Friday, May 20, 2011

Roasted Strawberries-and-Cream Cheesecake




From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Left to my own devices this cake never would have happened, but the Silver Fox made a request that I couldn't refuse. He loves cheesecake and was taken with the notion of one made with roasted strawberries. He had seen the cake on Martha Stewart's site and ask me to try it. He rarely makes such specific requests and I felt duty bound to give it a try. I must also admit to some curiosity about the combination of roasted strawberries with cream cheese, and that, coupled with this picture from her site, completely hooked me. So? Let me begin by saying this is a nice cake, and those of you who enjoy cheesecake should consider giving it a try. The deeper flavor of the roasted strawberries certainly makes the cake interesting and worth a one-shot, if nothing more. The cake is not without problems. Fortunately, they can be overcome with a little patience and some common sense. My cake needed a full 70 minutes of baking to barely set and, by that time, the surface of the lovely creamy layer had turned a decidedly beige hue. I was still not convinced it was done enough to hold together when released from the pan, so I let in stay in the oven, heat off, until it cooled. Fortunately that, plus a full 24 hours in the refrigerator, did the trick. Strawberries-and-beige lacks the panache of strawberries-and-cream, so I put a glaze on the top of my finished cake to hide a less than stellar color. If I make this again, I'll opt for a sour cream topping rather than the glaze, which I think, in retrospect, provides too much contrast with the muddy pink of the strawberry layer . While the cake gains flavor the longer it sits, I would also add some strawberry extract to boost its taste next time around. That of course begs the question. Would I make the cake again? Probably not. I'm glad I tried it, but there are lots of cheesecakes out there that I prefer. Here's the recipe for those of you I haven't scared away.

Roasted Strawberries-and-Cream Cheesecake...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, courtesy of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

Ingredients:

1 pound strawberries, hulled
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 cup finely ground graham crackers (about 4 sheets)
1 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 pound plus 13 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped and reserved
8 ounces mascarpone cheese, room temperature

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place strawberries in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with corn syrup, and toss gently to coat. Bake until syrup thickens and strawberries turn deep red and shrink slightly, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Transfer strawberries and syrup to a medium bowl, and mash with a potato masher. Let cool completely.
2) Raise oven temperature to 350 degrees. Stir together graham cracker crumbs, 3 tablespoons sugar, and the melted butter in a small bowl. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan to make an even layer. Bake until crust is firm to the touch and has just darkened, about 10 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack, and let crust cool completely.
3) Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Put cream cheese into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium-low speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl, then gradually add remaining cup sugar and the salt. Scrape down sides of bowl; add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down sides of bowl, and mix in vanilla bean seeds and mascarpone until very creamy and no lumps remain, about 3 minutes. (Reserve vanilla bean for another use.)
4) Transfer 5 cups cream cheese mixture to bowl with mashed strawberries; stir to combine. Pour strawberry-cream cheese mixture on top of crust; smooth with an offset spatula. Carefully spoon dollops of plain cream cheese mixture on top, smoothing with an offset spatula.
5) Wrap the exterior of the springform pan in 2 layers of foil; set in a large roasting pan. Fill roasting pan with boiling water until water reaches halfway up the sides of the springform pan. Bake cheesecake until set, about 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes. Remove springform pan from water bath, and transfer to a wire rack to cool. Refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours (up to overnight). Yield: 8 to 10 servings.






One Year Ago Today: Strawberry Tea Bread















Two Years Ago Today: Circassian Chicken - Cerkez Tavugu







You might also enjoy these recipes:
Lemonade Cheesecake - Pennies on a Platter
Orange Ricotta Cheesecake - Ciao Chow Linda
Nigella's Chocolate Cheesecake - Bless Us O Lord
Apricot Cheesecake Bars - Culinary in the Country
Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cheesescake - Amanda's Cookin'
Strawberry Chocolate Cheesecake - Andrea Meyers
Key Lime Cheesecake - The Culinary Chronicles
White Chocolate Cheesecake - Kitchen Unplugged
Mascarpone Cheesecake and Hiking Fun - Baking Powders
Blackberry Cheesecake - Avocado Pesto


This post is being linked to:
Pink Saturday, sponsored by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.

55 comments :

Caroline B. said...

Hello Mary! This cheesecake is not only beautiful to look at but it must taste absolutely fantastic! I notice the recipe for this summer and there are one or two that could be fabulous birthday with this cake as a centerpiece! Caro

Janie said...

Wow this looks so good! I think I am making it the next time I got to my sisters!

Young Adventures... said...

Hi Mary!
I have recently seen a roasted strawberry recipe and was intrigued. I thought I might serve it alongside a tres leches cake for memorial day. We love cheesecake. Our favorite is a recipe from the Daring bakers that calls for a fair amount of cream in the cheesecake. Making it...very creamy. I may even try the strawberries with this recipe too. Everything you make always comes out beautifully! Thanks so much for sharing your tips and opinion on the finished product. I appreciate it. Have a lovely weekend!

Three-Cookies said...

Roasted strawberry sounds interesting. 4 hours, or 24 hours is a long time to wait, good way to test your patience:). Have a nice weekend

Martha said...

I love baking cheesecakes! I would be happy if I had to bake one at least every other day, but then who would eat it? Thanks for sharing!

Jenna Lee said...

Holy MOLY that looks amazing! I have gotten a lot of dinner ideas from your blog! My tummy and my boyfriend thank you!
Have a cheerful weekend

Rambling Tart said...

One thing I really appreciate about you is your honesty. :-) The "idea" of roasted strawberries sounds heavenly, but I'm glad to know they'd be better used in a different recipe. Awfully sweet of you to try it for your man though. :-)

Diane said...

Goodness that looks soooooo good. Diane

safire said...

Looks DELICIOUS! My boyfriend's favorite dessert is cheesecake so I make it every month or so and it lasts us a long time!

Strawberries are in season too so this is fabulous :)

kitchen flavours said...

Your cheesecake looks beautiful, Mary! Roasted strawberries does sound really intereasting, something different from the usual! Your review is very interesting too! Thank you for the tips and suggestions! Have a lovely weekend!

Kate said...

I've never considered roasting strawberries - I always thought they'd just fall apart! Now I'm contemplating doing a roasted strawberry-and-rhubarb version of this...

Ana Rita Marreiros said...

So beautifull...strawberry is a lovelly fruit for a cheesecake, my favourite!

Kisses,
Rita

That Girl said...

You are a fabulous wife!

Plateful said...

That's a WOW slice of cake! How do you manage to make your food look so mouthwatering..?!! Roasting strawberries with corn syrup sounds like a delicious new idea...wish I could get a bite right now..!

Anonymous said...

This looks so sinful! So decadent. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

Ryan said...

This is a beautiful cheesecake! I am intrigued by the idea of roasted strawberries and I bet the flavor is improved like anything else put through the roasting process. I'm going to have to give this a try! Your photos are gorgeous! P.S. The strawberry tea cake in the "other recommended posts" looks delicious too! I love quick bread recipes.

Unknown said...

Another delicious one!

Joanne said...

I always love reading your super honest reviews of recipes. It makes me trust the ones you love all the more! The roasted strawberries definitely intrigue me!

Clint said...

Roasted Strawberries? I never heard of such.

But if you made it, it HAS to be spectacular.

Sue said...

I've never even heard of roasting strawberries?!? I'd love to try this recipe though, keeping your suggestions/tips in mind. Thanks for the recipe, Mary:) It looks beautiful:)

nanny said...

Such a beautiful cheesecake!! I wish I had a slice......

Lynn said...

Looks great, I'd love to be a taste tester! Happy Weekend Mary:@)

Debbi Does Dinner Healthy said...

I admit, the roasted strawberries sound interesting. I'm not picky about the color so beige wouln't bother me if it tasted good. So many awesome cheesecake recipes! Thanks!

Wendy Irene said...

Roasting Strawberries is a very interesting idea. That is the first I have heard of doing that. It has my creative juices flowing :) Have a wonderful weekend!

nat. said...

Roasted strawberries sounds fantastic to me!
And the cake - it is a real masterpiece! :)

Swathi said...

My hubby is cheese cake fan, but he can't take as he is diabetic. I love this roasted strawberries as the name itself makes delicious.

Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook said...

Your cheesecake is just perfect! Roasted strawberries sound so good, I bet roasting gives it such a nice depth of flavor, I'd have to try this.
Have a great weekend, Mary!

Tinny said...

Splendida torta, bravissima.

Joe Ambrosino said...

You're a trooper Mary. This is definitely too much trouble for me to try even though CW loves cheesecake.I'd rather roast tomatoes.

Nathalia said...

Un corte perfecto. Se ve delicioso!
Un abrazo

Miriam said...

Well, at least the pictures are lovely :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

Nami | Just One Cookbook said...

Wow roasted strawberries?! That's so innovative!!! The cheesecake looks beyond fabulous Mary. I wish I can make or even have that beautiful cake. I love strawberry & cheesecake combo and I can't take my eyes away from your cake. Literally. Have a great weekend!

teresa said...

so delicious, and i love the idea of roasted strawberries, i bet it adds a whole different element, YUM!

Jen_from_NJ said...

Roasted strawberries do sound like a good idea. Everything you make comes out just lovely!

Anonymous said...

Roasting the berries sounds delicious! I made a similar one, but without roasting - am curious to try this next time. Thank you!

Unknown said...

Oooohhh...roasted strawberries, sounds good at least. I've never had good luck with Martha's cheesecakes. I'm not glad to see that you struggled, but it is good to know it's not just me :) Still looks lovely, I would eat it for sure!

Julie said...

Hi, Mary: This is a beautiful cheesecake. I am intrigued by the roasted strawberries! I will be giving this one a try. Funny, I posted a cheesecake recipe today as well.

Elaine said...

It looks delicious, but I am not sure I would have the patience that you have to make it, Mary. Hope you have a good evening!

Melinda said...

This looks really, really delish!

Melinda

Kim said...

I can definitely see why this recipe intrigued the Silver Fox. The idea of roasted strawberries really piques my curiosity. It does look fabulous!

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

You had me at Roasted! Is this not the 2nd recent recipe you've made recently because the Silver Fox was perusing Martha's site? (love that you call him SF)

PS - the word verification I'm being prompted to enter is "bless". Very fitting, given your usual salutation.

Catherine said...

Looks perfect and indulgent. Beautiful. Blessings to you Mary, Catherine xo

Claudia said...

Mary: I've never roasted a strawberry. So I am intrigued right away. And like the mascarpone. I love that it was a request from your husband. My husband seldom does requests - he is happy to eat what I put on the table - but when he does ask - I pay attention. (Or let him cook it.) It does look awfully pretty...

Dawn said...

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog! I appreciated your comment very much. Now that I'm "gradjiated," I'll have to try out some of these recipes. I love cooking, but have been restricted for the past couple of years, as I lived in the residence halls. I'll be following from now on! Thanks again!

Betty @ scrambled henfruit said...

Those roasted strawberries sound intriguing- something I've never tried. Your cheesecake sounds really good though. I've never met a cheesecake I didn't like. :)

The Harried Cook said...

:) I have never heard of a roasted strawberry cheesecake before. Sounds interesting for sure... Loved reading what you thought of the cheesecake! Thanks for sharing :)

Gloria Baker said...

Hi Mary, what nice and yummy cheescake! I love strawberries! have a nice day, gloria

Anonymous said...

I love getting requests from my boyfriend. I cook, he eats :) this cheesecake looks AMAZING and the roasted strawberries make me want to try this soon. xoxo

dr.antony said...

I sit here with my laptop,looking at all your wonderful recipes and the tempting pictures!
I was at the hospital,lunch time!

LV said...

I gained ten pound just looking at this pie. No matter, if I could I would eat a big slice. You are the best cook ever.

My Little Space said...

Mary, what a coincidence! I have also bookmarked the same recipe a month ago. Isn't it gorgeous! Yours looks amazing too. Hope you're having a great weekend.
Blessings, Kristy

Katarina said...

This look so good! Have a great day!

BigFatBaker said...

Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a sweet comment! It's nice to "meet" another blogger! This strawberry cheesecake looks fabulous. I like strawberries, and cheesecake so I would be willing to try it. When I make cheesecake I usually let it sit in the oven for 6-8 hours after it's done cooking then refrigerate it overnight to make sure it has set, so that sounds fairly normal to me lol. I'm intrigued by the roasted strawberries too.. I wonder if that would work just as well with something like cherries or raspberries?

Beverly said...

Happy Pink Saturday, Mary. Thank you for always making Pink Saturday special. I hope to see you this weekend for the birthday celebration.

Roasted strawberries? I've never heard of this, but I know my family would like it. They are cheesecake lovers.

Hazel - Chicken in a Cherry Sauce said...

ROASTED strawberries! Wow! Very intriguing.

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