Yogurt Cheesecake with Pine Nut Brittle

Recipe by: Gina DePalma | from Dolce Italiano: Desserts from the Babbo Kitchen

Cookstr

Course: Dessert

Total Time: A Day Or More

Skill Level: Moderate

Cost: Moderate

Photo by: Gentl & Hyers/Edge

Every time I put a cheesecake on the dessert menu at Babbo it is a guaranteed sellout. People can’t seem to get enough of it, and I try to satisfy this demand by creating different and unique versions of this universal favorite. Deliciously thick and creamy Greek-style yogurt is everywhere these days, and it is a far cry from the thin, watery yogurt I used for so many years. It harmonizes perfectly with the rich, buttery texture of mascarpone. This is a crustless cheesecake, more like a custard than anything else. For a contrast in texture, I like to serve it garnished with some crushed pine nut brittle, or crocante.

Yield: Makes one 10-inch cheesecake, 10 to 12 servings

INGREDIENTS

¾ cup granulated sugar, plus more for dusting the pan
3 cups (24 ounces) plain Greek-style yogurt
1 ½ cups mascarpone
3 tablespoons confectioners sugar
3 large eggs
6 large egg yolks
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Pine Nut Brittle

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and position a rack in the center. Lightly grease a 10-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray or butter. Sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of granulated sugar into the pan and swirl it around to coat the bottom and sides evenly, tapping out the excess sugar. Line the outside of the pan with a sheet of aluminum foil to guard against any leaks. The cheesecake will be baked in a water bath, so have ready a deep roasting pan that is large enough to accommodate the springform pan with an inch of space on all sides.

In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the yogurt, mascarpone, remaining ¾ cup granulated sugar, and confectioners sugar on medium speed until very smooth and creamy, about 1 minute, stopping once to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Beat in the eggs and egg yolks one at a time, followed by the salt and vanilla extract, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Place the springform pan in the roasting pan and carefully fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the springform pan. Cover both pans with a single piece of aluminum foil, tenting the foil so it does not touch the top of the springform pan and being sure to cover the roasting pan completely. Very carefully transfer the roasting pan to the oven.

Bake the cheesecake for 20 minutes, then carefully rotate the pan 180 degrees to ensure that the cake bakes evenly. Bake for another 2 minutes, then remove the foil tent. The cake should be puffed but not cracked, jiggly but not liquid in the center. If necessary, continue baking the cake without the foil until it is set.

Remove the roasting pan from the oven and allow the cake to cool in the water bath until the water is lukewarm. Carefully remove the springform pan from the roasting pan and continue cooling the cake on a rack until it is cool to the touch. Remove the foil from the outside of the pan and chill the cake in the refrigerator 8 hours or overnight.

Before serving, remove the sides of the springform pan; you may have to run a knife around the edges. Transfer the cheesecake to a serving plate or cake stand and sprinkle the top with some chopped pine nut brittle. To serve, cut the cheesecake into wedges with a long, thin-bladed knife. Any leftover cake may be wrapped in plastic and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutrients per serving (% daily value)

This recipe serves 12. Nutritional information does not include Pine Nut Brittle. For nutritional information on Pine Nut Brittle, please follow the link above.

Calories 239kcal (12%)

Calcium 120mg (12%)

Vitamin C 0mg (1%)

Vitamin A 173mcg RAE (6%)

Potassium 162mg

Magnesium 12mg

Protein 7g

Sugar 18g

Fiber 0g

Total Carbohydrate 19g

Cholesterol 198mg (66%)

Sodium 240mg (10%)