Never, have I ever, in my whole life made a cheesecake that had as perfect a top as this one had. I guess I learned this time around that I really should read directions because when I do, then things can turn out pretty perfect! Who knew a waterbath would be the perfect solution to a perfect cheesecake top? I guess I did know that, but I just never wanted to do it. This time I did and now I will not ever do it any other way! Dorie certainly knows what she is talking about and I just need to stop being so lazy.
This week's choice for Tuesday's with Dorie was chosen by Anne of Anne Strawberry who picked Tall and Creamy Cheesecake on pages 235-237 of Dorie Greenspan's Baking cookbook. I had decided to make this for my Christmas get together with the kids. Because Grumpy would be eating it I also I decided to make it a white chocolate flavored cake and top it with red raspberry sauce. What I did:Instead of the sugar I melted 2 cups of white chocolate chips (I use Giradelli) with 1/4 cup of heavy cream and after tasting I decided to add about 1/2 cup of sugar to the mix.
For the raspberries I had some from mom and dad's garden in the freezer. They know how much Grumpy loves raspberries so they are generous and give me quite a few raspberries to freeze. I put a quart of the frozen berries in a saucepan and mixed it with about 1/3 cup sugar and brought it to a boil. I then turned the heat off and let the berries sit to cool. These thickened up naturally on their own - something I was happy for because I don't always like the taste of cornstarch!
I served the berry sauce over the white chocolate yumminess! I know I was a very happy camper!
To see the other TWD creations, check out our blogroll and make sure to check out next week's choice made by none other than Dorie Greenspan herself!
That cheesecake is absolutely beautiful - gotta love the raspberries on top! White choc & raspberry is one of my favorite cheesecake flavor combos.
ReplyDeleteYep, I just made my own perfect cheesecake with a waterbath...no cracks...it really works!
ReplyDeleteI adore any kind of cheesecake. Cheesecake Factory is heaven to me...so many choices. The top is beautiful. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteI made individual custard cups last week and debated about using a water bath. I bit the bullet and followed the recipe exactly as written... they turned out great.
Wow that looks perfect, and the raspberry sauce takes it over the top. YUM!
ReplyDeleteYum, this cheesecake with white chocolate and raspberries..... You've got me droowling behind the pc right now!!
ReplyDeleteDoes the waterbath also make the cheesecake stay a bit more moist and creamy?? It looks amazing!!
YUM!!! Sounds and looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteNathan has requested a cheesecake bake-off between my New York cheesecake and Dorie's cheesecake. I showed him your version and I think we are going with white chocolate for the Dorie cheesecake. I can't wait to try it!
Great job, Shelby!!!
Yum white chocolate I never even thought about changeing up the recipe DUH. Yours came out great!!
ReplyDeleteYou of course have the perfect cheesecake. I expect no less from you! I should have tried the water bath. Mine wasn't bad at all though. Thanks for stopping by this morning. Happy new year!
ReplyDeleteWow! That last photo looks phenomenal. I really want some of that! Hope everyone enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteCheesecake is one of my favorite desserts. Yours sounds fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous of everyone with their no crack cheesecake! I wish I didn't forget the waterbath. I agree about the cornstarch, I feel like I can taste it too.. in frosting too from the powdered sugar!
ReplyDeleteUmmm... It look o creamy and Scrumptiously delicious!
ReplyDeleteIt is absolute perfection. What a beautiful sight.
ReplyDeleteWow - what a sight to behold. Raspberries are just so wonderful, and with white chocolate cheesecake? To die for -
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Your cheesecake looks perfect - I love the combination of white chocolate and raspberries.
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious! Love the raspberries on top. (I did canned cherries, but the raspberries look so much better!) Great job. I'm glad you worked out for you. I didn't do the water bath and mine sunk a little, not sure if that is why, I did everything else to a tee. It tasted great though!
ReplyDeleteMmmmm, I am such a huge fan of cheesecake! I grew up on the boxed stuff until my dad learned to make the baked kind and now I love any and all baked cheesecakes! Yours does look beautiful. No cracks at all, great job!
ReplyDeleteDessert doesn't get any better than this. Your cheesecake is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOh! It looks so great!
ReplyDeleteWhite chocolate and raspberries sounds great! Yours looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteLooks fabulous.
ReplyDeletenice work, not a single crack! This looks delicious. Cheesecake is my favorite.. any kind. :)
ReplyDeleteI love cheesecake and yours looks so good! I love mine topped with cherries...my Aunt got me started on this!
ReplyDeleteHow gorgeous and beautiful. White chocolate and raspberries, how heavenly!
ReplyDeleteOh, my favorite dessert. I am now craving a piece of that delicious looking cheesecake!
ReplyDeleteyes indeed that is a perfect top....I know how hard those are to come by.
ReplyDeletelove the fruit topping! killer!
I love the berry topping! I wish I could take a bite!
ReplyDeletelooks great and yummy..makes my mouth water :)
ReplyDeleteYum! I'll be over tomorrow with my fork.
ReplyDeleteI've never noticed the cheesecake in that baking bible of Dorie's. Your photos of them make me want to dig into the book to find the recipe now!
ReplyDeleteYours looks so good! Glad it worked for you; and I love your raspberry sauce, yummy!
ReplyDeleteI love raspberry sauce! And it's great with cheesecake. Yum. I didn't want to thaw out raspberries, so I just added raspberry jam to chocolate sauce for mine.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous and festive - a double threat! I'm sure it was incredibly delicious. It is such a fantastic base recipe and is so fun to see how everyone customized it. The white chocolate addition is awesome!
ReplyDeleteThat looks wonderful! I love the white chocolate addition and the berries look perfect. Happy new year!
ReplyDeleteIt looks so yummy!!
ReplyDeleteAre you home now? Thanks for commenting on my grand-twins. I can't wait.
You had invited me to a cooking website, and I accepted, but lost everything on my old computer. Can you resend me the info?
Thanks.
That is one perfect cheesecake!
ReplyDeleteI think this was the first time I didn't have a crack in the top of mine too! looks beautiful
ReplyDeleteI'm always a sucker for cheesecake. Adding white chocolate just makes it that much more irresistable! It looks great and I'm sure it tastes phonomenal!
ReplyDeletereading these things is like torture for a pregnant woman! Or my husband rather, cuz I make him go get it for me!
ReplyDeleteYours look so great! That is indeed a fantastic top.
The raspberries on top look wonderful. I try to remember that for my next cheesecake.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to sub white chocolate! The raspberries look just dreamy on top.
ReplyDeleteWhite chocolate and raspberries. PERFECT!!!. It looks really good.
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing...I'm loving the raspberries on top!
ReplyDelete-Darius
www.everydaycookin.com
Aw, come on, I can't be the only one left who wants to be lazy! But this cheesecake looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteYours really is perfect! I used the water bath (and had the leak to prove it!) and still had a crack in the top. It was yummy though, and your white chocolate version sounds great.
ReplyDeleteNancy
YUM YUM YUM!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
This looks so fantastic! Love that topping.
ReplyDeleteOooh, (almost) fresh raspberries sound wonderful.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
That looks wonderful!!! I love me some raspberries too!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Shelby!!!
Absolutely delicious-looking cheesecake. It's calling my name and my hips don't want it! ;)
ReplyDeleteHave a Happy New Year!
What a beautiful, perfect cheesecake -- love the flavor combo too! Happy holidays!!
ReplyDeleteLooks wonderful! All the blogs I've read today said that this was the best cheesecake recipe.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Grumpy on the raspberries. If I have to pick a berry its raspberry hands down!
Happy 2009, HoneyB! (& Grumpy)
~ingrid
I need to swallow as I'm suddenly drooling profusely!
ReplyDeleteYour cheesecake looks and sounds fabulous! Love the white chocolate and raspberry combination.
ReplyDeleteit looks gorgeous with those yummy raspberries on top! glad you figured out the cheesecake secret :)
ReplyDeleteGreat looking cheesecake!
ReplyDeleteGreat combination of flavors! I'm sure it was wonderful. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!! I loved this cheesecake too!
ReplyDeleteWhite chocolate and raspberry...great combination! Glad it turned out so nicely for you.
ReplyDeleteWhite chocolate and raspberry - what a heavenly combination!! And I agree, this was a great ceesecake, both appearance and taste-wise.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Your cheesecake looks and sounds fabulous. Who knew the bain marie would solve the "top" problemo. Yee Haw and and and you are Not lazy. Great job. Love your flavors and raspberries out of the garden? yummmm
ReplyDeleteAmyRuth