Cheesecakes Galore
A bright spot in a wintry month, complete with recommendations for products, tools, and answers to your ski questions!
Hey, everyone! It’s almost February, which is pretty hard to believe. From starting the month in a snowy paradise, skiing and relaxing, to just barely getting back to normal before our family was swept up in a gale of sickness, January has been quite the roller coaster! Luckily we’re now all on the mend, but a bout of cold and stomach sickness kept my son and I in bed for a few absolutely miserable days.
I certainly hope you’re all staying safe and warm out there. One of the only things that brought me any joy during our down days was to see all of you enjoying my recipes, especially when the thought of food was way too much for me. Another thing that kept coming up was questions about my family’s ski preferences! So, I’ve included below some links to a few of our favorite ski items. We got a lot of our recommendations from Virginia Tech’s resource guide, so I suggest seeing if you have any local resources or deals that would be helpful for you!
We like to invest in our base layers especially to protect us from the frigid days. Being too cold on the mountain or sweating from exertion and then having it chill you to the bone is generally the difference between a good or bad day of skiing! We’ve found that Smartwool’s Classic Thermal Merino Baselayer Bottom is the best for comfort and warmth.
Women’s: Shirt, leggings, socks. My favorite snow pants!
Men’s: Shirt, leggings, socks.
Child’s: shirt, leggings, socks.
Protect your eyes and ensure a clear line of vision with these Glade Adapt 2 Goggles!
Buying a helmet with MIPS (Multi-Directional Impact Protection System) is a non-negotiable, especially with the risk level of the sport. Here are a couple of the options we’ve tried and liked: Smith Unisex Sport Helmet & Giro Jackson Ski Helmet
If you have any other questions, please let me know!
On to the cheesecake! My favorite desserts tend to be the ones that are simple in ingredients but pack a big punch in flavor and texture. Cheesecake is one of those favorites for my whole family, and is generally seen at our celebration tables. Over the years, I’ve amassed several different cheesecake recipes for every occasion. Light and fluffy, rich and chocolate-y, bright and refreshing. I’ve collected them all below for your enjoyment!
Here are some of my absolute essential items for making perfect cheesecake every time and a few key tips. First, always, always, always use room temperature cream cheese!! If you have cold cream cheese, you will have lumps in your batter and they will never mix out, leaving you without the perfectly smooth texture we’re looking for.
Read below for why each of the listed items will help you in the quest for perfect cheesecake!
Leakproof Springform Pan: For my regular cheesecakes (rather than basque-style), I always use a water bath to help it cook evenly from the outside to the center during the long bake time. This springform pan from Williams Sonoma was a revelation!! It has a gasket around the bottom that ensures no water will ever get in and leave you with a dreaded soggy crust. I have a 9-inch version that is not currently available, but this link 10” will also work with slight recipe adjustments!
Regular Springform Pan: If you’re looking for a more classic style, you can’t go wrong this nonstick springform option as well which is available in a variety of sizes. (Gut be sure to wrap the outside in aluminum foil if using a water bath!)
Sifter: Utilizing a sifter to prevent any flour or other powder clumps when adding in your dry ingredients will assist in creating that perfectly smooth batter.
Spatula: Use a good spatula to make sure you can properly fold your dry ingredients into your wet ingredients without pushing out all of the air! Additionally, use a spatula so you don’t lose any of that liquid gold when transferring from bowl to pan.
Pistachios: Raw Turkish Pistachios! Very important for any of my recipes that utilize pistachios, for a rich nutty flavor, better control over salt level, and that beautiful bright green we’re looking for.
Chocolate: The importance of good chocolate can’t be overstated. I love this 66% cacao option from Valrhona for the perfect semi-sweetness level with unbeatable flavor.
Kataifi: This style of thin, crisp kataifi is perfect for your Dubai chocolate or other dessert needs!
Pistachio Cream: My favorite of several pistachio cream options, with the just the right sweetness and texture for your Dubai chocolate (or eaten alone on a spoon—I’m not here to judge.)
Dubai chocolate bars took the world by storm in 2024 by presenting a textural chocolate bar filled with crispy kataifi and creamy, sweet pistachio. My Instagram reel and last newsletter included my take on the delicious bar and the response was huge! But, the ingredients are pretty expensive for a relatively small end product. So it got me thinking, what else would be a good vehicle for this amazing combination of textures and flavors?
Now, I’ve seen a couple of no-bake Dubai chocolate cheesecakes online and knew I had to give it a shot. However, in my household, we generally prefer a baked cheesecake where the addition of eggs allows for a slightly fluffier texture. In this recipe especially, I find it worked perfectly to balance out the richness of the pistachio and the crunch of the chocolate top. This cheesecake is hard to beat and every last slice in my house was closely coveted, and it takes the Dubai chocolate bar from a 1-2 person dessert to a 16 portion dessert! The hard-crack chocolate layer can be a little difficult to work with, so as you’ll read in the recipe, you can add a couple of tablespoons of cream to your chocolate for an easier to slice, more ganache like top.
I’ve heard cheesecake accused of being too rich, too decadent, and trust me I get it. Sometimes, you want one bite of a sinfully delicious dessert and that’s enough. But, if you want a whole slice, you need a balance of flavors to allow you to enjoy the experience fully. This citrus cheesecake provides exactly that. With a classic graham cracker base, this cheesecake is my closest to that iconic NY Style, with a silky, bright sauce and fresh citrus to round out the moment.
Double Chocolate Cheesecake! Need I say more! Baked with a homemade Oreo crust (you can find that cookie recipe here) and drizzled with a luscious cherry sauce, think black forest and a chocolate lovers dream.
My Baklava Cheesecake has been one of the most loved recipes on my page since it debuted in 2023. I still see it being made regularly and each time I get just as excited! Baklava is an incredibly important dessert to my culture and I love being able to combine it with this classic American dessert. Remember! Turkish Antep pistachios are a different flavor than you find in US grocery markets. Be sure to buy the right pistachios, I’ve linked my favorite above, or substitute walnuts if you can’t find them!
Well, if you haven’t yet been introduced to the glory that is Burnt Basque Cheesecake, let me be the first to bring you into the club. It’s very possible that basque cheesecake will forever change your life. This cheesecake is crustless, meaning it has no cookie crumb or flaky base—but don’t let that fool you. Simply by contrasting a caramelized outside with the creamiest inside you can dream of, you still get a variety of flavors and textures that will blow your mind. Just trust me.
And for you chocolate lovers—don’t worry, I’ve got you. This Chocolate Basque Cheesecake is relatively new to my kitchen but quickly competed for the top spot. It even convinced my non-chocolate loving husband, who was very disappointed when he heard what I was making, to quickly endorse it and ask for another slice. Remember, as always, the quality of your chocolate makes a world of difference! So make sure to go for the good stuff, as recommended above.
And with that, go forth and cheesecake! And leave me with your thoughts, preferences, experiences below. I’d love to hear them!
Wish you good health....to you and your family..... here in Greece we say (περαστικά) . Thank you for your big gift that you have and you share it with everybody ,not only the secrets recipes but your love also..... For the things that you are creating , I can talk about your recipes hours and hours you have a very very big gift..... thank you again🥰 have a lovely rest winter and health!!!🌷🌻🌹💖
Wishing you and your family good health, and I hope you’re staying safe and warm as well.
I'm not a fan of the cold, but you made me change my mind about the moments we can spend with family.
I love your unique style of making videos, thank you for the generous recipes.