to use a springform pan, but no matter how well she wrapped the thing in tin foil, water would always seep in and make the crust soggy. Now she uses one of those 1-use foil "casserole" shaped pans from the grocery store. They're 8 or 9 inches wide and really deep, and best of all, water-tight. When it comes time to serve, just cut the foil away.
Prep notes: While the actual making of this cheesecake is a minimal time commitment, it does need to bake for almost an hour, cool in the oven for an hour, and chill overnight before it is served. Please plan accordingly!
Variations I used:
For the strawberry lava center: cook down 1 cup of clean strawberries with 1/4 cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Strain and cook the syrp until reduced by half. Let cool. Spoon some cake batter over the crumb crust, add some strawberry juice and seal with more batter.
For the peanut butter cheesecake: I added 1/3 cup of peanut butter to 1/4 of the recipe and added 3 tablespoons of heavy cream to make sure the batter would remain smooth.
For the chocolate gananche: I heated up 1/3 cup of heavy cream over medium heat and poured it over 2/3 cup of bittersweet chocolate. Let stand 2 minutes and stir to smooth.
For the cheesecake in souffle cups: I just buttered the cups and baked them without the crust which I sprinkled later on with some chopped pistachios.
For the cranberry topped ones: I poured some crumb crust at the bottom of glass jars, topped with the batter and baked them like that. Once cooled I added the cranberry compote that I made by cooking 2 cups of frozen cranberries with 1/4 cup of sugar, a dash of cinnamon and some lemon juice.

171 comments:
Wow! Love all the variations, but I have to say the "smiling" cherry blossom ones are my favourite! I'm intrigued by the cherry blossom extract. Does it have a strong taste?
Scrumptious! NOM NOM NOM!!
Jealous you were eating one while typing your post. :P
XOXOXOXOXOXO
I never have heard of cherry blossom extract I will have to try to get some. I just love the colours you got and the flavours are to die for - one of the best food blogs on the planet. Yours from Australia Audax.
Saw this on the DB forum, & so am quite past the fainting stage. But seeing it again leaves me breathless. WOW, Helen...you did it again! Fabulous. You make it sound so easy. Gorgeous pictures as well!! I'm tooooo close to the screen!!
Just gorgeous as always!
Gorgeous as always! These look so yummy and delicious...love the flavors! The cherry blossom type sounds perfect for spring.
As always, beautiful photos. Your two cheesecakes sound oh so good. Do you happen to need a taste tester in your kitchen??? :)
I remeber reading once here before about the Cherry Blossom extract. As ususal , you have crreated beauties.
You are an inspiration. You always make everything look beautiful and delicious.
I'm impressed by all the variation and presentation.
Lovely!
Fabuleuses couleurs! Tes photos mettent toujours autant en appétit. je suis justement à la recherche de recettes à base de fraises (de Plougastel bien sûr!). Merci pour celles-ci...
Wow! What wonderful creative spin-offs. I'm loving that smiley-face swirl in the first picture. Way to give us some fabulously fruity cheesecake as well as the classic PB-choco combo!!
Wowza, the peanut butter cheesecake with the chocolate ganache...... Can I live with you? Please? Pretty please??? I have a lot of skills, really, I do! I can... um... do lawyer stuff for you guys... Oh, how I want that cheesecake! :)
That is a lot of yummy variation..each pretty on their own. I still remember your cheesecake with salted caramel.
Can I have some??? Please....
Oh how I wish I can reach in my monitor and grab a slice of each.
They all look so good!
Beautiful as always! Cherry Blossom extract-sounds interesting. Does it taste like cherries?
What amazed me is the huge amount of work you put into this post. Incredible cakes, great photos (some of them even better than great). This is one of the few blog posts I could read again and again and find always something stimulating my cooking or my photography.
Helen...I am speechless! Lovely as always!
*sigh* I wish I could create breathtaking pictures like yours. Your cheesecakes look absolutely stunning! Good job on the challenge!
Your creations always amaze me! Both versions look mouthwatering and extremely beautiful!
Cheers,
Rosa
Snort?! Who ME?! :) *snort*! ha ha. It's amazing you did the challenge considering how much time you spent tweeting this last week! :) These are gorgeous. You always make everything look like the happiest place on Earth. Great job (I'm sure B enjoyed the effort - more than once!). I bow to you!
UH-MAZING Helen! I don't know why I allow myself to be shocked when I peek at your site on reveal date anymore. WONDERFUL job!
And I've gotta ask - where did you get those adorable colored cups? I've seen them around the blog-o-sphere and just LOVE them!
Give the doggies a pet for me!
Love the photo of the halved cheesecake with the oozing on the bottom. I think I need to find myself some cherry blossom extract.
Wow! All of your cheesecakes look amazing! I especially love the cherry blossom strawberry one. very creative! I thought this months challenge was a lot of fun, loved it!
Amazing. You are so creative...
Always a visual feast that leaves me hankering for an actual bite! Every piece is utterly delectable! It's pure indulgence just going through your work! Bravo yet again!
Wow! Those are amazing! I'm still upset that I had to share my cheesecake with a room full of my husband's college students. Next time I'm making individual cakes so I can greedily hold some back for myself!
Wow, Helen! I love them all! Absolutely gorgeous!
The chocolate/peanut butter cheesecakes look amazing, but I'm in love with the cherry blossom version. How beautiful and they sound delicious!
I m in total AWE of you!!!!
u leave me speachhhhlesssssssssss
Wow ! A real fest for the eyes ! Love the one with peanut butter and chocolate ganache... Je craque !
These are stunning. I was really looking forward to seeing how you completed this challenge and, like always, am blown away. I especially like the first photo of the smiling cherry blossom strawberry cheesecake!
i love cheesecake, it's one of my favourites, and these looks absolutely gorgeous xx
Your pictures are just too beautiful !
The pink sugar looks beautiful, Helene!
Mmm they both look divine. I wouldn't know which to choose.
Every month I think, "wow, Helen has outdone herself", and here I am again thinking the same thing. Absolutely amazing. My visual sensors are always overloaded when visiting your blog. :)
Wow! Those are beautiful photos. Your two cheesecakes are so scrumptious. Georgeous as usual.
Cheers,
Miette.
Aww... so pretty in pink, I wish I could fly to Japan right now to get the cherry blossom extract and I wish I could fly to you to eat your cheese cakes ;)
Aww... so pretty in pink, I wish I could fly to Japan right now to get the cherry blossom extract and I wish I could fly to you to eat your cheese cakes ;)
The cherry blossom one looks so pretty Helen!! And what's that pink dust on top of the cheesecake? Oh you make me look so bad with my half-assed effort in putting my cheesecake together!!
Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful. The peanut butter cheesecakes sound heavenly. :)
xox Sarah
Beautiful and luscious!
could you please adopt me? As always your creations are phenomenal!
Beautiful and i totally agree the cake is indeed smiling.
So very pretty as it smiled right back at me!
I have always been wanting to try baking cheesecake!! Yours look soooo delish!
What a fabulous array of cheesecakes, Helen! I love your happy strawberry lava; I'd smile too if I was full of strawberry goodness.
Are the jars you used just regular yoghurt jars? Or are they Pyrex? I have a couple lurking in the cupboard but am feeling a trifle nervous about putting them in the oven.
Lovely as always!
If you pass me that cheesecake I'll wipe the smile off it's face, in one huge bite, lol!
Beautiful as always!
wow, I really want to know how that cherry blossom essence is like...sounds divine. Your pics are gorgeous as usual!
I am always so impressed by your fantastic photos - not to mention the delicious cheesecakes. brava.
Absolutely mouthwatering! I want one for breakfast right now...Where did you get those adorable pink and blue ramekins? I need those!
Your little cheesecakes are beautiful. I love the strawberry lava cheesecake with the filling dripping out. Yum!
Angela: The jars are regular glass jars. You can bake glass in the oven provided it is a water bath and at a fairly low heat (up to 325F for example).
Thank you guys for stopping by!
Oh my gosh you are amazing! those are postively divine Helen
Wow! I love the color of these cheesecakes!! Where can I get those pink and blue cups?
Oh! J'adore l'effet rayure que les étages produisent! Surtout avec les différents tons de roses... wow.
Comme d'habitude, tout est tellement, tellement joli.
Bravo, Tartelette!
These looks absolutely incredible! Can I come over?
All look wonderful, Helen! Couldn't make up my mind which one is my favourite... Can I have one each? ;)
Lisa and EatDrinkAndBeCrafty:
The cups are from a German company from ASA. My mom brought them to me on her last visit. You can find them online here.
Stunning, beautiful and o so tasty looking! Your cheesecakes look amazing Helen and so much better then mine! Now I feel compelled to try and make better ones, but isn't that what it's all about? :)
Hmmm. I can feel that fudge sauce in my mouth, hold on let me wipe the drool here. Oh okay now then on to that frist picture oh my God. That is just beautiful. I am always so blown out of the water by your creations. I know I am not alone here when I see you are an AMAZING creator and artiste!
Bravo.
c'est magnifique Tartelette ! nous avons choisi pratiquement les mêmes parfums :)
Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome.
Always.
What an endless dessert for two. I'd never get tired of that either. But I never get tired of you.
Ooh la la! Such tempting little cakes. I always enjoy your photos so much! You seem to have a ball taking them - arranging little clover flowers here, a close-up of the ganache pitcher there. They're lovely.
I'm especially excited to try the cheesecake with the chocolate-pistachio topping. Mm!
I very much like the once covered in chocolate!! yum!!
that PB cheesecake has my name written allllll over it :)
Hi Helen, very nice pictures as always, I like your different variations. I'll try the peanut butter for some friend's kids that love peanut butter.
I love cheesecake, and this looks like it is much more friendly with my time than most of the other cheesecakes I've made. I'll have to try this soon!
Amazing. These look so delicious. Helen...you did it again..Bravo Bravo
I am just floored by how beautiful both the baked goods and photos are, but I know I should always expect this same quality from you! Really, amazing work Helen, you're such an inspiration.
You are outstanding! You creativity is never ending. Remind me to think of you when I need a wedding cake!
Fruits rouges ou chocolat tes photos sont craquantes !
Beautiful, jealous!!! kissess
Stunning...absolutely stunning!
Stunning, and I would do anything for a bite of that Cherry Blossom Strawberry Lava cheesecake. Come to think of it, I'll take 'em all!
Soooo beautiful. I can't get over how adorably pink the cherry blossom cakes are.
Holy Moly! You never cease to amaze. Well done!!
oh la la, trop belle, trop belle! le sucre rose, ahk!! :P
Cindy Ruth: the extract does not taste like cherries at all. It's pretty mellow and floral.
Christy: it's just granulate sugar mixed with some powdered food coloring.
Thanks for stopping guys!
I can't wait for the day when cheesecake can be teleported via computer! Someone really needs to be working on this, or at the very least odourama from the screen....as usual your photos are stunning, recipes divine and I am so interested with the thought of cherry blossom extract...sounds exquisite!!! Enjoy your 'leftovers' in the fridge...Thanks again for all this beauty, Patricia
You are the goddess of cheesecakes! What lovely little confections, so creative.
If there is Daring Baker royalty, you are totally the queen, and in an inspiring, Elizabeth I kind of way. I am proud to be a serf and witness your truly amazing work!
They all look wonderful! I'll take one of each.
really helen...wow!
Heavenly!!! :-)
GORGEOUS as usual (not that I'm surprised)! I have loved seeing how you've been using the cherry blossom extract!
omg, that's absolutely gorgeous! I'd have a very hard time deciding between the two...ok, I'll take both :)
As always you've outdone yourself, wow! Cherry blossom, what a great idea. :)
Bonjour,
Que de Jolis CheeseCakes !
Mon Dieu un vrai Bonheur comme à chaque fois que je viens me titiller l'appétit ici :-)
Merci pour la visite et le gentil commentaire chez moi.
Je repars les sens ravis par ces Belles Photos et aussi avec le sourire parce que -Thanks God- moi aussi j'ai 4 mini cheesecakes tous frais d'hier soir qui attendent que je leur fasse leur fête au dîner (ouf sinon j'aurai baver plus encore après cette visite gourmande) ;-)
A Bientôt !
Such a pretty cake...
Thanks for all the great ideas! I will have to try some of them and hope they turn out as pretty!
Absolutely delicious!!!! I love the photography too :)
I would love to buy prints of your photos and cover my kitchen with them. I am serious! If you are ever interested in selling your work, please let me know! dallas@bitchinkitchen.tv
totally beautifully stunning!!!!
Next time, (and there WILL be, unlike some DB challenges, lol) I am going to bake my cheesecake in jars. What a great idea...no water seepage! And you cannot beat the cute factor. You always come up with the best flavor combinations and presentations!
that cheesecake is totally smiling-- i would too, if i were so pretty!
Woohoo it's cheesecake city over at Tartelette's! I love them all - the colours are so Spring/Summery that you can't help but smile.
Your desserts look like a work of art.
Mmm, your cheesecakes look amazing!! I love all of your different flavours =D.
I always end up drooling when I visit your blog... they look amazingly delicious!!!!
What a crazy coincidence!! I made a cherry blossom cheesecake, too. But instead of extract, I used the actual flower petals.
I love your version of cheesecake! It looks so pretty and absolutely delicious!
Awesome cakes and photos...
everything looks amazing...
Those cheesecakes look so good! Especially the one with the chocolate running all over it. No wait the one with the strawberries... It's too hard to decide! Can I just have some of each?
They are darling and happy little cheesecakes! I can't decide which one I like better though, the smiley pink one with the darling little strawberries or that robed chocolate one. Either way they are both just gorgeous!!
You call that restraining yourself? *snort* (well, you did only tell Jen not to...) Both of those look absolutely wonderful!
just beautiful and tasty I am sure:)
What a wonderful challange, and you delivered BIG TIME!
I love the smiling cheesecake, but I think I might love the idea of a PB/chocolate cheesecake even more. :) Beautifully done as usual!
Gorgeous, as always!
Though all your pics are gorgeous, my favourite is the first one with the smiling cheesecake! It's so cute and looks delicious!
speechless. they look divine.
As usual you have outdone yourself and your cakes are all simply beautiful!!
Dear Helen,
Luscious!Luscious!Luscious!
I want to work with you in your kitchen!
Can you please tell me where you get your pretty little coloured pots. Here you show them in blue and pink. I have also seen them in chocolate brown on your blog, I think. I would love to know where to access them.
Thank you!
Valerie
Amazing! I'm dreaming about your cheesecakes...
Merci d'être passée chez moi et pour le gentil commentaire.
Tes posts sont toujours ravissants et gourmands!
all of these mini desserts are the cutest and most delicate creations. I bet they taste great!
Valerie: they are from a German company called ASA. My mom brought them to me when she came last month but you can find them here.
I love all your creations. They look so good!
Both are extremely beautiful, as well as mouth watering!!
I love the variations you thought up! They are fantastic - esp the peanut butter and chocolate one!!!!
The cherry blossom cheesecake is to die for, it look gorgeous with the smiling ripple through the middle! I have never see cherry blossom in the shops in NZ, only rose & orange but I might have a search on the net as I can imagine how nice it would be in various desserts. Beautiful photos as always, you're site is very inspirational.
The cherry blossom and strawberry cheesecake has won my heart - it is just gorgeous - too pretty too eat (but I am sure I could be persuaded ;)).
Nice job. All your variations are great.
Beautifully done, as always. And I really do think that cheesecake was smiling!
-Jenny of JennyBakes
helen you truky are a daring baker! and a cute one too...these look DELICIOUS!!!!!
lost for words.. Everything is just perfect! you're amazing helen!
Helen you're too funny! And yes, your cheesecake is smiling and so am I now ;)! And you know what? Today in the smile international day (true, just saw it on the news) so this is just perfect, lol!
Absolutely amazing - as always! Yours must be the best looking food blog out there, and you always make me want to head straight to the kitchen for some experimentation of my own.
Oooooo lookie at that!! look at the lava!
Wow! It's amazing!!!!!!!
I love it when you play with your food! Beautiful job on this challenge.
Even though I'm not a big fan of regular cheesecake, this recipe turn out great...but your photos, your cakes makes me wanna dive into the screen --- and if I could, I'd probably be swimming in a lot of cheesecake by now...so many yummy cheesecake out there by all the Daring Bakers! :) Just Beautiful!!
Your creations looks absolutely stunning. You did an amazing job, as always.
They're all beautiful. The chocolate one is the one I'd normally gravitate to, but that cherry blossom one is so pretty that I just wnat to wear it!
This is why I *heart* the Daring Bakers so much!
Mmm there is nothing to say that hasn't already been said... you're simply AMAZING Helen and gorgeous to boot! xxx
Smiling? No, no, no! It's smirking! haha It's smirking at me because I have none and your kitchen is filled! Lucky you!
big hugs!
xox
Ooooh, peanut butter! I am so making this version!
Wow, I was just over on Aran's blog and I feel like I have gained weight just oggling your amazing photos of cheesecakes. I love cheesecake.
All of the variations are just lovely! I'd have to slowly make my way through them all. Gorgeous as always!
These are the most adorable little cheesecakes I've ever seen!
That would have gone delightfully with my morning coffee -
I just had a great time looking around your space-
awesome photography of food...
I knew I'd see something lovely here, sorry I'm late getting here though. I love the jars, need to get me some jars!
Can I kidnap you????????? ;) My god!! you r just tooooo good!!!!Keep it up!!!
I have nothing to add. It's all been said in the above comments.
WOW.
Oh my stars! I just want to melt into this post and sample all the lovely creations! Yum!
Can someone tell me what a water bath is? i want to try the ones in the cup and she said she used a water bath?
I loooove cheesecake any way! And yours are absolutely gorgeous. I love the smiling one...just how I feel before eating dessert :)
Beautiful pictures and it looks delicious! The chocolate sauce looks fabulous, as do the little cups with the graham cracker crust on top! WOW! You really outdid yourself!
tiara_mh: Hi, this is "she" here. A water bath means that you set your pan in a larger roasting pan and pour water half way or whatever the recipe states up the side of your cake pan.
Good luck. Helen.
gorgeous!!! I'm so ravenous after seeing these beautiful offerings
I love the glass bottles.
Where did you get them? and do you know where to get milk bottles (just the bottle)? I saw it in the second picture.
your food is gorgeous!
Christine: the milk bottle is actually a single bud vase that I got at Wall-Mart. The glass jars are French yogurt jars that my dad ate for me and brought with him on his last visit.
You always take these challenges to the next level. I'm so glad that you are sharing your passion with us. Love everything you do.
i love love love this entry! i love love cheesecakes!!!! and i love this blog!!!
:)
Oh my, they look gorgeous! The cherry blossom extract sounds interesting. Wonder how it tastes like.
Looks soo cute and yummy!
Wow! I love this post and I love cheesecakes!
This is something new to me. Delicious looking and delicious tasting and quite simple to make! I've never made this before with some other variations. These were pure delight and I'm sure to make them again.
U are amazing! So so talented..I am eating with my eyes and I am truly in love with your site. Thanks! Waving from Sweden.
These look amazing! I was wondering though, where do you find the small glass jars that the cheesecake can be baked in?
I was just wondering can you use any jar or are there special jars that you have to use.
Anonymous: these are just plain glass jars. Whatever you use, just make sure to use plenty of water in your water bath.
These look fantastic! I was wondering if you make mini ones do they need less baking time? *s*
I think these are beautiful little individual cheesecakes I just have one question. Do you cook them in little springform pans??
WoW! that is absolutely delicious..im craving for it.=)
How many servings of individual cheesecakes will the original recipe make?
I tried this recipe a while back for a special birthday. And although I'm not particularly enthusiastic about cheesecake,this one was really something. :) kept me going back for more. it was really wonderful and everyone loved it. thank you for sharing :)
Helene - I'm so thankful that I found your recipe/blog...and just in time for Valentine's Day. :) I made one large peanut butter cheesecake with the ganache(for my coworkers) and a smaller one to share with my fiance tonight. I'm looking forward to devouring!
I tried to find these on the site but the link didn't go to anythingbut I blank page on their site. Do you know what the cups were called? these are the cups that your main picture was baked in correct?
I tried to find these but the link just goes to a blank page on their site. Do you know what the cups were called? these are the cups you baked the main picture ones in, correct?
Or if they aren't available, do you know where to find similar straight sided jars like them?
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