Lemon Meringue Cheesecake

Lemon Meringue Cheesecake

1 x 200g packet of coconut biscuits (Tennis biscuits)
80g butter, melted
800g cream cheese
250g crème fraîche
180g caster sugar
40g flour
4 eggs
grated rind of 3 lemons
100ml lemon juice
10ml vanilla
Meringue:
4 egg whites
70g sugar
a pinch of salt

Preheat your oven to 140℃ and spray a 22cm loose-bottom cake tin with cooking spray.
Break the biscuits into the bowl of a food processor and blitz to crumbs.
Drizzle in the melted butter with the engine running. The mixture should resemble wet sand.
Spoon the biscuit mixture into the prepared cake tin, spread it out evenly and press it down on the bottom with the back of a spoon. Set aside.
Add the cream cheese, crème fraîche, caster sugar, flour, eggs, lemon rind, lemon juice and vanilla to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
Mix on medium speed until you have a very smooth mixture. Set aside.
Wrap the outside of the prepared cake tin with aluminium foil, place the tin in a roasting tin and pour 2-3cm water into the roasting tin.
Place in the oven and bake for 1,5-2 hours, until set like wobbly jelly.
Turn off the oven, open the door and allow the cake to cool to room temperature.
Refrigerate the cheesecake in the baking tin for 3-4 hours.

Meringue:
Add the egg whites, sugar and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (without the bottom touching the water).
Whisk the mixture by hand until the sugar has dissolved and it burns your finger when you touch it.
Transfer the bowl to the mixer and whisk at the highest speed until firm, glossy peaks form.
Spoon or pipe the meringue onto the cheesecake and flame with a blowtorch before serving.

Quick-Bake Cheesecake

Quick-Bake Cheesecake

This is a small cheesecake that serves about 8 people with a taste-size portion which makes it ideal to serve with tea. It goes against cheesecake rules as it is baked in quite a hot oven and not in a baine Marie, has no eggs in it and is sweetened with condensed milk.

200g digestive biscuits
80g butter, melted
250g cream cheese, room temperature
1 x 385g can of condensed milk
125ml lemon juice
fresh fruit to serve

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and line a 25cm x 11cm x 7cm loaf tin with baking paper.
Add the digestive biscuits and butter to the bowl of a food processor and process until you have a texture that resembles wet sand.
Line the baking tin with the mixture, covering the bottom and sides evenly. Put aside.
Add the cream cheese and condensed milk to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
Set the mixer on high speed and mix until the cream cheese is smooth – scrape the bowl down once or twice.
Now set the mixer on a low speed and drizzle in the lemon juice. Mix until fully incorporated and you have a smooth mixture.
Scrape the mixture into the prepared baking tin and bake for 30 minutes.
Turn off the oven and leave the cake inside until it has cooled completely.
Place the cheesecake on a serving dish and arrange fresh fruit on top before serving.

Chocolate-Brownie Cheesecake

Chocolate-Brownie Cheesecake

The best of two worlds!! A delicious chocolatey brownie base with a velvet baked cheesecake topping!

For the brownie base:
115g butter
115g dark chocolate, chopped
200g caster sugar
2 eggs
50ml milk
115g flour

For the cheesecake topping:
500g cream cheese, room temperature
125g caster sugar
3 eggs
5ml vanilla
125ml Greek yoghurt

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and grease a 22cm loose-bottom cake tin.
Add the butter and chopped chocolate to a heatproof mixing bowl and place it over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Stir every now and then until melted.
Remove the bowl from the head and add the sugar. Whisk until the ingredients are amalgamated.
Add the eggs and milk and whisk to mix.
Add the flour and stir through until the mixture is just blended.
Scrape the mixture into the prepared cake tin and even it out with a spatula.
Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes.
Remove and set aside.
Lower the oven temperature to 160℃.
Add the cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
Beat together on high speed until you have a smooth mixture. Scrape the bowl down once or twice in between mixing.
Remove the bowl from the mixer and add the yoghurt. Stir the yoghurt through the cheesecake mixture.
Pour the mixture onto the baked brownie base.
Place in the oven and bake for 55 minutes.

Remove the cake from the oven and place it on a cooling rack to cool completely.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours, but preferably overnight.
Run a knife around the edge of the cake before removing the sides of the cake tin.
Cut into slices and drizzle with melted chocolate to serve.