It’s that time of the year again when my parenting skills are tested — time to make a Halloween treat for the kids, Aryanna, Dylan and Tom. Haha!
Aryanna is the Epperson’s resident baker
Since Aryanna is the baker in the family, I asked her for an easy and yummy dessert for Halloween. Here’s what she suggested:
Jack-O-Lantern Cheesecake
Ingredients:
2 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened (I prefer using Philadelphia Cream Cheese)
1/2 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean or 1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
red and yellow or orange food coloring
1 ready-made Oreo Pie Crust
Tip: If you can’t find Oreo Pie crusts (bought mine at Rustan’s grocery), you can use this recipe, click here.
For garnish: Toblerone Dark Chocolate with Honey and Almonds
Easy peasy:
Step 1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
Step 2: Beat cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and vanilla with mixer until well blended.
Don’t stress: If you don’t have a mixer, use a wire whisk.
Step 3: Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust. Add the food coloring.
Tip: Add 2-3 drops of red and yellow food coloring into the mix. Add more depending on how intense you want the orange color. Don’t overdo it as the food coloring may leave a funky taste in your cheesecake.
Warning: Avoid over-beating the batter as it would incorporate additional air and tends to cause cracking on the surface of the cheesecake.
Step 4: Pour the batter into the molded or ready-made Oreo pie crust
Tip: Shake the pan gently to make sure the batter is evenly distributed
Tip: Cook the cheesecake in a water bath
Tom “shows” us how to make a water bath. LOL
Q. What is a water bath?
Answer: Some foods require moisture in the oven, as well as a milder heat source than the direct heat of the oven, such as custards, puddings, and cheesecakes. Although you don’t absolutely have to use a water bath, cheesecakes tend to crack without the moist heat and custards can become rubbery if they’re not baked in a water bath. So, what’s a water bath? It’s just a pan of water placed into an oven. The hot water provides a constant, steady heat source and ensures even, slow cooking for recipes that call for a water bath. The best type of pan to use for a water bath is a roasting pan or other pan with sides at least 1-1/2 to 2 inches high.
Step 5: Bake for 45-55 min. or until center is almost set.
Say hi to our helper the “Liza 2000”! She’s small but amazing! Aryanna teaches her how to bake. So cool!
Cool before refrigerating
Step 6: Refrigerate for 4 hours
Decorate using Toblerone Dark Chocolates
Aryanna is crossed that I didn’t put a nose on our ‘Jack-O-Lantern’ cheesecake.
Aryanna: Oh mom, you forgot to put the nose on the cheesecake.
Me: No I didn’t; Jack-O-Lanterns don’t have noses…
Aryanna: YES THEY DO
Me: They don’t
Aryanna: They do
Me: THEY DON’T
Aryanna: THEY DO
Me: You wanna bet?
Aryanna: 500 pesos
Me: Oh, wait, I have to go. It’s 2pm and I have a meeting
Aryanna: LIES
After my meeting, Aryanna showed photos of Jack-O-Lanterns:
Aryanna: Oh, mom… Look who has a nose…
And so now, whenever we go out and Aryanna spots a Jack-O-Lantern, she makes it a point to prove me wrong.
Me: Well, look who doesn’t have a nose…
With or without nose, the Jack-O-Lantern Cheesecake goes well with a glass of ice cold milk!
Happy Halloween!
Shoppingero/shoppingera, would you try this recipe? What treats are you making for Halloween?