Gingerbread Cheesecake Recipe With Shortbread Crust | Holiday Dessert (2024)

FAQs

Why is my no-bake cheesecake sloppy? ›

It's the fat content in the cream cheese and the heavy cream that gives no-bake cheese cake its creamy texture. If your cheese cake doesn't taste creamy, or if it's gone runny despite using fridge-cold ingredients, the most likely reason is that you used low fat ingredients.

Always prebake your crust before filling it with the cheesecake filling. Even if the recipe doesn't call for baking the crust first, place it in the oven for about 10 minutes. This will keep it perfectly crispy and ready for a delicious filling.

Another common mistake is not pre-baking the crust. Before you add your batter, it's important that your crust has a short 8-10 minute visit in the oven at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). This sets and seals the crust to prepare it for the wet batter. Make sure it's completely cooled before adding the batter.

Place the crust in the oven (be careful not to tear the foil). Bake until the crust is fragrant and just starting to brown around the edges, 8 to 10 minutes. Let the crust cool on a cooling rack while you prepare the filling.

Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 6-8 hours, but overnight is better. For a sturdy no-bake cheesecake with beautifully neat slices, refrigerate for at least 12 hours. This makes for a great make-ahead dessert!

To thicken a no-bake cheesecake, refrigerate it for an extended period or consider adding dissolved gelatin, more cream cheese, or Greek yogurt to the mixture before chilling. Now, when we venture into the territory of no-bake cheesecakes, the plot thickens.

FAQ: Does Graham Cracker Crust Need to Be Baked? Typically, yes. After shaping into your pan, this crust should be baked, and the amount of time really depends on the recipe you're using, and whether it's a baked or a no-bake filling.

Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Spray the bottom and sides of the pan with baking spray and set aside. PREPARE CRUST: Preheat oven to 325-degrees. In a medium sized bowl, mix together the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar and salt.

Go with speculoos or crisp ginger snaps for a spicy kick that works well with cheesecake or cream pies, vanilla wafers or animal crackers if you want something more subtle, or chocolate wafers or even Oreo cookies for something dark and chocolate-y.

How do you know when cheesecake crust is done? ›

Most folks test cheesecake doneness by giving it a little shake or tap. The top should be mostly set with a little jiggle right in the center. I prefer to use an instant read digital thermometer and take the cheesecake's temp right in the center. You'll want the cheesecake to be right at 145°F.

Prevent Soggy Crust

Wrapping the springform pan in foil is known to help, but take it a step further and use plastic wrap (which will not melt!) or slow cooker liner bags as an additional seal.

Liquid can also come out of a cheesecake if it is overbaked as the proteins in the cream cheese mixture start to tighten too much and squeeze out the water. The cheesecake should still be quite jiggly when it comes out of the oven, even though it will have risen and formed a crust on the surface.

Cheesecake can split or curdle for a few reasons – often it's down to the temperature of ingredients. When making cheesecakes (particularly no-bake cheesecakes) the soft cream cheese MUST be full fat, but it should also be at room temperature. However, the double cream should still be cold.

You can either pour the mixture into a pot at a low temperature or put it in a bowl over warm water. Stir continuously until all the cream cheese lumps are melted, and the mixture is completely smooth. It is also a good method to fix cheesecake batters that are curdled or split.

One of the common reasons why your cheesecake doesn't set is because of the incorrect oven temperature. Do you preheat your oven correctly before baking your cake? If not, this can lead to a lousy outcome. It is essential to ensure that your oven is set to the right temperature before placing your cheesecake.