Mango Lime Cheesecake

A couple months ago a friend of mine sent me an email telling me all about a slice of Mango Key Lime cheesecake she had at the Cheesecake Factory.  She searched for a copycat recipe but after not finding one, she gave me the challenge.  My mission was, should I choose to accept it (duh...it involved cheesecake!), to figure out the recipe for the Mango Key Lime Cheesecake.  It has a coconut macaroon crust, lime cheesecake, a layer of fluffy mango mousse, and finally a mango glaze to top it off.  So I searched online and jotted down some ideas, but it wasn't until I finally had the opportunity to try it for myself that I was hooked.  I love the tropical flavors of the mango and lime together with the coconut in the crust.   If I wasn't already on vacation, I could have closed my eyes and pretended I was in the tropics somewhere.  Yeah...it was that good.  Now, I can't profess that this is an exact copy of the Cheesecake Factory, but it's pretty close, just less whipped cream!

July 30th is National Cheesecake Day, which means that Cheesecake Week has returned to Recipe Shoebox!  Look here for a recap of all of our past cheesecake recipes and stay tuned for a whole week leading up to July 30th of delicious new cheesecake recipes! 

Click here for printable recipe

Posted by: Jen

Ingredients:

For the cheesecake:

 1 c flour
1/4 c packed brown sugar
1/3 c butter, softened
2/3 c coconut
3 pkg. (8-ounces each) cream cheese, softened
3 Tbsp corn starch
3/4 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
zest of 2 limes
1/2 c lime juice, which is 5 limes (if using Key limes, use half the amount)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray the inside of your cheesecake pan with nonstick spray and line the bottom with parchment paper.  (not totally necessary, but I don't like to take my chances of crusts sticking)

Blend the softened butter and the brown sugar together until creamy. Then mix in the flour.

 Stir in the coconut.  If you want a more pronounced coconut flavor, add 1/4 tsp coconut flavoring. (I didn't have any, but I remember that the Cheesecake Factory version had a more coconut flavor.  Perhaps one could add a little more coconut)

 Press into bottom of spring form pan and bake for 10 minutes.

 Meanwhile, prepare your cheesecake batter.

In a bowl cream together the cream cheese, corn starch, and sugar until it is all smooth and creamy.  It will all be creamy IF your cream cheese was all the way softened.  This will help prevent any cracks, but it won't matter with this cheesecake if you have a few cracks.

Blend in the vanilla and the eggs, one at a time. 

After the eggs are all mixed in, then add the zest of two limes.

 Squeeze the juice out of the 5 limes which should be about 1/2 cup.  I read on my lime package that one gets more juice if cut the long way.  I don't know if that's true, but I did it anyway.  Just make sure that you don't have a paper cut on your finger before doing this.  Stings like crazy!

 Add the juice to the batter and mix well.

 Pour onto prepared coconut crust.  Bake in oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the center is slightly wiggly.  (It may take up to an hour depending on your oven)

 Remove and cool completely before putting in the refrigerator.  See, I have a couple cracks on the edge, but it won't matter because we're covering it with mango mousse.  Now, onto the mousse...

Ingredients for Mango Mousse:

 2 c mango pulp (about 2-3 ripe mangos, pitted and peeled)
2 tsp lemon juice (or orange juice)
1 small pkg sugar free orange jello (or 2 tsp plain gelatin if it's easier for you)
2 c heavy whipping cream
2 Tbsp powdered sugar

Peel and pit your mangos.  Purée them in a blender.  OR if you happen to have an immersion blender, then just place them in a small pan.

Once they are puréed, add the lemon (or orange) juice and then heat in a small pan.

When they are hot, sprinkle on the gelatin, and stir in so all the gelatin is well blended and dissolved.  OR you can heat up 1/4 cup hot water and dissolve the jello in the water and then mix it all into the mangos.  I believe it is easier that way.

Once jello is dissolved, remove from heat and let cool.

Meanwhile, whip your cream.  Sprinkle on a couple tablespoons of powdered sugar.  Whip until light peaks appear.  Over beating will curdle.  Make sure you have a high fat content whipping cream.  If not, then it will NOT whip.  (which is unfortunately what I discovered with my cream.  So I made up for it by adding a little Cool Whip.)  However, I KNOW that if your cream is whipped you do not need the cool whip.

Once you have your cream whipped, fold it into the cooled mango mixture.  It may appear to not be very thick, but the jello will help that.

My added Cool Whip.  Hopefully you can skip this step.

Pour onto the cooled cheesecake and refrigerate until mousse is firm.  Now onto the glaze.

Ingredients for the Mango Glaze:

1 mango, peeled and pitted
1 tsp lemon juice (or orange juice)
2 Tbsp cold water
2 Tbsp corn starch

Once again, puree your mangos either in the blender or with an immersion blender.  Once again place them in a small pan on the stove. Add the juice to the purée and heat the mixture to a low simmer.   (Hint, just rinse out the pan you used last time for the mousse.  You don't even need to clean it because you're using the same ingredients.)

Make a slurry of corn starch and cold water.  Just mix the two together until the corn starch is dissolved.  

Pour the corn starch mixture into the hot mixture and stir it in well.  It will gradually thicken.  When it does get thick, remove from heat and let cool a little.

Pour glaze onto the mousse and smooth it all over the top.  Place back in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Before serving, you may want to heat up a flat knife (then dry it so the blade is warm).  Run it around the edges just to make sure that everything will come clear easily from the side of the spring form pan.

Sit back and pretend you are in the tropics on a vacation.  You deserve it after the work you've put into this dessert.

*****************************
Want to see links to your favorite recipes from Recipe Shoebox in your Facebook feed?  Be sure to "LIKE" our Facebook page!   

Read more...

White Chocolate Strawberry Cookies

If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind way to use up some fresh strawberries, then you've come to the right place.  These cream cheese cookies are bursting with fresh strawberry flavor with a touch of zesty lime while the white chocolate adds just the decadent touch to make these soft textured, unique cookies a colorful addition to a summer menu.  For best results, use only fresh, ripe strawberries chopped shortly before adding to the dough. Enjoy!

Click here for printable recipe.  

White Chocolate Strawberry Chunk Cookies
Recipe by  Lara 

The ingredients:


(oops, I forgot the white chocolate chips and two limes in this  picture)

1 cup butter, softened
1 pkg. (8-ounces) cream cheese, softened
2 cups sugar
1 egg
1 Tbs. fresh lime juice
Zest from 3 limes, finely chopped (about 1-1/2 tablespoons)
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 cups fresh strawberries, finely chopped to about the size of chocolate chips (NOTE:  don't chop the strawberries until shortly before you're going to add them to the dough)
1  pkg. (12-oz.)  white chocolate chips

 Directions:  In a large bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese, and 2 cups of sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and lime juice and lime zest.  Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well.   Gently fold in chopped strawberries (drain any accumulated juices first) and white chocolate chips.

Gently scoop into balls on a greased baking sheet (or a parchment paper lined baking sheet) and bake at 350° for 8-10  minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned.  Cool 1 minute before removing to wire racks.    Makes 4 dozen cookies.  These are best eaten fresh (right out of the oven is good) or within a couple of days. 

Enjoy! 

Don't miss a single recipe, sign up for free email updates. 

***

Read more...

Key Lime Bars

I first sampled these tangy, but cool and creamy bars at a baby shower for a good friend.  I’ve always loved key lime pie, so it was no surprise that these easy bars struck such a chord with me.  After tracking down the recipe from my friend Alex, who had gotten the recipe from Cook’s Illustrated, I was determined to give them a try at home.  They came together in a jiffy and ended up being every bit the citrusy taste of spring I had been hoping for!   They would make for a great party food, since they’re simple to make and hold up well (once they’ve been refrigerated).  In addition, this recipe doubled fits just perfectly into a 9x13-inch baking pan.  Enjoy! 

Click here for printable recipe.

The ingredients:

CRUST: 

1-1/4 cups crushed animal crackers (about two and a half of the little 2 ounce boxes)
3 Tbs. brown sugar
pinch of salt
4 Tbs. butter, melted and cooled slightly


FILLING: 

2 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 Tbs. grated lime zest, minced
pinch of salt
1 can (14-ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1 large egg yolk
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice


GARNISH:
3/4 cup shredded sweetened coconut, toasted until golden and crisp


Directions:  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line 8x8-inch baking pan with foil , folded and hanging over the sides (so that the overhang can later be used as handles in removing the bars from the pan).  Spray foil with non-stick cooking spray.    (NOTE:  recipe can be doubled  and baked in a 9x13-inch baking pan if desired)


For making the crust:  In a large bowl (or in the blender jar if a blender was used to crush the animal crackers),  add the crushed animal crackers, brown sugar, salt and stir well.  Stir in melted butter.  Press crumb/butter mixture evenly and firmly into bottom of foil-lined pan.  Bake until deep golden brown, 18-20 minutes.  Set aside and allow to cool, while you prepare the filling. 

For making the filling:  While crust cools, in medium bowl, stir cream cheese, lime zest, and salt with rubber spatula until softened, creamy, and thoroughly combined.  Add sweetened condensed milk and whisk vigorously until incorporated and no lumps of cream cheese remain; whisk in egg yolk.  Add lime juice and whisk gently until incorporated. 

Pour filling into baked crust; spread to corners and smooth surface with rubber spatula.  Bake at 325 degrees until set and edges begin to pull away slightly from sides, 15- 20 minutes.  Cool at room temperature for 1 to 1-1/2 hours.  Cover with foil and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours. 

Loosen edges with knife and lift bars from baking pan using foil "handles"; cut bars into 16 squares.  Sprinkle with toasted coconut, if using, and serve.  Store in refrigerator.  Makes 16 bars (or 9 if you want them to be big). 


Enjoy! 

Read more...