This is the creamiest cheesecake ever! The consistency after such a long, slow bake is like no other you ever tasted.
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Some cold fronts made an appearance this week, so the long and slow idea related to baking is looking good, baby!
I had this recipe bookmarked from the minute I bought this book, and it was finally time to put it to the test.
I'm a huge cheesecake fan, baking them and eating them. So I don't take cheesecake recipes lightly. I have to try as many different ones as I can and report. And eat them just for statistical purposes.
You can say I'm a cheesecake baking addict, and you would be right. You could say I'm a long and slow cooking addict, and you would be on the right track.
So this was the recipe for today.
Caramelized grapes
The grapes (seedless are better) are cooked in water and wine, and let the liquid simmer away.
This brings out the natural sweetness of the grapes, which is a lot! They end up shriveled and wonderfully sweet, just like candy.
I use the same technique taught me years ago to caramelize pearl onions. It never fails.
About this recipe
I have made hundreds of cheesecakes in my life. Yet this one is different.
The flavor is as good as any of my other favorites. It doesn't have any starch, a big plus in my book, and no out-of-the-ordinary ingredients.
But there is one difference that makes it worthwhile to have a cheesecake in a very low oven for 8 hours, the texture!
It's mind-blowing, like you can't imagine. Unctuous and creamy, a cross between silky panna cotta and the most expensive face cream you can buy.
You should make this recipe, no matter how many cheesecakes you have made already.
You can refrigerate it for a few days and the texture will still be incredibly creamy. Top it with whatever you want, or leave it plain, but make it.
There are quite a few cheesecake recipes in this blog already, starting with the fantastic oreo cheesecake to the brown sugar cheesecake, a ricotta cheesecake version, my favorite baked traditional cheesecake chocolate crust, and the complete Guide to No-Bake Cheesecake.
Let me know in the comments below if you made this recipe and loved it and if you had issues so we can troubleshoot together. I love to hear what you think, always. Thanks for being here. It's much appreciated.
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8-Hour Cheesecake (gluten free)
The creamiest cheesecake ever!
- Total Time: 16 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients
For the cheesecake:
- 2 pounds (910g) of cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract or paste
- 1 tablespoon cognac
- 1 tablespoon dark rum, such as Myer's
- 5 eggs, at room temperature
For the roasted grapes:
- 1 pound seedless grapes
- ¼ cup sweet white wine
Instructions
For the cheesecake:
- Preheat the oven to 200ºF / 95ºC.
- Butter or spray a 8 inch round cake pan with 2 or 3 inch sides, and a non-stick surface. Or butter the pan and line the bottom with wax paper. The cake won't rise at all, but the batter will fill just below the 2-inch mark.
- Put the cake pan in a larger baking tray that will hold 1-inch of water.
- In a large bowl beat cream cheese with an electric mixer for 1 or 2 minutes, until very smooth. There should be no lumps at all.
- Gradually add the sugar, vanilla, rum and cognac and continue beating until perfectly smooth.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until each one is completely mixed before adding the next one.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
- Put the baking tray in the oven and, slowly, add very hot tap water up to 1-inch.
- Bake for 8 hours. My oven has a 3 hour timer, so I had to check twice and set it again. Halfway through the baking the batter will start to appear a bit firmer, just barely.
- After the 8 hours of baking, turn the oven off and carefully transfer the cake pan to a wire rack.
- It will still be jiggly, like a flan. Let the cake stand there, untouched, until it cools completely.
- Unmold onto the serving plate carefully, it is very soft.
- Remember that you won't be able to move the cheesecake after you unmold it, so it will stay where it lands.
- Cover with the roasted grapes and serve.
- Or refrigerate for 4 hours or up to 3 days and serve. The texture will be firmer but still incredibly creamy. You can also freeze it, let it thaw in the fridge.
For the roasted grapes:
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF / 180ºC.
- Arrange grapes in a baking tray and roast for about an hour, until they are shriveled and sticky.
- I left the clusters whole, but it's easier to separate the grapes before baking than
after. Your choice. - Put the roasted grapes in a saucepan with the wine, and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, until syrupy.
Notes
- The flavoring of the cognac and rum in this cheesecake can be omitted. I would use some almond extract in addition to the vanilla.
- This cheesecake doesn't rise or crack, it bakes like a custard.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cooling + refrigeration time: 8 hours
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Slow baking
- Cuisine: American
Recipe from Cakes, by Maida Heatter
german in pdx says
Paula would you please beam me a slice of this cake up north right now?! It sounds and looks fantastic - am wondering if this recipe would work with vegan cream cheese. It is worth a try, right? 🙂 ~ Bea
Amy (Savory Moments) says
This looks pretty amazing and so delicious! I love it.
Heather King says
I've never heard of cookking a cheesecake for that long but it sounds wonderful and I absolutely adore roasted grapes!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
Cookbooks for $5?! I would have purchased the same amount! Love getting deals! Re: this recipe, I am so glad you did a dessert too! If I would have joined this sunday, I was also thinking pulled pork but then I thought everyone would be doing that.. what a great, original idea and recipe!
Dude, I didn't realize you had so many cheesecake recipes. . going to check out the fun nutella polka dot cheesecake now!
And I LOVE roasted grapes!!! YUM. Oh so good! I bet this cheesecake is fabulous! Bravo. . looks delicious! I eat them on crostinis with cheese and the roasted grapes on top. . oh my gawd. so good!
Stacy says
I am a huge fan of panna cotta and cheesecakes both, since they are usually not really sweet desserts. This sounds like a wonderful cross between the two. I am pinning this on my Recipes to Try board for when we have cool weather again and I can leave the oven on for eight hours. I may just have to make the roasted grapes now for serving over ice cream though. What a wonderful idea!
Angie Schneider says
I am too a cheesecake fan! The roasted grapes are such a nice touch.
Amanda says
I have never tried roasted grapes but this sounds heavenly. I imagine they take on a raisin like taste which sounds wonderful with the cheesecake.
Nicole @ Daily Dish Recipes says
I love the idea of slow cooking cheesecake. I've had recipes to try, but I've always been hesitant - this is just brilliant and makes me want to do it. Your cheesecake looks divine!
Silvia says
Se ve delicioso, Paula. Tan ligero y natural. Coincido con aquel comentario que dice no creer poder esperar las 8 horas!
Peanut Butter and Peppers says
Never thought of slow cooking a cheesecake! Love this idea and I love the cheesecake!!
Martin D says
Ha! Yes. I get leaving desserts deserted;-) I thought about that too...
Your recipe looks marvelous...and the way your describe the consistency! Wow! Great consistency, Cognac and Rum, and grapes too...I must try!
Jen @JuanitasCocina says
Cheesecake is my weakness. I'm not sure I could wait 8 hours!!!
Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez says
Paula - this looks magical! I actually have that book, but haven't looked at it in some time, so I don't even remember this recipe. I am bookmarking it now, because - WOWZA!
And yeah, I would buy far too many books at that rate. Far. Too. Many.
Susan says
Wow, I can't imagine how creamy and amazing this cheesecake must taste after being slow cooked for 8 hours! (plus the patience one must have to wait that long). I'm also loving the addition of the roasted grapes on top.
dentistvschef says
Never had roasted grape before...
how does it taste???
GK Adams (The Life I Live...) says
I do love a good cheesecake and this one, with the roasted grapes, sound divine. BTW, how do you stay so skinny?
GK Adams (The Life I Live...) says
Psssh...hard to believe.
Pam@TheMeltaways says
oh my goodness - I can't wait to make one of these! I just made roasted grapes last week and loved them. Together? I couldn't even imagine!
Katy says
You have persuaded me! This just looks amazing. Love the roasted grapes!
Renee says
You have no idea how much I've been waiting for this recipe. After reading how you describe the texture it is something I know I must make.
Cindys Recipes and Writings says
I like all kinds of cheesecake I need to try this soon. Love that you added grapes!