Easy Spring Dessert – Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping

Image via: The Healthy Foodie

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Ingredients

For the Crust

• 5 tbsp of unsalted butter (melted)
• A 10-ounce packet of shortbread cookies

For the Filling

• ½ tsp of almond extract
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp of all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp of fresh lemon juice
• 10 ounces of frozen unsweetened strawberries (thaw and reserve the juice)
• 3 packets of cream cheese (8-ounces)
• 3 big eggs

For the Topping

• 3 packets of fresh strawberries (1-pint) halved lengthwise
• ⅓ cup of strawberry or black currant jelly

Preparation

For the Crust

1. Preheat your oven to 325⁰. Butter a large, circular pan.
2. Put the cookies in the processor and grind them to crumbs.
3. Add butter to the crumbs until they are moist.
4. Put the mixture in the prepared pan and bake until the crust turns golden.
5. Remove and set aside.

Image via: Erecipe 

For the Filling

1. Blend the melted strawberries and juice in a processor until they are smooth.
2. Fill a cup with ¾ of the puree and reserve the rest for another use.
3. Put the cream cheese and sugar in the processor and mix. Add the flour and continue blending. Add eggs and blend until smooth, scrape the sides of the bowl occasionally.
4. Add the vanilla extract, strawberry puree, almond extract, lemon juice, and blend until fully mixed.
5. Put the mixture in the prepared crust. Bake until the center is soft and the edges change color (for about 1 hour 15 minutes).
6. Place the cake on a rack then refrigerate until cold. You can make the cake in advance.

For the Topping

1. Cook the jelly in low heat until it melts.
2. Arrange the berries on top of the cheesecake and brush them with the warm jelly.
3. Chill the cake for at least 1 hour then serve.

This cheesecake is everything you would expect from a cheesecake and more. It is tangy, creamy, and melts in the mouth. You can do away with the strawberry topping if you just want a regular cheesecake. However, it is highly recommended. For a perfect finishing touch, add whipped cream.

What do you love about this easy spring dessert?

Spring Dessert: Lemon Meringue Pie

Image via: Keep Recipes

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Ingredients:

Meringue Topping

• 2 tbsp. of sugar
• 1 pinch of cream of tartar
• 4 egg whites (set the yolks aside)

Lemon Filling

• ½ cup of lemon juice
• ¼ tsp. of salt
• ⅓ cup of cornstarch
• 1 ½ cups of water
• 1 ⅓ cups of sugar
• 3 tbsp. of butter
• 1 tbsp of lemon zest (finely grated)
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 pre-cooked pie shell (9-inch)

Directions:

Meringue Topping

1. Put the cream of tartar and egg whites in a stand mixer’s bowl. Beat with the whisk attachment.
2. Keep on beating until soft peaks form then add sugar gradually. After 1-2 minutes, stiff peaks will form. Use to top lemon filling.

Lemon Filling

1. Place the oven rack in the middle position. Preheat your oven to 375⁰
2. Beat the egg yolks in a mixing bowl and set aside.
3. In a saucepan, mix the sugar, salt, water, and cornstarch. Cook the mixture over medium heat and keep stirring till boiling point.
4. Remove from heat and add a small portion of the mixture to the egg yolks at a time. Stir until you’ve added all of the mixture.
5. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat as you stir. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the lemon juice, zest, and butter as you stir.
6. Put the mixture in the pie shell and cover with meringue topping. The topping should completely cover the filling.
7. Bake the pie for 10-12 minutes or till the meringue is golden. Remove it and place it on a wire rack to cool. Slice and serve.

Image via: Tablets Magazine

This spring dessert is simply delectable! The lemon is not overpowering and the meringue is just right. To prevent the meringue from burning, stir it frequently. Also remove it from the heat after it becomes really thick. You’ll enjoy serving the pie to your family as well as your friends. It might even become your go-to dessert!

What would you change about this recipe?

When it’s time to entertain, individual tarts can lend a little bit of wow factor without being too much fuss. If you are hosting a luncheon this spring or summer, try this buttermilk tart recipe to make impressive desserts. With fresh fruit topping, this spring dessert is simply irresistible.

Fresh Spring Dessert: Fruit and Buttermilk Tart

Image via: Dough Messtic

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Total Time: 4 hours, 30 minutes

Yields: 8 servings

Ingredients

2/3 cup sugar

1 and half cups buttermilk

¼ cup all purpose flour

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste

1 package tart shells, frozen

Toppings:

Fresh fruits

Fresh basil springs

Image via: myrecipes.com

Procedure

1. In a heavy saucepan, whisk sugar and flour together. Add eggs and buttermilk, and whip until mixed. Over medium heat, cook for 8-10 minutes or until pudding like thickness is achieved. Make sure to whisk constantly.

2. Remove from heat, and add in vanilla bean paste. Cover and refrigerate for few 4-5 hours.

3. Meanwhile, bake tart shells as per package directions, and let them cool completely. Spoon the above mixture into tart shells and top with seasonal fresh fruits.

No entertainment would be complete without a delicious dessert. So, to put up a perfect end to a meal, whip up a batch of these yummy fruit and buttermilk tarts for your next gathering.

For more dessert ideas on Stagetecture, click here.