A Southern Grace: abracadabra? pshaw.

July 12, 2011

abracadabra? pshaw.

Yum

Presto-change-o? Nah.


Streusel is my magic word.

If you've been a reader of this blog for long, you know that I was never the biggest fan of cheesecake. Somewhere along the line, things started to change, and now I'm excited to bring you the most impressive, most tasty, most complex cheesecake I've ever encountered.


Folks, we're talking layers involving oatmeal cookie streusel, creamy cheesecake, cinnamon chips, and caramel--it doesn't get much better than that. I can definitely appreciate so many flavors and textures going on in one bite. My only complaint would be that because of that crumble, the entire cake held together poorly, but let's be honest--it's all going to the same place anyway. Structure is the least of my concerns when streusel is involved.

Hocus pocus. Alakazam. Voila.

Cinnamon Streusel Cheesecake
(based on a recipe by Marcy Goldman)
Crust:
1 1/2 cups finely ground cinnamon-raisin cookies
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons brown sugar

Filling:
1 1/2 pounds cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup sour cream or whipping cream
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup finely ground cinnamon-raisin cookies
1/3 cup cinnamon chips, optional (but not really)
1/4 cup butterscotch or caramel sundae topping (or a sauce of your own making)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon mixed with 1/4 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
To make the crust, toss cookie crumbs, butter, and brown sugar together in bottom of one 10-inch springform pan (or two 8-inchers). Press the crust into bottom of the pan(s) and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Wrap the pan(s) with three layers of foil to keep out the water from the water bath.
To make the filling, in a mixer bowl, blend the cream cheese, sugar, and sour cream until smooth, scraping bottom and sides of bowl to incorporate everything, about 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla and flour and blend well, 2 to 3 minutes.
Spoon one-third of the filling into the prepared pan and top with half each of the ground cookies and cinnamon chips. Drizzle on some butterscotch topping and dust on some cinnamon sugar. Cover with another third of the cream cheese filling and then dust on more cookies, more cinnamon chips, and more cinnamon sugar.
Add the last bit of filling and finish the top of the cake with cookie crumbs, cinnamon chips, and a nice dusting of cinnamon sugar. You want to end up with a streusel-ized topping.
Place the pan in a water bath such that the water comes about halfway up the sides of the pan(s) and bake 65 to 75 minutes (for a 10-inch pan; 55-65 minutes for 8-inchers). Turn off the oven and let the cake cool in the oven for 1 hour before removing to fridge. Chill cheesecake at least 6 hours or overnight before serving.

58 comments:

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Those are two of my favorite things! Scrumptious!

Cheers,

Rosa

Angie's Recipes said...

Anything with streusel tastes extra yummy!

pam said...

Can streusel be my magic word too?!

The Blonde Duck said...

Sweet wounded wuffles.

A Plum By Any Other Name said...

Wait! Oatmeal cookie + streusel + cheesecake + caramel = cinnamon streusel cheesecake. And I thought E=MC2 was impressive ...

Robin said...

Oh My! I am not a big cheesecake fan either but if you add that streusel and caramel and cinnamon chips. I'll eat it. Probably two pieces at that! Great one Grace!

Faith said...

Oh wow, am I in awe over this one! All the different components in this sound incredible -- love that oatmeal cookie streusel!

Lucie said...

Ahhh--glad that the doors of cheesecake paradise are finally opening up for you! This sounds great!

vanillasugarblog said...

is that how you spell alakazam? I always wondered how while trying to fall asleep lol
sorry.
I'm a HUGE cheesecake fan. Bring it on.

foodhoe said...

sounds delicious, and no... you can't get any better than that!

TKW said...

I'm not a cheesecake fan either, but I AM a fan of streusel.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

It is definitely magic!!!

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

Oh lordie -- you've definitely bewitched me with your cinnamon streusel in this cheesecake =D

The Church Cook said...

I will have a piece, please....

best food processor said...

These pictures are making my mouth water! I bake gluten free at home, and I would bet that a nice GF snickerdoodle would be good here for the crust.

Going to have to make this, as it's much less satisfying as a static picture on my computer screen. Bookmarking this now. :)

Erika K

best food processor

Mel said...

Oh my heavens - this looks divine! I've loved cheesecake since birth and am adding this one to my to-make-immediately list!

Gloria Baker said...

WOW!! dear Grace I love streusel (is amazing) and love cheesecake so this look perfect and delicious!!!I bookmarked!! huggs, gloria

Juliana said...

Streusel in a cheesecake? It sure looks very tempting, so creamy and so tasty.
Hope you are having a great week Grace :-)

Barbara said...

I'm smiling 'cause I eat the streusel right off the top of anything it comes on! Or in.
And I'm not even the cinnamon freak you are.
I'm used to it on coffeecake, but on cheesecake too? Delish.
(Licking my chops here.)

Lisa-Marie said...

Grace, I love your blog post names!

I ALSO LOVE STREUSEL. :)

Raquel @ Erecipe said...

the texture looks so moist, creamy, I can't describe it in one word...ah It looks superb... I love anything with that amazing streusel texture.

Rosita Vargas said...

We loved Grace Chileans say "abracadabra goat horn" and is for something important like your mostar streussel beautiful, looks beautiful, wonderful, hugs

Sweet Treats 'n Good Eats said...

Cheesecake...one of my top 3 faves. Except I can't eat it now because of the dairy and my friggin' allergies. ARGH!!! (In my Charlie Brown voice) I might have to try this one day. I mean, stuffy noses and congestion can't last forever, right? Looks good.

Betty @ scrambled henfruit said...

All of those layers look really delicious! I bet I can make it disappear without even using a magic word! :)

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Ooh I'm all for this sort of cross breeding! I have to love cheesecake and streusel and this would warm my cockles very nicely!

Von said...

I love cheesecake too, though probably not quite as much as you :P This cheesecake sounds so good!! I love the sound of each of the components- and I can imagine how great they must taste together!! :D

lisa is cooking said...

I don't think I've met a cheesecake I didn't like, but adding a streusel topping and butterscotch would make it even harder to dislike. Can I have this for breakfast?

kat said...

Once again I bow to your kitchen genius!

Julie M. said...

Could you hocus pocus a little of that deliciousness to my end of the table please? That looks like something I could most certainly get into.

tamilyn said...

I only tried cheesecake for the first time about 10 years ago. It was heavenly. Now I'm hearing the angels sing :)

Cookie baker Lynn said...

Holy cow, that sounds amazing! Would you share a piece, pretty please??? I don't dare make it myself; I'd eat the whole thing!

peachkins said...

I am crazy about cheesecake and with streusel? I bet I would become addicted to this..

Maria said...

Anything with streusel is my friend:)

Marjie said...

I love my cheesecake straight up. I love coffee cake with streusel. I might have to rethink, and consider combining the two.

Half Baked said...

I've never been a big fan of cheesecake, but cheesecake with streusel...I could get into that!

Carolyn Jung said...

OMG, as if cheesecake weren't decadent enough, you add lovely, crunchy, buttery bits of streusel? You are such a devil -- but in the very best of ways. ;)

Chef Fresco said...

This sounds like a splendid combo. And to answer you question about the sloppy joe's yes the song always pops in my head! Sloppy-joes, slop, sloppy joes... I know how you kids like em extra sloppy!! Hahahaha. Love that flick!

RecipeGirl said...

Cinnamon streusel on CHEESECAKE? What a brilliant idea!

MaryBeth said...

Looks Fabulous Grace....I want some

sweetlife said...

streusel with cheesecake oh heaven, glorious, tempting...yummy!

Maria said...

I think streusel can make anything so tasty, but this cake sounds just perfect!

shaz said...

Oh my! This cheesecake does indeed sound very magical. Streusel = baking fairy dust :)

Neil Butterfield said...

This sounds absolutely stunning. I must get my wife to make some.

Jaime said...

you had me at "streusel" :)

Dana said...

Streusel is fantastic, no ifs ands or buts. I never would have thought to use it with cheesecake! Genius!

Pistachio and Rose said...

I love love love cheesecake and yours looks gorgeous!

Erica said...

That cheesecake looks delicious and the crust sounds amazing!

Lori said...

Looks and sounds absolutely delicious! You had me at layers of oatmeal cookie streusel...

Alicia Foodycat said...

I knew cheesecake would get you in the end. Even if it took cinnamon to do it!

oneordinaryday said...

You're brilliant. Coffee cake meets cheesecake. Love it.

The Blonde Duck said...

Have a magical Monday!

Umm Mymoonah said...

Oh My! The pictures in your blog... just feel like grabbing them out of the screen, amazing. Without any second thoughts following your blog straight away :)

Pam said...

This one is SCREAMING my name... wish I had a slice!

Leah Wolff-Pellingra said...

I am drooling. My family makes a ricotta/german cheesecake with wine soaked currants. Time to switch up the crust, curl up, take a bite and purrrrrr.

Jennifer said...

Wow Missy that is wayyyy too complicated for me, but it looks sexy and tasty!

Velva said...

What can I say? Simply stunning. Love it.

Cheers.
Velva

Joanne said...

Streusel is certainly one of my most favorite things on earth. And so is cheesecake. My thighs are in for some serious trouble.

Anonymous said...

Oatmeal cookie + cheesecake + cinnamon chips + caramel? I think I love you.