Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Someone Make This For Me!

I need this! Can you imagine how delicious this is?
Make it. Then invite me over!

Christmas Cheesecake with English Toffee Filling
Makes 12 servings

Prepare this cake a day ahead.


 
 
Crust:
  • 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 5 ounces graham crackers)
  • 1/2 cup toasted almonds, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup English toffee bits (such as Skor)
  • 2 tablespoons (packed) dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Filling:
  • 4 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 8 ounces chocolate-covered English toffee (such as Skor or Heath bars), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Topping:
  • 1 16-ounce container sour cream
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Assorted candies (such as gumdrops and holiday M&M’s)

Preparation

For crust:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix first 5 ingredients in medium bowl. Add butter; stir until moist clumps form. Press mixture over bottom and 1 inch up sides of 10-inch-diameter springform pan. Bake crust until just set, about 5 minutes. Set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
For filling:
Beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl until blended. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, blending well after each addition. Beat in both extracts. Pour half of mixture into prepared crust; sprinkle with toffee pieces. Pour remaining mixture over. Bake until edges are puffed but center is barely set, about 55 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare topping:
Mix sour cream, sugar and vanilla in medium bowl until smooth. Pour topping over hot cheesecake. Bake cake until topping is just set, about 5 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool 10 minutes. Run knife between cake and pan sides. Chill cake uncovered overnight.
Remove pan sides and place cake on platter. Garnish top with candies.

 

Monday, November 24, 2014

Ahhhhhh...sunshine!

Happy to be decompressing in Playa del Carmen at Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Esmeralda after the crazy-busiest two months on record!
I'm so excited to have this time to do nothing except the five S's: sun, spa, sightsee, shop...and one more. I'll let you guess what that one is...