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Lovely Susan over at Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy is having her 1st Annual SGCC Blogiversary Bash and has issued an invitation to share our favorite party foods with her. Susan’s blog has been a hit since the day she started blogging and she always has something wonderful to share with a style that’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
I’ve decided to share this fun Polka Dot Cheesecake. It is a recipe by Maida Heatter (out of Maida Heatter’s Cakes- a fabulous cook book)
 
and the only changes I’ve made are to top it with a bit of bittersweet ganache and to use chocolate cookie crumbs for the base instead of regular graham crackers. Here is a link to it printed in our favorite Saveur magazine. Also note: I baked it in a 9″ spring-form pan wrapped in aluminum foil to keep the water bath at bay. The polka dots actually work better in an 8″ pan since the regular batter is deeper the polka dots stay round and suspended a bit easier. But sometimes you just have to work with what you have. 🙂
May I just say here and now- I LOVE Maida Heatter- she is one of my personal heroes- how could you not love someone who carries brownies around in her pockets on the chance that she might be able to offer one to someone in need?! Besides that- she is an enthusiastic, accomplished baker and innovative ahead of her time. She also doesn’t seem to sport that overwhelming egocentricity that is the trademark of many of our current celebrity chefs. So I like her AND I love her and that’s that!
The last time I made this recipe was for our friends Joe and Nancy’s annual cheesecake and champagne party- each guest was invited to bring a bottle of bubbly or a cheesecake. My head fairly swims remembering the richness of it all! This cheesecake was delicious (although it is not the over the top Lindy’s recipe that I usually make -I’ll tell you a story about that sometime.) 🙂
This is a straight forward cheesecake recipe without a lot of extra ingredients- just cream cheese, sugar eggs and extracts- plus the chocolate for the polka dot part. You add the cookie crumb base after baking it. It’s simple, quick to mix and bake and lots of fun when you cut into it!
So I hope you enjoy this – and my best wishes to Susan- May we all enjoy many more years of great food and wonderful wit out of the land of Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy!
many thanks gabi! xx
Hello Gabi!
wow, I’ve never seen anything like this – it is super-cute. How did you get the dot? I couldn’t “look inside” the amazon book because they say I’ve gotta have a purchasing history with amazon.com…
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Please please let me know about how you did it?? Many thanks! xx
Love polka dots, love cheesecake!! I love this Gabi!! Gorgeous!
This is so much fun! Very whimsical!
Visually stunning and soooo tempting. Thanks for sharing.
Hey, there’s a new website about to launch called Behind the Burner: it features exclusive tips on products and cooking techniques, as well as video demonstrations with New York City’s best chefs! Be sure to check out the website, http://www.behindtheburner.com where you can sign up for email updates and more info.
Divya- Thank you – but really this is so easy it didn’t require much patience!
Lauren- thank you!
Bryan- you are my dear sweet neighbor- how could I not send over some cheesecake? Thank you for the very sweet compliment- my whole being blushes!
Susan- Thank you i’m looking forward to seeing the buffet!
Deborah- Thank you 🙂
Marie- Thank you can’t wait to see you at the pary- I love your midnight cocktail!
Sally- Thank you ! xox
Jenn- Thank you! 🙂
I love Susan’s blog AND that cheesecake! It is so cute! 🙂
I’ve never seen anything like it! Not even in a very posh French patisserie.
(PS I’ve been over to SGCC thanks to you and Bleeding Espresso – it was really worth the visit.)
Gabi, That is beautiful! A perfect dot! How on earth did you do that? I gotta go back and read the recipe. Save me a piece at the party!
What a fun cheesecake! I’ve never seen anything like it – I want some now!
OMG, Gabi! This looks divine! Cheesecake is one of my favorite things on earth! Thank you so much for sending it over. It’s going to be a smash hit on my buffet! 😀
…and if you happen to be an amazingly lucky neighbor that shamelessly solicits cheesecake, you get to try some yourself!
Thanks Gabi! The cheesecake’s perfection is second only to your fantastic ontology.
this is, well, rediculous. After looking over the recipe it’s simpler then it seems, but the result looks fantastic! great job!
This looks so perfect! You have a lot of patience 🙂