If I feel up to it, tomorrow I’ll bake my first ever cheesecake.
When my husband and I went shopping last weekend we got all the ingredients that I’d need to make at least two pumpkin cheese cakes. Of course … I spent Sunday and Monday busily baking cookies and then I had doctors appointments the rest of the week so there’s been no more baking since then.
Since this is the first cheesecake that I’m attempting to make I thought I’d make one for my husband and I to try and if that works out, I’ll make a second one closer to Christmas to take to my in-laws for Christmas day.
Hey we can freeze half of the first one if we want to – otherwise between the cookies and the cheesecake I’m pretty sure I’ll be looking for diet pills for women in the new year! You should see the top of my friend where I have bags and bags of all the cookies I’ve made stored. I’m expecting a cookie avalanche any day now.
The reason why I said I might bake the cheesecake tomorrow if I feel up to it is because I started taking more of my migraine medication on Thursday. Remember that anticonvulsant – Topamax that I started taking at the end of August that made me feel so weird for several weeks? Well I’m taking an extra pill each day now and I’m back to having some more weird side effects and I’m extra tired. It’s the tiredness that might keep me from baking tomorrow … but if I don’t bake the cheesecake tomorrow I’ll get around to it on Monday or Tuesday I’m sure.
Have you ever baked a cheesecake? Did it go well? Any tips for me?
As a long time cheesecake maker, I can tell you that there are a million variations on a theme. Does your recipe say to use a water bath? if it does (and it should) and you use a springform pan, be sure to put foil around the bottom of your pan or you may have water seep in
Bake until “just set” meaning it may jiggle just a tiny smidge.. (not a lot) . if it cracks, don’t sweat it. a lot of them do. The water bath is meant to prevent that, but sometimes that does happen.
Good luck!
I just finished making my second cheesecake of the week! I made the first Pumpkin Cheesecake on Sunday evening (Sunday December 19th) and I topped it with a Chocolate Ganache. The one I just took out of the oven is also a Pumpkin cheesecake and it’s earmarked for Christmas day at my in-laws and it has a sour cream topping.
Yes I’m using a springform pan and I’m using a water bath – but I’m not setting the pan in the water bath because I read so much about leaks that I got scared off that … so I guess I’m steaming the cheesecake more than setting it in a water bath. The recipe that I’m using has two tablespoons of flour in it so the starch should help keep the cake from cracking. So far so good. No big cracks and the cheesecakes both look really good.
I haven’t tasted the second one as it’s for Christmas … but we did taste the first one … remember it was my trial run cheesecake … and wow … it’s yummy! It’s light, almost fluffy! Creamy! I’m quite happy with how it turned out.
A common difficulty with baking cheesecakes is its tendency to “crack†when cooled. This is due to the coagulation of the beaten eggs in its batter.
I love cheesecakes but until now i didn’t have the courage to make one. It seems a very sophisticated and elaborated cake. If you want a nice recipe you can try the one Ana Olson uses, she’s great!
Hi Tricia, I love cheesecake. I did it once but couldn’t remember the procedure.. hehe.. hope you’ll have a great time preparing your cheesecake 🙂
Great idea, my husband and i are going to friends for Christmas lunch and you have inspired me to bake a cheesecake. It’s more thoughtful than taking the usual bottle of wine. I have never made one before but i’ll give it a go and let you know how it goes.
Thanks
Cheesecakes are one of the easiest cakes to bake, but you have to use good quality cream cheese! Also, cracking is sometimes a problem, but even if it cracks, the taste will be just as good.
Man I love cheese cake!
I would love know the recipe for your cheese cake. I moved to the Philippines and most places don’t sell cheese cakes and if you do find them they are crazy prices, I guess because they import them.
I tried one recipe I got of the internet and it was a disaster.
I absolutely love home made cheese cake. The hardest part is getting the consistency right. That is always the worst part. There is nothing like runny cheese cake.
Tricia share some pics of your first cheese cake and the recipe too..ill be waiting to see this in your next post
How was the Christmas cheesecake received by your guests/family/whoever? Did they LOVE it? Bet they did!
Being from Australia, I love baking pavlovas. Have you ever heard of them? They are similar to cheesecakes with a few differences. You should try them out…delicious!
I really love to eat cheesecake.. It is my favorite.. Every time we go to our favorite restaurant I really ordered cheesecake for dessert and even in some restaurants that serves cheesecakes I would really order it.. It’s really yummy! I will try to make one soon..
I love cheese cake but hate the fats…..
i remember my 1st cheese cake, it really did not goes well…
but practices makes perfect.
I love to eat cheesecakes but have never made it id love to hear how yours turned out