Maggiano's New York Style Cheesecake

By AnneS

Creamy, smooth and delicious! This cheesecake recipe is a keeper.

Ingredients

• CRUST:
• 12 ladyfingers (Savoiardi, available at Italian markets) OR 7 graham crackers
• 1/2 stick (4-tablespoons) butter, melted
• FILLING:
• 3 (8-ounce each) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup ricotta cheese (Polly-O brand preferred)
• 2 cups Dairy Brand sour cream
• 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs (should measure 1/2 cup)

Details

Preparation time 15mins
Cooking time 75mins
Adapted from keyingredient.com

Preparation

Step 1

Crust:

In a food processor, combine broken up ladyfingers with butter and process until mixture is in fine crumbs. Press onto bottom only of a 9-inch springform pan (3 inches high). Wrap a double thickness of foil around bottom and all the way up sides of outside of the pan.
Filling:

In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, ricotta cheese, sour cream, vanilla and lemon juice about 6 to 7 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Beat in sugar and continue beating 3 to 4 minutes, until very smooth. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour mixture into crust-lined pan.

Bake: Put springform pan into a larger baking pan and carefully add hot water to come 1/3 way up side of springform pan (best to do this on oven rack).

Bake in preheated 250°F oven 4 to 4 1/2 hours, or until set and knife inserted near center comes out clean. (Top should be pale golden, if at all).

Remove springform pan from larger baking pan and cool to room temperature. While cake is still warm, run tip of a sharp knife gently around sides to loosen cake from pan. Refrigerate until cold, at least 3 hours or longer.

Serve:

Carefully remove springform side of pan. Cut cheesecake into slices with a sharp knife dipped into hot water and wiped dry. Serve cold with whipped cream and fresh strawberries and strawberry sauce, if desired.