Make ahead cheesecake square recipe - ISO

[cleopatra999]

I am looking for a cheesecake recipe for a party, want to be able to make it 2 days ahead, in a 9x13 pan rather than springform style. this is for a very casual, non foodie party of 13 people. Will be making another dessert too....open to suggestions. Thinking of tirimisu, but I am wondering if that and cheesecake will be too similar, maybe a make ahead brownie recipe instead, any good gooey, fudgy (not dense and cakey) recipes out there? thanks!!

[HillJ]

http://www.nibbledish.com/people/lega...

How about the classic Nilla Vanilla cheesecake cupcakes. Instead of a spoonful of graham cracker in each cupcake paper I place one Vanilla Wafer cookie and follow the filling recipe as described. Super easy, def. make ahead and easy to hold.

[cleopatra999]

those are a great idea, I was looking for something like that, not sure that I can get the vanilla wafers here (small town), but could at least do the graham crust

[greygarious]

You will have a hard time pressing buttered graham cracker crumbs into the paper liners. But you could use any round cookie of the correct diameter to fit the muffin tin and liner.

[HillJ]

No need to press the grahams down too hard, just spoon them in and pat lightly. The batter will hold down the crumb mixture.

[Pia]

Just make SURE you use the liners -- I just made mini cheesecakes in a mini-muffin tin using a Giada recipe (ricotta cheesecakes with orange zest and a chocolate crumb crust, probably too elaborate for your party) and they were simple to make, but I didn't use liners and unmolding them was a nightmare! (But yes, I just pressed down on the crumb crust and it worked fine.)

I like the idea of having little squares of brownies and cheesecakes as your desserts -- they go well together and one or the other should satisfy pretty much everyone at your party. I also like to put out a bowl of fruit (grapes or pineapple are good, berries in summertime) for those who don't have much of a sweet tooth.

[arp29]

This is a recipe my mom makes every Christmas. They freeze well and everyone enjoys them. Hope you do, too!
Cheesecake Cookies
⅔ cup butter
½ cup sugar
⅔ cup brown sugar
2 cups flour
1 cup flour
1 cup walnuts, chopped
2 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
2 tbsp. lemon juice
4 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter,and brown sugar. Add flour and walnuts and combine to make a crumbly mixture. Reserve two cups for topping. Press remainder into 9x12 pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes.
Blend sugar with cream cheese until smooth. Add egg, milk, lemon juice and vanilla;beat well. Spread over baked crust and sprinkle with reserved mixture. Bake for 25 minutes. Cool on rack.

[cleopatra999]

Do you freeze these after you cut them, or freeze it whole? I only have 2 days before the party, could I just keep them in the fridge?

[arp29]

We always freeze them after cutting into squares, but I don't see why you couldn't just let them hang out in the fridge until your party.

[petitgateau]

Hi arp29,
Your recipe contains two measurements of flour. Does one use 3 cups of flour?
Thanks for the recipe.

[arp29]

Sorry about that! I was cutting and pasting from another document on my computer and spazzed out:-) I was just speaking with my mother about this recipe and she says that she now uses only about a cup and 3/4 for the topping, and presses the rest into the pan for the base. After many years of making them she founds that this makes a bit of a sturdier base.

[greygarious]

I like the cheesecake bar recipe on the back of the Nestle's butterscotch chip bag but I double the cheesecake part since it is rather thin. You could substitute other flavors of baking chips, or a combination. http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes...

[cleopatra999]

are those butterscotch flavored chipits? or more like skor bits?

[greygarious]

Nestle's, as it says in the recipe.