Individual Cheesecakes

Look at these sweet little cakes!  Aren't they perdy?  They taste perdy and are perdy darn easy to make too!  This recipe is one that my mom always made while we were growing up.  In my opinion, it's a perfect amount of cheesecake.  (Okay, so I'll fess up.  Sometimes I eat more than one.)  I topped these little cheesecakes with raspberry because it's in season here, but you could top them with any berry or topping. 

Individual Cheesecakes

Ingredients:
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
18-24 vanilla wafers
18-24 cupcake liners
Topping (See below for my homemade raspberry topping)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix cream cheese and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Beat until smooth.  Line muffin tins with paper liner and drop a vanilla wafer flat side down into muffin paper.  Cover wafer with cream cheese mixture, 2/3 full.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes or until firm.  (Watch carefully while baking or the wafer could burn.)  Cool.  Top with whatever topping you'd like.

Homemade Raspberry Topping
1 1/2  cups water
1/2 cup sugar
1 (1.6 oz.) package raspberry flavored gelatin
1 1/2 Tbsp. cornstarch

In medium saucepan, bring water and sugar to a boil. Mix jello with cornstarch and gradually add to boiling mixture. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly for 5 minutes or until mixture is clear and thickened slightly. Remove from heat and cool completely.  Spoon a small amount of topping onto the individual cheesecakes.  Then top with 2-3 raspberries. 

Raspberry Cream Pie

Seriously, I have NO will power to resist this pie.  Nope, none!  I will eat a piece of this pie everyday until it's done. (Maybe even more.) It is just absolutely delectable!  I usually only make it when we have people to share it with because if not, we end up eating it all ourselves.  And that's bad, because do you know where it truly ends up?  My back END!  The fresh raspberries with the filling just screams summer to me.  Okay, let's face it, this dessert is always screaming to me since it is probably my favorite pie ever!  The cream layer is really a vanilla custard type pudding mixed with whipping cream.  Making it a layer of heaven topped with a fresh raspberry glaze.  Divine!

Raspberry Cream Pie

Ingredients:
1 baked single pie crust
1 cup milk
1/4 cup flour
1 cups sugar, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 egg yolks, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup whipping cream
2 cups fresh raspberries
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons cornstarch

Directions:
Prepare and bake a single pie crust shell. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan combine flour, 1/2 cup sugar and the salt; stir to mix well. Add 2-3 tablespoons milk to sugar/flour and stir to create a smooth paste; add remaining milk and stir to blend. Over medium heat, stirring constantly, cook pudding mixture until it begins to bubble; continue to cook 1 minute (mixture will be thick). Stirring egg yolks constantly, spoon a small amount pudding into beaten egg yolks. Pour egg yolks back into saucepan and stir well to mix. Return pan to heat and continue to cook until mixture thickens (very thick) do not allow to bubble. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Cool pudding.

Whip cream until stiff peaks form. Stir approximately 1/4 whip cream into cool pudding mixture; fold in remaining whipped cream; spoon pudding mixture into baked pie shell, cover and chill pie for at least 1/2 to 1 hour to partially set.

In a medium saucepan, crush berries with a potato masher; add 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch and water, mix well. Over medium heat, stirring, bring berries to a boil (berry glaze will be clear and thickened). Remove from heat and cool. Spoon berry glaze over pudding in pie shell. Refrigerate 2 hours to overnight to completely set. Garnish with an additional dollop of whipped cream, additional fresh berries and a mint leaf as desired. Makes 1 pie.

Recipe Source:  adapted from Summer's Recipes

Linked to:  Sweets for a Saturday

Raspberry Cheesecake

I'm going to be honest here.  This thing was a booger to make!  This cheesecake is very touchy with temperatures.  Just check out the recipe.  It is really good though.  Who can go wrong with cheesecake and raspberries?  That is the question.  Plus, if you like lemon, this also has a nice hint of lemon, not super strong, but definitely there and very refreshing.  Doing it again, I would probably change out the red jelly for a homemade glaze.  I'm not a huge fan of store bought jellies, but even so, the cheesecake was yummy.  I just thought it would be even better with a homemade raspberry glaze.   

Raspberry Cheesecake

Ingredients:
For the crust:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (10 crackers)
1 tablespoon sugar
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:
2 1/2 pounds cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
5 whole extra-large eggs, at room temperature
2 extra-large egg yolks, at room temperature
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

For the topping:
1 cup red jelly (not jam), such as currant, raspberry, or strawberry
3 half-pints fresh raspberries

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

To make the crust, combine the graham crackers, sugar, and melted butter until moistened. Pour into a 9-inch springform pan. With your hands, press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan and about 1-inch up the sides. Bake for 8 minutes. Cool to room temperature.

Raise the oven temperature to 450 degrees F.

To make the filling, cream the cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce the speed of the mixer to medium and add the eggs and egg yolks, 2 at a time, mixing well. Scrape down the bowl and beater, as necessary. With the mixer on low, add the sour cream, lemon zest, and vanilla. Mix thoroughly and pour into the cooled crust.

Bake for 15 minutes. Turn the oven temperature down to 225 degrees F and bake for another 1 hour and 15 minutes. Turn the oven off and open the door wide. The cake will not be completely set in the center. Allow the cake to sit in the oven with the door open for 30 minutes. Take the cake out of the oven and allow it to sit at room temperature for another 2 to 3 hours, until completely cooled. Wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Remove the cake from the springform pan by carefully running a hot knife around the outside of the cake. Leave the cake on the bottom of the springform pan for serving.

To make the topping, melt the jelly in a small pan over low heat. In a bowl, toss the raspberries and the warm jelly gently until well mixed. Arrange the berries on top of the cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Recipe Source:  Ina Garten from the Food Network

Linked to:
Sweets for a Saturday #4 hosted by Sweet as Sugar Cookies
Sweet Tooth Friday hosted by Alli 'n Son

Rice Krispies Ice Cream Dessert

In honor of Valentine's Day, I had to repost one of our all time favorite desserts.  This dessert is fantastic!!!  A smooth, velvety vanilla ice cream, sandwiched between a sweet, semi-crunchy crust topped by refreshing raspberries.  Oh my!  Seriously, it will make you fall in love again, and again, and again.  You'll be sneaking into the freezer to get another bite only to meet your significant other there doing the same thing.  See...it will make you fall in love again.  It is bite after bite of pure delight.  It is really simple to make, but is the perfect dessert for big parties or just for a quiet night at home.

Rice Krispies Ice Cream Dessert

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, melted
2 cups brown sugar
3 cups Rice Krispies
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
2 quarts vanilla ice cream
*1 package strawberry Danish Dessert (It's much better than the raspberry flavored.)
12-16 oz. bag frozen raspberries (thawed and drained, reserve drained juice)

Directions:
1.  Mix together the Rice Krispies and the chopped pecans in a medium sized bowl.  Set aside.

2. Mix together the melted butter and the brown sugar in a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.  Add the Rice Krispie/pecan mixture into the saucepan.  Mix and cool.

3.  After this has cooled, put half of the mixture in the bottom of a 9x13 pan and spread evenly. Put the vanilla ice cream on top of the Rice Krispie layer. Spread ice cream evenly. (You may want to let the vanilla ice cream sit out for about 10 minutes so it is easier to work with.)  Put remainder of Rice Krispie mixture on top of ice cream. Cover well and freeze.

Topping:
Make up Danish Dessert as directed on package for fruit sauce except substitute some of the water with the juice from the thawed berries. Allow the topping to cool then add the thawed raspberries and mix well. Add this topping to pieces of dessert just before serving. (Don't freeze the topping because it gels and crystallizes.)

Recipe Source:  My Momma-in-Law

*If you can't find Danish Dessert, use this recipe to create Homemade Raspberry Topping.

Homemade Raspberry Topping
3 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 (3 oz.) package raspberry flavored gelatin
3 Tbsp. cornstarch

In medium saucepan, bring water and sugar to a boil.  Mix jello with cornstarch and gradually add to boiling mixture.  Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly for 5 minutes or until mixture is clear and thickened slightly.  Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.  Cool completely and mix in raspberries.  (Do not use any of the reserved juice in this recipe.) 

Linked to:
This Week's Cravings hosted by From My Tiny Kitchen
Sweets for a Saturday #4 hosted by Sweet as Sugar Cookies
Sweet Tooth Friday hosted by Alli 'n Son
Potluck Sunday hosted by Mommy's Kitchen

3's Jello

I first encountered this dish at a huge Thanksgiving dinner with friends in Kentucky.  I remember thinking, "What's that pink fluffy stuff?"  Then as I tasted it, my mind shouted, "Only one of the best things you've ever tasted!!!"  Is it weird to think that about jello?  This jello is fabulous!  It makes it appearance at all the best occasions like Christmas, Valentines, Thanksgiving, and just when we have that cravin'!
1 - 3 oz. box raspberry jello (NOT instant)
1 - 3 oz. box vanilla cook and serve pudding
1 - 3 oz. box tapioca cook and serve pudding
1 - 12 oz. bag frozen raspberries
1 - 8 oz. tub of cool whip

Add the boxes of pudding and jello to 3 cups of water.  Boil for three minutes and let cool (in pan, not in fridge) for 3 hours.  Thaw and drain the berries.  Put the pudding mixture in a large bowl.  Mix cool whip and berries into the pudding mixture. You can use a hand mixer or just do it by hand. Enjoy!

Recipe Source:  Our fabulous friend, Sherstine Mortensen