The Amazing Cheesecake Recipe

Ask people to say "Cheese" and they'll smile; ask them to say "cheesecake" and they'll start drooling. This humble, yet delicious dessert is a world favourite comfort food that's served at restaurants in various forms. It's also a versatile dish that can be flavoured with different kinds of condiments, each having a unique taste. Baking the perfect cheesecake is an art that's the pride of many a good chef.

Ancient Greece is said to be the birthplace of the cheesecake. The dessert recipe has been carefully preserved and spread all over Europe. Its journey continued on to the United States when immigrants took it to the New Country. America took to cheesecake like a rat to cheese and an American; William Lawrence invented cream cheese which is now a staple ingredient to make the dessert.

Take your pick from the plain cheesecake, the famous New York Cheesecake or cakes flavoured with fruits, chocolate, mint or a variety of other unique flavours. For best results, prepare the cheesecake in advance and let the flavour set in.

Keep these ingredients ready for your cheesecake -

* Powdered graham cracker crumbs - 1.75 cups
* Powdered cinnamon - ½ cup
* Walnuts chopped - ¼ cup
* Softened butter - ½ cup
* Eggs - 3
* Softened cream cheese - 16 oz
* White sugar - 1 cup
* Salt - ¼ tsp
* Almond essence - ½ tsp
* Vanilla essence - 2 tsp
* Sour cream - 3 cups

How to make cheesecake -

Preheat your oven to 375oF. Make a mixture of broken walnuts, butter, graham cracker crumbs and cinnamon. Take a 9 inch spring form pan and spread out this mixture on the bottom tightly. Beat the eggs well and blend them along with cream cheese, sugar, salt, almond extract and vanilla essence. Beat thoroughly till you get a creamy mix. Now add sour cream and pour the entire mixture on top of the crumb layer.

Keep this in the oven and bake for 35 minutes or till you know the cake's ready. Take it out and let it cool. Refrigerate this and add topping when you serve.

Your cheesecake's now ready. Be creative with your toppings; each topping could change the taste of this soft cake. Or just top up the cake with seasonal fresh fruits and relish the experience.

Now, you no longer have to go to a restaurant for your favourite cheesecake. Homemade cheesecake is easy to make and just as tasty; if not better.