Honey and almond butter flavor this creamy cheesecake with a classic graham cracker crust, topped with fresh whipped cream, sliced almonds, and white chocolate "honeycomb."
Course Dessert
Cuisine Cheesecake
Servings 8slices (one 9" cheesecake)
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust:
2cupsgraham cracker crumbs(from about 18 whole graham crackers)
4ozwhite chocolate(for white chocolate "honeycomb", optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F. Coat a 8" or 9" springform pan (see note) with nonstick spray. Set aside.
For Crust:
Crush graham crackers finely in a food processor. If you don't have a food processor, you can crush them in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin.
Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter, making sure all the crumbs are coated with butter. Place the graham crackers in the prepared pan, pressing them into the bottom and about 1" up the sides.
For Filling:
Combine cream cheese, almond butter, and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Combine at low speed, then increase speed to medium until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Add honey and eggs, one at a time, allowing the first egg to incorporate before adding the second. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Add sour cream and heavy cream and mix to incorporate.
Pour filling into prepared crust and smooth top. Wrap the bottom and up the sides of the pan with at least two layers of heavy-duty foil to keep the water bath out of the cheesecake (see note on pan).
Place cheesecake in a water bath (see notes) in the preheated oven. Bake until cheesecake is puffed around the edges, about 1 hour. The center will still be wobbly.
Turn off the oven. With the oven door slightly ajar, leave the cheesecake to slowly cool in the oven for 1 hour.
Remove the pan from the oven and run a thin knife around the edge of the cheesecake to make sure it is released from the pan. Allow the cheesecake to cool on a rack to room temperature. Once at room temperature, chill the cheesecake in the refrigerator at least 4-6 hours.
For Whipped Cream:
Place cold heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla bean paste (see note) in the bowl of a stand mixer. Start the mixer on low speed, and gradually increase the speed to high. Whip until the cream thickens and forms peaks.
For White Chocolate "Honeycomb":
Chop white chocolate finely and place in a heatproof bowl. Set bowl over a pan of simmering water, taking care that the water doesn't touch the bowl, and gently melt chocolate until smooth.
Pour white chocolate onto a piece of bubble wrap, spreading and smoothing the chocolate with an offset spatula. Set aside in the refrigerator to chill until firm.
Once firm, carefully remove the bubble wrap from the chocolate. Break or cut chocolate into desired size/shape pieces.
Assembly:
Pipe or dollop whipped cream on top of chilled cheesecake and top with sliced almonds. If desired, also top with white chocolate "honeycomb".Enjoy!
Notes
Note on almond butter: Be mindful of the type of almond butter that you use. Many organic and natural almond butters are very thin and/or have a lot of accumulated oil on top. You want a spreadable consistency with no excess oil, or it will wreak havoc on the texture of your cheesecake.Note on vanilla bean paste: I love the flavor of vanilla bean paste and the lovely black flecks it leaves in the whipped cream. If you don't have vanilla bean paste, you can substitute vanilla extract. If you're looking to purchase vanilla bean paste, you can find it [here].Note on springform pan: You can use a standard 8" or 9" springform pan with removeable bottom, but I LOVE my "push pan." This pan's bottom has a silicone seal that's waterproof, so you can set the pan directly into the water bath and have no worries about water leaking in! If you're interested in getting one for yourself, you can find one [here].Notes on water bath: Baking the cheesecake in a water bath helps to ensure gentle, even baking and helps to avoid cracks in the top of your cheesecake.I place my 9" cheesecake pan into a larger roasting pan in the oven, then fill the roasting pan with hot water about halfway up the cheesecake pan.If you prefer not to wrap your pan in foil and place it in the water, you could put a pan of water on the rack below the cheesecake. It won't provide the same insurance policy as baking it in the water bath, but it will help.Safety Notes: Always fill the pan while it's in the oven (I use a large pitcher), so you don't have to cross your kitchen with a large pan of hot/boiling water.Similarly, remove only the cheesecake from the oven once it's done baking, and not the whole roaster. Leave the roaster and hot water in the oven to cool before attempting to remove them.