Gluten Free Cheesecake

By Dianewaldron

Modify this versatile recipe using different crusts and toppings to suit your needs. It’s fun to create different desserts using one basic no-fail cheesecake.

Ingredients

• 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese or dairy-free cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 5 eggs, room temperature
• 2 cups Greek yogurt, sour cream or dairy-free sour cream
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 gluten-free crust of choice, pre- baked
• Topping of choice

Details

Cooking time 240mins
Adapted from glutenfreeandmore.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

2. Beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Add the sugar and continue beating for a few minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating to combine. Then beat in remaining ingredients.

3. Pour the filling into a springform pan that contains a cooled prebaked crust.

4. Bake in preheated oven on the middle rack for 2 hours or until the top is golden and feels firm yet soft like a baked custard. Begin checking after 90 minutes. Internal temperature should be 150 degrees.

5. Turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake inside for about an hour. Five minutes after shutting off the oven, run a sharp knife around the edge of the pan to help prevent cheesecake from cracking as it cools and settles.

6. Remove cheesecake from the oven and cool completely before chilling in the refrigerator. Cover with toppings of your choice. Slice and serve.

Gluten-Free Graham Cracker Crust

MAKES ONE 8- OR 9-INCH CRUST

To vary the flavor of your cheesecake crust, substitute any type of crunchy gluten-free cookie. Try crushed gingersnaps, vanilla or chocolate sandwich cookies, biscotti, shortbread, vanilla cookies—even brownies!

1½ cups (6 ounces) gluten-free graham cracker crumbs or crushed cookies of choice
½ teaspoon cinnamon, optional
6 tablespoons unsalted butter or Earth Balance or dairy-free shortening of choice, melted

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a springform pan. Set aside.

2. Mix graham cracker crumbs, cinnamon and melted butter together.

3. Press mixture into prepared pan.

4. Place in preheated oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on a rack before adding cheesecake filling.