Who can resist a Turtle Brownie Cheesecake?... Answer: no
one.... Who can resist making a no-bake version?... Answer: not many cooks.
This easy to follow recipe is... in my opinion.... the closest
in texture and taste to a baked cheesecake.
It is a combination of several recipes... and some inventiveness on my
part.
I started out with the intention of trying Martha Stewart's
No-Bake Cheesecake... but just before I went to the kitchen to start.. I looked
at her reviews... many noted that the cheesecake never set-up properly... which
had me concerned.. I didn't want a soupy cake...
So problem number one was adding something to help set-up
the mixture... I toyed with adding Cool Whip... since that works well with my
pies.. but I wanted a heavier thicker consistency... so I decided to start the
process and see where it went.
So let's get started..
TIPS
Martha's recipe made a graham cracker crust.. I wanted
chocolate and I wanted it gooey and thicker than the traditional crumb crust...
so I decided on a brownie crust...
I didn't want it too thick so I used a 10 inch springform pan... lined it with a cake cardboard and then some parchment paper for easy removal and serving without the metal bottom of the pan.
I didn't want it too thick so I used a 10 inch springform pan... lined it with a cake cardboard and then some parchment paper for easy removal and serving without the metal bottom of the pan.
You can purchase cake cardboards at a baking supply store...
they come in various sizes and waxed and unwaxed. Mine are unwaxed... so to keep the brownie
batter from making the cardboard soggy.. I cut out a circle of parchment paper
to lay on the cardboard. No need to
grease it.
Next.. I wanted something that would be quick, easy and not
labor intensive.. so I used a brownie mix.. my favorite is Betty Crocker Fudge
Brownies 13 x 9 size, 18.3 oz. Mix it as
you would be making brownies with the ingredients listed on the box... spread
it into the lined springform pan and bake it.
I baked it for 35 minutes.. it was still gooey in the
middle... it was good but next time I will bake it longer... I'd say 38-39
minutes should be about right for a still slightly chewy brownie layer.
I used Hershey's Caramel Ice Cream topping in the jar...
easy and it worked well.. so why make your own? ... but if you want to .. be my
guest.
Make sure your cream cheese is very soft... this will ensure
you don't have to worry about cream cheese lumps in your batter. If you want tips on softening cream cheese quickly...
click here for my post.
I used JELLO Instant Vanilla Pudding (5.1 oz) 6 1/2 cup
servings ... it has a slight yellow color and made the batter that color... if
you absolutely want a white color.. I'd recommend you use the White Chocolate
flavor... since white chocolate is really vanilla.. you should be fine. The only catch may be .. I'm not sure it comes
in the larger size box of instant pudding and substituting 2 small boxes may
not be an answer. The pudding is what
makes this get thick and too much of a good thing may not be good... so if you
do experiment.. let me know how it goes.
The sour cream is a must.. it cuts the sweetness and adds
the needed tang... it also smoothes out the batter.
Make sure you use SWEETENED condensed milk.
I listed milk in the ingredients... without a quantity...
mix together all the batter ingredients.. then add a little milk with the
beater going to get it to the consistency you want... you can use skim milk or
regular or lower fat.. it doesn't matter.. you will use less milk with the
thinner milks and more with the full fat milk.
Pecans and caramel make the brownie a Turtle Brownie... not everyone can eat nuts... and if that's your dilemma.. leave them out... I had to leave them out of mine.. and the cake was a hit just the same.
Drop by Spoonfuls over the caramel and nuts |
Smooth out the top |
Pecans and caramel make the brownie a Turtle Brownie... not everyone can eat nuts... and if that's your dilemma.. leave them out... I had to leave them out of mine.. and the cake was a hit just the same.
Drizzling the caramel over the top is not as easy as it
looks... if you want nice even lines going across (I didn't bother this time)
.. you can buy a "ketchup squeeze bottle" .. a plastic... cheap
(usually around $1) bottle you can find at Walmart... load the caramel into it
and use that to squeeze the lines on top of the cake.... same goes for the
chocolate syrup.
Refrigerate about 2 hours before cutting... even though it
sets up right away...
Use a wet knife to cut it... it will make the slicing
easier.
All I can say is ... be prepared to have this cake disappear
fast!
Recipe: No Bake Turtle Brownie Cheesecake
All you need:
1 Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie mix (and ingredients needed
for brownies)
2 pkgs. (8 oz each) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, room
temperature
1 14-ounce can (1 1/4 cups) Eagle Brand sweetened condensed
milk
2 cups sour cream
1 box (5.1 oz.) JELLO instant Vanilla Pudding mix
Milk *See TIPS
Hershey's Caramel Ice Cream Topping (in the jar)
Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
About a cup chopped pecans
All you need to do:
Put a cake cardboard into a 10 inch springform pan. Lay a round piece of parchment paper over the
cardboard.
Preheat the oven and prepare the brownie as directed on the
box. Bake for about 38 minutes.
Allow the brownie to cool completely.
Reserve about a 1/4 cup of the chopped pecans and sprinkle
the rest over the baked brownie. Drizzle
caramel syrup over the pecans (about 1/2 cup).
Set aside.
In a standing mixer, beat the cream cheese until
smooth. Keep beating as you pour a
steady stream of the sweetened condensed milk.
Beat in the sour cream and the pudding. Beat until smooth.. add milk
until the consistency is thick but spreadable.
Spread the batter over the brownie (and pecans and
caramel)... smooth the top.
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Wet a sharp knife and run it around the edge of the cake and
the pan... loosen the springform sides and remove it. Slide the cake with the cake cardboard off
the metal bottom and place on a serving plate.
Top the cake with caramel and chocolate syrup. Sprinkle the reserved pecans over the top if
using them.
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