Showing posts with label cheesecake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cheesecake. Show all posts

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Sunday's Recipe Share -- Grain Free Carrot Cake Cheesecake

For Easter, I made the most delicious Grain Free Carrot Cake Cheesecake!!!  It was inspired by a cheesecake that Rick had when we were at the Cheesecake Factory for Jeff's birthday.

I found several recipes on Pinterest and decided to make a grain free version because yes I'm selfish and I wanted to be able to eat it without having an upset stomach afterward.

Like I said, if you want a version with wheat flour--you can find several on Pinterest.

I really have to remember to start taking pictures of everything I make that I might want to share.  This picture wasn't taken until the next day:



It's a bit time consuming, but totally worth the effort.  It's also almost entirely free of white sugar (just a bit in the cheesecake)  I used honey and coconut sugar instead.

CHEESECAKE
16 ounces cream cheese (at room temp) (I used full fat)
1/4  cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup coconut sugar
1 tablespoon almond flour
3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla


GRAIN FREE CARROT CAKE
1/4 pound carrots, finely grated (It was about 2 cups worth)
2 eggs
1/4 cup plain greek yogurt (I used high fat)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup raw honey
2 cups almond flour
1/2 cup coconut sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 Tablespoons coconut oil, melted

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
4 oz of cream cheese (again full fat)
1/2 cup of full fat coconut milk (cream from top of a refrigerated can)
1/4 cup of coconut sugar (you can add more if you want it sweeter)  You could also add some crushed pineapple or shredded coconut to it if you like that kind of topping.  I would have loved to have added some coconut but I know my mom doesn't like it so...

Directions 

To make cheesecake, 

In large bowl of electric mixer, beat together cream cheese and sugars until smooth. 
Beat in flour, eggs (1 at a time) and vanilla until smooth. It will not be very thick.  Set aside. 


To make carrot cake

In a large bowl beat the eggs with yogurt, oil, vanilla and honey.
In another bowl combine flour, coconut sugar, baking powder,salt,  pumpkin spice and cinnamon. Add to the egg mixture and mix well. Stir in carrots.

Spread 1 1/2 cups carrot cake batter over bottom of greased 9-or 9 1/2-inch springform pan (I used 10). 
Drop large spoonfuls of cream cheese batter over carrot cake batter; top with large spoonfuls of remaining carrot cake batter. 
Repeat with remaining cream cheese batter, spreading evenly with a knife. 
Do not marble with a knife. 

Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 50-65 or until center is set but not real firm (like you would a plain cheesecake) (I used a convention bake setting--so it was 325 degrees)  If it cracks--you baked it too long--good thing there;or frosting!


Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate. 

To make frosting

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.  Whip with a mixer until light and fluffy.  Put a layer just on the top of the cake--you may or may not have extra.


Sunday, November 10, 2013

Sunday's Recipe Share -- Baileys (Kahlua) Cheesecake Bites

Had a super busy weekend--too busy to post yesterday.  I'll post a bonus stretch at the end.

Today I'm going to share an incredibly yummy recipe that I made for dessert last week for my mom's birthday party.  I did get a small cake surrounded by cupcakes, but since I'm not eating grains, I decided to make this so I could indulge in dessert as well!

It is based on this recipe from Things My Belly Likes, but I changed it from Bailey's Cheesecake Bites to Kahlua Cheesecake Bites (that was the only substitution I made to the recipe posted) and added a layer of chocolate ganache to the top.  Oh my goodness, were they good!!!  They are completely grain free.  Click on the link below for the cheesecake recipe.


For the chocolate ganache, I warmed up a 1/2 cup of canned coconut milk until it started to bubble--you could sub with any other type of milk you'd like.  In a glass bowl I had 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips and a tablespoon of butter.  I poured the warm milk over the chocolate and butter and whisked until smooth.  I then refrigerated this for about 20 minutes so that it would thicken up a bit, but still be pourable.  I poured this over the top of the cooled cheesecake (I made the cheesecake the day before) and smoothed it out.  I then put it back in the fridge to set--it's beautifully smooth and glossy. Another option is to put the ganache into a pastry bag and then leave it in the fridge a bit longer until it's thick enough to pipe onto the cake in patterns--a criss-cross diamond grid, stars or swirls, whatever you like.

Here's what mine looked like:


Mine did crack as it cooled, but with the ganache topping, you couldn't tell.  I think I'm going to make Rumchata bites next!  I have some eggnog and pumpkin flavored cream liquors as well--I think they'll make for some tasty experiments as well!

Here's the bonus stretch video to make up for yesterday:  Stretches for Low Back and Sciatica Pain