German Chocolate Cheesecake

Growing up, I loved German Chocolate Cake, so why not the same flavors in a Cheesecake? 

German Chocolate Cheesecake

Crust
1 1/2 cups crushed Graham Crackers
2 Tbs. sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted

Filling
2 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
4 oz. Baker's German Chocolate, melted and cooled
2/3 cups sugar
2 Tbs. powdered baking cocoa
5 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond extract

Topping
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup half and half cream
5 Tbs. of butter

Preheat oven to 500 degrees.

In a small bowl, combine the crumbs, sugar and butter. Press in the bottom of a 9" springform pan. Place the pan on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.  Remove and allow to cool.

In a mixing bowl beat cream cheese until it's smooth.  Beat in the German chocolate, sugar and cocoa. Add eggs and beat just until combined.  Add the vanilla and almond extracts.

Place the springform pan on a cookie sheet and pour batter into the pan. Bake cake at 500 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 200 degrees (prop oven door open with a wooden spoon until temperature reduces). Bake until the cheesecake perimeter is set but center jiggles like Jell-O when the pan is tapped, about 1 hour longer. Allow to cool for about another hour.  Refrigerate for about 4 hours or overnight.  

Combine the topping ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat.  Bring to a boil.  Boil and stir constantly for 3 minutes.    Allow the topping to cool completely.  

When it has cooled sufficiently, remove the sides of the springform pan and spread the topping evenly over cheesecake.  Serve.  Refrigerate leftovers. (if there are any!) 

Strawberry Swirl Delight

 

Strawberry Swirl Delight

2 boxes (13 oz each) Strawberry Shortcake Rolls
2 3/4cups Milk
2 pkgs (3.9 oz each) Instant Cheesecake Pudding Mix
2 cups Whipped Topping

Cut each cake roll into six slices. Line the bottom and sides of a springform pan with cake slices, covering completely.

Whisk milk and pudding mixes for about 2 minutes. It will be thick. Spread on the bottom layer of cake rolls. Cover with whipped topping. Drizzle with Strawberry Jam. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.

Mama's Blueberry Cheese Pie

I received the most precious gift in the mail earlier this month. I knew my Aunt Una was sending me some holiday magazines, but what a treasure when a little magazine attached with handwritten recipes Mama shared with her dropped out the envelope!!!

Mama's Recipe Card in her own handwriting! 

The bonus was I didn't have two of the recipes she shared in my collection! I am so glad to have them now. I had to make them and blog about them. Here's the first since I had blueberries in the freezer.

Mama's Blueberry Cheese Pie

8oz package Cream Cheese

1 1/3 cups Condensed Milk

1/3 cup Lemon Juice

1 tsp Vanilla

Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually stir in condensed milk until thoroughly blended. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla until combined. Pour into a 9in baked pie crust.* Refrigerate until firm. Garnish with topping.

Topping:

1 cup granulated sugar

2 1/2 Tbsp corn starch**

2 cups blueberries

1 cup water

In a small saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Measure 1/2 cup blueberries and crush them. Add crushed berries and water to saucepan. Cook over medium heat; stir constantly until thickened and clear. Cool. Arrange remailing blueberries on the pie. Pour the glaze over the top. 

* I used a pre-made graham cracker crust but make sure it is a 9-inch. You'll have more room for the topping. 8-inch crusts will displace the topping and make a mess! (as you can see in my picture) 

** I adjusted the amount of cornstarch because the topping wasn't as thick as I'd like it to be. It's more like a sauce with the original recipe.

Mini Pecan Pies or Tartlets

Thank goodness that I hid some pecans in the freezer last year! I had some orders for these delicious little tarts.

Mini Pecan Pies or Tartlets

One Pie Crust, cut into 2 inch rounds with a cookie cutter, 24 total*

Filling:

1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons all purpose flour
1 1/4 cups light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups pecan pieces
2 tablespoons melted butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place pie rounds into a lightly greased mini muffin pan.
In a large bowl, combine sugar, flour, corn syrup, vanilla and eggs. Beat well. Stir in pecans and butter. Spoon into pie rounds. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. With the tip of a sharp knife, pull the edge of a round up and transfer to a wire rack to cool. Store in a sealed container.

*You can make your own using my link above or use a store-bought pie crust. 

Lemonade Pie

When I fix this, most people think it's cheesecake. It's so good and so easy! Great for summertime desserts!

1/2 cup cold water
1/3 cup lemonade drink mix
2 cups vanilla ice cream, softened
1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese
1 tub (8 oz.) whipped cream, thawed
1 graham cracker pie crust

Add water to drink mix in large bowl; stir until mix is dissolved. Add cream cheese. Beat with mixer until well blended. Add ice cream and blend. Spoon in whipped cream. Freeze, if necessary, until mixture is thick enough to mound. Spoon into crust. Freeze for 4 hours or until firm. Remove from freezer 15 minutes before serving. Let stand at room temperature until pie can easily be cut.

Cherry Delight Pie

This dessert has been called so many different things, but I grew up with it being called a layered delight dessert. 

8oz package of Cream Cheese, room temperature

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp Vanilla
8oz tub of Whipped Topping (like cool whip type)
1 can Cherry Pie Filling

Graham Cracker Crust

Beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add vanilla and mix until combined. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread mixture in pie crust and refrigerate until firm. Top with cherry pie filling. Top with more whipped topping if desired. 

No Bake Chocolate Mousse Pie

This is an easy, no bake recipe. You can use a pre-made pie crust, and the rest is simple! 

Graham Cracker Pie Crust*

8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup Sugar
2 cups Milk Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup Heavy Cream
8 oz Whipped Topping

Combine cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl. Mix until smooth and sugar is dissolved.

In a glass bowl, place chocolate chips and heavy cream and microwave 30 seconds at the time until melted. Whisk until smooth and combined. Let cool to room temperature.

Pour chocolate mixture into cream cheese mixture. Mix until combined. Add whipped topping and mix on low until combined and fluffy. 

Pour into pie crust. Refrigerate for several hours or do a quick set in the freezer.

Garnish with more whipped topping and a few chocolate chips. 

* For homemade pie crust...

1 1/2 cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/4 cup Sugar
4 T melted Butter

Combine and press into the bottom of a pie pan/plate. 

Strawberry Cheesecake Pie

Well, I'm on my 3rd Strawberry Cheesecake Pie using Mr B's Carolina Dips and Dessert Mix. I made the first one, and the hubby polished it off in two days. It's a good thing I licked the spoon when I made it! LOL

This has got to be the easiest pie you can make! Only three ingredients and a pie crust, and boom, you are done! Check this out...

Mr B's Strawberry Cheesecake Dessert Mix

8 oz Cream Cheese, softened

8 oz tub Whipped Topping

Graham Cracker Pie Crust

Mix the cream cheese and dessert mix until smooth.

Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl,

and add the whipped topping.

Mix until combined.

Pour into the pie crust and refrigerate until set,

or freeze until set for an ice cream style pie.

I added a handful of strawberries I had leftover.

I mashed them and added them in for

a little extra texture and color.

You can order Mr B's Mixes by clicking on this link (website), or you can visit him on Facebook by clicking on this link, (Facebook) OR you can find him (and me,  PyroArt by Southern With A Twist) on Fridays from 1-6pm at the Sumter Farmers Market if you are local! 

If you can't get the mix for some reason, you can make a pie from my recipe for Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream Pie.

Crab Pie and Best Friends

Photo from my friend Brian at Hot Sauce Daily

Here's another one of the recipes from my book, "Mama's Cookbook". As I wrote the other day, Mama loved seafood, but didn't have it very often growing up because of the cost. Unless you lived on the coast and caught your own, seafood was impractical and definitely a luxury item that struggling families could not afford. Mama made friends with a new girl in school. She was Catholic and Mama didn't know about their rites and rituals. The first Friday that she spent the night at her friend's house, they had shrimp for supper. She was in love with seafood! She loved her new best friend, and Fridays were a treasured meal with her!  I was named after her best friend, Lynda! So, the few recipes of Mama's that include seafood, I certainly do treasure! I hope you enjoy this one! Notice the note at the bottom. If you are not familiar with my cookbook, Mama jotted notes down for me on recipes before giving them to me. They are a treasure trove of memories!

Crab Pie

1 Pie Pastry, uncooked

1 cup Cheddar Cheese, grated

1 cup Crab Meat

3 Eggs, beaten

1 cup Heavy Cream

½ t salt

¼ t Pepper

½ t Lemon Zest*

Arrange cheese evenly over bottom of pastry. Top with crab meat. Combine eggs, cream, salt, lemon peel and pour evenly over crab meat. Bake at 325 for about 40 minutes.

Notes: “Your Daddy likes this…Cool or the cheese will burn you!”

*When I make it now, I add some Old Bay Seasoning, green onion and a mixture of cheeses that I have on hand. I use Swiss and Cheddar or Colby Jack. It just depends on my mood. 

Ham & Cheese Biscuit Pie

This pie is wonderful to use up leftover biscuits and ham. You can substitute your favorite biscuits, meats and cheeses! The combinations are endless! You can even change the savory flavors to sweet ones! The choice is yours!

1 package Bisquick Garlic Cheese Biscuits,
   (prepared following package directions)

10 slices Ham, chopped

1 cup Cheddar Cheese
¼ cup Parmesan Cheese

1 cup milk

2 eggs, beaten

2 T butter, melted

¼ tsp garlic powder

¼ tsp Worcestershire sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray a 9inch pie pan with cooking spray. Cut biscuits in half and line the pan with the bottom slices. Fill in gaps with pieces of the tops. Sprinkle hams pieces over the top, then sprinkle with cheddar and parmesan cheeses. Mix milk and eggs and pour over the pie. Crumble the tops of the biscuits and spread over the pie. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until the egg mixture is set. (or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean) Mix butter, garlic and Worcestershire sauce. Drizzle butter mixture over the biscuit crumbles and bake another 2-3 minutes. Serve warm.

Mini Pecan Pies

Thank goodness that I hid some pecans in the freezer this year! I had some orders for these delicious little tarts. Valentine's Day is a perfect time to splurge on these yummy bite size morsels!

One Pie Crust, cut into 2 inch rounds with a cookie cutter, 24 total
Filling:
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons all purpose flour
1 1/4 cups light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups pecan pieces
2 tablespoons melted butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place pie rounds into a lightly greased mini muffin pan.
In a large bowl, combine sugar, flour, corn syrup, vanilla and eggs. Beat well. Stir in pecans and butter. Spoon into pie rounds. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. With the tip of a sharp knife, pull the edge of a round up and transfer to a wire rack to cool. Store in a sealed container.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Pies

These pies are a favorite at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The name sounds strange, but it's just a pumpkin cheesecake in a pie crust.

2 - 8oz packages Cream Cheese
2 Eggs, beaten
1 1/4 cups Sugar
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
12oz Pumpkin

2 Homemade Pies Crusts, uncooked

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cream the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs and mix until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and mix. Pour into the two pie crusts. Bake 35-45 minutes or until set.

French Strawberry Pie

This homemade French Strawberry Pie was my Mama's favorite. Her sister's mother-in-law, Mrs. German, used to make it for her every time she came to visit. It should have more strawberries standing in it, but the strawberries available right now, weren't too good and I came up a little short. It didn't effect the taste any! I took the pie as a surprise for my step-daughter, her husband and son. I received this message from her this morning... "Jack and I ate the rest of the pie for breakfast. Jack kept saying "mum mum" when I would say "yum yum"!"

1 quart Strawberries, cleaned & stemmed

8 oz Cream Cheese, room temp

1 ¼ cups Sugar

3 T Cornstarch

1 T Lemon Juice

1 Pie Crust (9 inch) baked and cooled

Spread cream cheese over the bottom of the pie crust. Select half of the best strawberries and press firmly into the cheese with tips up. Mash remaining berries and strain. Add enough water to make 1 1/2 cups liquid. Mix sugar and cornstarch in saucepan. Gradually stir in berries and juice. Cook over low heat until thick and clear (5 to 6 minutes). Add a little red food coloring. Cool and pour over berries. Chill about 3 hours. Serve with whipped cream.

Banana Cream Chocolate Eclair Pie

Crust:
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs

Filling:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 box banana cream instant pudding
1 1/2 cups milk

chocolate syrup, for garnish

Preheat oven to 400. Lightly grease a 9"X13" glass baking pan. (I used a large torte dish.)
In a medium saucepan, melt butter in water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in flour. Mix in one egg at a time, mixing completely before adding another egg. Spread mixture into pan, covering the bottom and sides evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool.

 I ran out of all-purpose, so I used self-rising.
What could it hurt? LOL

The filling would come to the top in a regular crust! LOL

Whip cream cheese in a medium bowl until smooth. In separate bowl, beat the pudding mix and the milk for 3 minutes and put in the fridge until set. Slowly add pudding to cream cheese, beating until there are no lumps. When the crust is completely cooled, pour in filling. Refrigerate the pie until set well. Serve with whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup.

I didn't have any whipped cream, but I don't think it needs it!

PIE! Chocolate Cream and Coconut Cream Pies

I came across a recipe, in my Mama's recipe box, for a basic cream pie that you can turn into almost any kind of pie that you want. With this basic recipe I made these two pies: Chocolate Cream Pie and Coconut Cream Pie! The recipe is basically a Vanilla Cream. It's very easy. The only advice I would have for a beginner, is to practice tempering eggs before hand. I am always super careful not to end up with scrambled eggs in my pie base! LOL

Custard Pie Base:
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup corn starch
1/4 tsp Kosher salt
3 cups milk
3 egg yolks
1 1/2 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla

1 Homemade Pie Crust, click for the recipe.
Prepare the pie crust in a 9 inch pie pan and cool completely.

In a medium sauce pan, off heat, mix together sugar, corn starch and salt. Stir in milk until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture boils and thickens. Remove from heat and add a very small amount of the hot mixture to the yolks and stir. Keep adding the hot milk mixture to the yolks until warm. Slowly add the egg yolk mixture to the milk mixture, whisking/stirring as you go. Return the sauce pan to the heat and cook until it just comes to a bubble. Remember to keep stirring to prevent scorching! Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla. Pour into a baked, cooled pie shell. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours or until set. 

For the Coconut Cream Pie...
Add 1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut when you add the butter and vanilla. Stir to combine and pour into the pie shell.

For the Chocolate Cream Pie...
Add 1 1/2 cups of Semi-Sweet Chocolate chips when you add the butter and vanilla. Stir until melted and pour into the pie shell.

More Pies...

Banana Cream Pie... Cool the filling until just warm. Cut up 3 bananas and place them in the pie shells and pour filling over the bananas. 

Butterscotch Cream Pie... Replace the sugar with Brown Sugar. (firmly packed 3/4 cup)

Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars

For the shortbread layer:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

For the cheesecake layer:
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the pecan pie layer:
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup butter, melted
3 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups finely chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350.

For the shortbread layer: In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in 1/2 cup pecan. Press mixture evenly into bottom of a greased 9x13" baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes; remove from oven, and cool for 10 minutes.

For the cheesecake layer: Place the cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat at medium speed until smooth. Add milk and vanilla and beat until combined. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the cooled shortbread layer. Bake for 15 minutes; remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes.

For the pecan pie layer: In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar, corn syrup, and melted butter. Gently stir in the eggs, salt, and vanilla extract. Stir in pecans. Pour pecan mixture over cooled cheesecake layer. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until center is set and pecan pie layer is a rich brown color.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Tartlets

I made these yummy tartlets to take to the Carolina football game last weekend. I even passed some out to the tailgaters next to us. I actually had them come over and ask for the recipe. It's so easy. You can use this recipe and make a full sized pie, but this was perfect for tailgating... one or two bite size.

1- 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. allspice

Refrigerated Pie Crust (not frozen ones in the pan)
1 box contains 2 roll-out pie crusts


Combine cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl. Mix until smooth with an electric mixer. Add pumpkin and spices, beat till smooth and creamy.

Unroll pie crusts and cut with a round cookie cutter. Gather scraps and roll into a ball. Roll out with a rolling pin and continue to cut. Yields 42 mini tart shells. Tuck dough into mini tart pans and bake at 425 degrees until golden brown, about 10 minutes.

Cool and pour filling into shells. Refrigerate until set.

You can bake these like in the picture, by adding an egg to the filling mixture. Bake in uncooked shells at 400 degrees for approximately 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream Pie

I whipped up 2 pies tonight! I made one for the hubby, and I might send the other one to my Dad's... if it makes it that far! :-)

First cream the sugar and cream cheese... 

1/3 cup sugar and 8oz cram cheese

Then add 2 pints of Strawberry Ice Cream...

and about 1 1/2 cups of whipped cream...

Anybody wanna lick the beaters?

I'll unplug the mixer!

Pour in two ready-made pie crusts... Done!

Strawberries are in!!!

At this time of the year, I'm looking for things to do with fresh fruit and produce. Here are a few recipes from my Mama using strawberries... her favorite!

Strawberry Butter

2 sticks Butter, softened
1 cup 10X Sugar
16 oz fresh Strawberries*

Blend in a blender or processor until very smooth. Store in refrigerator.
*Remember to always taste your berries for sweetness. Some may need more sugar than others.


Fresh Strawberry Dressing

¾ cup sliced ripe Strawberries
2 T light corn syrup
½ cup Sour Cream

Add ingredients to small blender. Mix til smooth. Chill about 1 hour.

Serve over fruit salad. Make about 1 ¼ cups.

French Strawberry Pie (Pictured Above)

1 quart Strawberries, cleaned & stemmed

6 oz Cream Cheese

1 ¼ cups Sugar

3 T Cornstarch

1 T Lemon Juice

1 Pie Crust (9 inch) baked and cooled

Spread cream cheese over the bottom of the pie crust. Select half of the best strawberries and press firmly into the cheese with tips up. Mash remaining berries and strain. Add enough water to make 1 1/2 cups liquid. Mix sugar and cornstarch in saucepan. Gradually stir in berries and juice. Cook over low heat until thick and clear (5 to 6 minutes). Add a little red food coloring. Cool and pour over berries. Chill about 3 hours. Serve with whipped cream.

Strawberry Ice Cream Pie

This is a super easy dessert that only takes minutes to throw together, but taste heavenly! Everyone will think you spent all day making this tasty dessert!

Graham Cracker pie crust

No-Bake Cheesecake Mix
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup strawberry jam
2 cups strawberries ice cream, softened

Combine the cheesecake mix and milk. Blend until thickened slightly. Add ice cram and jam. Combine until smooth. Pour into crust and freeze until set. Set out 15 minutes and cut with a knife dipped in hot water. Serve immediately.



Tutti-Frutti Blush

1 8oz can fruit cocktail
1/2 cup grenadine syrup
2 cups strawberry ice cream
2 cups milk

Combine in a blender and blend until smooth.






Cuisinart Smart Stick Stainless Steel Hand Blender & Chopper (Google Affiliate Ad)

Crab Pie

Here's another one of the recipe from my book, "Mama's Cookbook". As I wrote the other day, Mama loved seafood, but didn't have it very often growing up because of the cost. Unless you lived on the coast and caught your own, seafood was impractical and definitely a luxury item that struggling families could not afford. Mama made friends with a Catholic girl in school. The first Friday that she slept the night at her friends house, they had shrimp for supper. She was in love! I was named after her best friend Lynda! So the few recipes of Mama's that include seafood, I certainly do treasure! I hope you enjoy this one! Notice the note at the bottom. If you are not familiar with my cookbook, Mama jotted notes down for me on recipes before giving them to me. They are a treasure trove of memories!

Crab Pie

1 Pie Pastry, uncooked

1 cup Cheddar Cheese, grated

1 cup Crab Meat

3 Eggs, beaten

1 cup Cream

½ t salt

¼ t Pepper

½ t Lemon Zest

Arrange cheese evenly over bottom of pastry. Top with crab meat. Combine eggs, cream, salt, lemon peel and pour evenly over crab meat. Bake at 325 for about 40 minutes.

Notes: “Your Daddy likes this…Cool or the cheese will burn you!”

When I make it now, I add some Old Bay Seasoning and a mixture of cheeses that I have on hand. I use Swiss and Cheddar or Colby Jack. It just depends on my mood.