sugared cranberry cheesecake

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

only TWO more sleeps.

i am going to keep this one short because the house is full of family & there is no time to be spent on the computer! we have so many christmas movies to catch up on as we rock the matching santa pajama bottoms. now as you know, every single year i make a cheesecake for christmas day. it is an annual thing because it is not often that a celebration calls for a fancy ass cheesecake! three years ago i made a red velvet cheesecake, two years ago i made an apple pie cheesecake, last year i made this salted caramel cheesecake & this year THIS sugared cranberry cheesecake! something about sugared cranberries just look so pretty & festive. now i am already thinking about next year's... gingerbread, egg nog, chai?!?! can it be christmas every month?

hope everyone has an amazing weekend & gets spoiled by santa! xo

ingredients

for the sugared cranberries

  • 1/2 cup + 1 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3 cups fresh cranberries (not frozen)

for the graham crust

  • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 pinch of salt

for the filling

  • 4 packages of full fat plain cream cheese (8 oz each)
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons flour
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

directions

for the sugared cranberries

  • in a sauce pot add the 1/2 cup sugar & water. heat until the sugar dissolves.
  • stir in the cranberries, toss to coat & remove from heat.
  • strain & toss in the remaining white sugar.
  • set aside until you are ready to decorate the cheesecake.

for the graham cracker crust

  • in a large mixing bowl toss graham cracker crumbs, sugar, butter & salt.
  • firmly press into a 9-inch spring form pan with a 1-inch crust.
  • set aside while you prepare the filling.

for the filling

  • preheat oven to 475 degrees. in a mixer with the paddle attachment beat sugar, cream cheese & flour.
  • add the eggs/egg yolks one at a time. scrape the bowl after every addition to ensure no clumps!
  • once mixture is silky smooth add the vanilla, cinnamon & nutmeg. pour into the crust lined spring form pan.
  • bake at 475 degrees for 15 minutes, or until the top puffs. if the top begins to brown too quickly, lower the temperature.
  • once the top has puffed, lower the temperature to 250 degrees & bake for an additional 45 minutes or until the cake appears firm. turn off the oven & let the cake sit for 15 minutes. remove from oven & let cool to room temperature before refrigerating over night.
  • top with sugared cranberries.

mini matcha swirl cheesecakes

 

happy gilmore girl release day!!!! errr.. black friday. i hope you all had an amazing thanksgiving & ate your weight in turkey! instead of being surrounded by crowds & going black friday shopping this year, i am going to do the complete opposite. i plan to stay in, bake some holiday cookies & binge watch the whole season of the new girlmore girl's revival. i woke up early & already watched the first episode, but i don't want to spoil it!

if you plan to do the same as me today, here is the perfect little bite size treats to whip up: mini matcha swirl cheesecakes. i usually only make cheesecake during the holiday's & this year i wanted to make something mini. if you couldn't tell by now, i love making mini versions of things! the filling is half vanilla cheesecake & half matcha cheesecake baked onto a gingersnap crust. as always, i used aiya matcha's cooking grade matcha powder to ensure the matcha flavour doesn't get lost with all the other ingredients. a little cheesecake making tip for you, ALWAYS make sure the cheesecake & the eggs are at room temperature or you will end up with chunks of cream cheese. i always use philadelphia's full fat cream cheese because i never have any luck with other brands. lastly please, PLEASE do not buy the lower fat cream cheese available, they never turn out! i have tried one too many times. anyways, have a great long weekend:)

ingredients

for the gingersnap crust

  • 1.5 cups gingersnap crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

for the swirled filling

directions

for the gingersnap crust

  • in a mixing bowl add the gingersnap crumbs, sugar, vanilla & butter. stir until a wet sandy mixture is formed.
  • press the crust into twelve lined cupcake tins & bake for five minutes while you prepare the filling.

for the swirled filling

  • in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment cream the cream cheese & sugar until smooth.
  • add in the eggs one at a time, scrapping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. finished off with vanilla extract.
  • divide batter into two equal portions. leave one as is & add the matcha powder to the other one.
  • add one scoop of each mixture per cupcake tin & swirl together with a knife.
  • bake for 20 minutes & let cool completely before serving.
  • top with whipped cream if desired.

this post was created in partnership with aiya matcha! you can find the cooking grade matcha powder that i used here. thank you for supporting the brands that keep me doing what i love! xo

salted caramel apple crisp

 

who is ready for another apple recipe?! of course this one has to have some salted caramel sauce incorporated too. when i was out for a walk in my new neighbourhood this past weekend, i discovered just down the street from me is ANOTHER apple orchard (um, i love this place). i don't know how i didn't discover that sooner, this one was beyond cute. i knew it was time to purchase another bushel full & get baking.

i don't really think it is possible to ever get sick of apple desserts. there are too many! one of my favourites growing up was apple crisp & this one my mom said is the best apple crisp i have ever made. i think that is saying a LOT. instead of just finishing it off with salted caramel i even tossed the apples in salted caramel sauce before baking. you can always use store bought, but i highly reccomend making it yourself! nothing will come close to this flavour & i even made a simple video on NOM last month on how to make it. hope you have a lovely weekend & who knows what i will discover next in this quaint little hood of mine:)

ingredients

for the salted caramel

  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional)

for the filling

  • 3 lbs baking apples, peeled + cored + thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/4 cup salted caramel
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

for the topping

  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold & cubed
  • salted caramel, for topping
  • whipped cream, for topping

directions

for the salted caramel

  • in a saucepan add the sugar and water. bring the pan to a boil while wiping down the crystals that form on the sides of the pan using a pastry brush (do not stir, i repeat, do NOT stir).
  • continue to boil until the mixture turns to a deep amber colour, approximately 5 minutes. be sure not to burn the caramel! it will go from a deep amber to burnt sugar VERY quickly.
  • remove from heat and immediately whisk in the butter, cream, salt & vanilla.
  • cool to room temperature before using in recipe. can be made in advance!

for the filling

  • preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • in a large mixing bowl toss the apples, sugar, caramel, cornstarch, vanilla & lemon juice.
  • add to baking dish & set aside while you prepare your topping.

for the topping

  • in a large mixing bowl whisk the oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt & walnuts.
  • add in the cubed butter & work into the mixture until pea sized crumbs are formed.
  • evenly disperse over the apples & bake for one hour.
  • remove from oven & drizzle with additional salted caramel.
  • serve with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

like what you see? get it here. copper pan | ramekin | linen | porcelain paper plate