Best 5 Classic Italian Cheesecake Recipes

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**Classic Italian Cheesecake: A Delightful Treat with a Rich History**

Indulge in the timeless flavors of the classic Italian cheesecake, a culinary masterpiece that has captivated taste buds for centuries. This delectable dessert, also known as Torta della Nonna, boasts a creamy and velvety filling nestled within a crisp and crumbly crust. Originating in Tuscany, Italy, this cheesecake is characterized by its simplicity and reliance on high-quality ingredients. With variations found across different regions of Italy, the classic Italian cheesecake remains a beloved symbol of Italian culinary heritage. Our curated collection of recipes offers a journey through the diverse expressions of this iconic dessert, from traditional to contemporary interpretations. Discover the secrets behind the perfect cheesecake crust and explore the nuances of various fillings, from classic ricotta to innovative flavors like Nutella and pistachio. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting your culinary adventure, these recipes will guide you in creating a stunning and authentic Italian cheesecake that will impress your family and friends.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

ITALIAN CHEESECAKE



Italian Cheesecake image

A slightly lighter version of cheesecake without the crust!

Provided by Lynn-Pgh

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 1h30m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 ½ pounds ricotta cheese
2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 eggs
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
½ teaspoon rum flavored extract
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon grated orange zest

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9 inch round springform or regular pan.
  • Combine the ricotta, confectioners' sugar and eggs. Blend well. Stir in vanilla, almond extract, rum extract, lemon juice, lemon zest and orange zest. Beat by hand until smooth and creamy. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
  • Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 40 minutes, until golden. Place on a rack and cool.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 178.5 calories, Carbohydrate 23.6 g, Cholesterol 64.1 mg, Fat 5.8 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 8.1 g, SaturatedFat 3.2 g, Sodium 88.8 mg, Sugar 20.1 g

ITALIAN CREAM CHEESE AND RICOTTA CHEESECAKE



Italian Cream Cheese and Ricotta Cheesecake image

This is my grandmother's cheesecake recipe passed down to my entire family. It's the best. I can't believe I'm sharing it, but everyone needs to know how to make an authentic Italian cheesecake. It is creamy and not thick, which is why our family LOVES it! For best results, do NOT substitute any ingredients with low-fat unless you've made it before and want to experiment.

Provided by April Caudle

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 6h15m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 (16 ounce) container ricotta cheese
1 ½ cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons flour
½ cup butter, melted and cooled
1 pint sour cream

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan.
  • Mix the cream cheese and ricotta cheese together in a mixing bowl until well combined. Stir in the sugar, eggs, lemon juice, vanilla, cornstarch, flour, and butter. Add the sour cream last and stir. Pour the mixture into the prepared springform pan.
  • Bake in the preheated oven 1 hour; turn oven off and leave in oven 1 hour more. Allow to cool completely in refrigerator before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 703.5 calories, Carbohydrate 49.8 g, Cholesterol 228 mg, Fat 50.1 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 16.1 g, SaturatedFat 30.7 g, Sodium 384.2 mg, Sugar 38.2 g

A NEW YORKER'S REAL ITALIAN CHEESECAKE



A New Yorker's Real Italian Cheesecake image

WARNING: once you eat this you will NEVER be able to eat any other cheesecake as long as you live! But it is so worth it! YUMMY! As I cheesecake lover, I am almost bummed to have eaten this because after tasting it no other cheesecake ever compares to its superior taste!

Provided by AZRoxy63

Categories     Cheesecake

Time 4h45m

Yield 12 slices, 12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

10 sheets graham crackers, sheets ground in a food processor to texture of fine crumbs (should be a little over 1 cup total)
1 1/8 tablespoons sugar
4 1/2 tablespoons melted butter
24 ounces ricotta cheese
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
6 eggs
6 tablespoons flour
8 ounces sour cream
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325°F.
  • Wrap the outside of a 10-inch springform pan with foil to prevent water from seeping in while baking.
  • Mix sugar, crumbs, and melted butter together well to form crust.
  • Press this mixture into the bottom of the springform pan and up the sides until you run out.
  • Bake crust for about 7-10 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Cool on wire rack while preparing the batter.
  • With a mixer, cream together ricotta cheese, cream cheese, flour, and sugar until very smooth.
  • Mix in the eggs one at a time, blend well but DO NOT OVER MIX THE BATTER!
  • Stir in the sour cream and vanilla by hand.
  • Pour mixture into cooled crust.
  • Place cheesecake into a large rectangular pan filled with about 1 1/2 inches of hot water.
  • Make sure foil is high enough around the springform pan so that no water seeps into it while baking.
  • Bake for 90 minutes.
  • After 90 minutes, turn oven off but leave cake in oven for another 60 minutes (DO NOT OPEN OVEN DOOR).
  • Carefully remove cake from water pan and remove foil from springform pan.
  • Cool on wire rack for 1 hour.
  • Cover cake with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator overnight.
  • Enjoy!

ITALIAN (RICOTTA) CHEESECAKE



Italian (Ricotta) Cheesecake image

This is the recipe I have used for years to make "Italian" cheese cake. It is a wonderful, basic cheese cake which easily lends itself to "variations".

Provided by Dee514

Categories     Cheesecake

Time 1h40m

Yield 1 12inch cheese cake, 12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 lbs whole milk ricotta cheese, drained
2 cups sugar
8 egg yolks
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 egg whites
1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped
1/2-1 tablespoon grated fresh lemon rind
graham cracker crumbs
confectioners' sugar, for lightly sprinkling over top of cooled cake (optional)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425°F.
  • Butter bottom and sides of a 12-inch springform pan.
  • Sprinkle bottom and sides of well buttered pan with Graham cracker crumbs.
  • In a large bowl, beat drained ricotta until very smooth.
  • Gradually add 1 1/2 cups sugar and egg yolks, beating after each addition.
  • Beat in flour, lemon rind, and vanilla.
  • In a small bowl, beat cream until cream holds its shape, but is not too stiff.
  • In a smaller bowl, beat egg whites with remaining sugar until stiff; combine with whipped cream and fold into ricotta mixture.
  • Pour mixture into prepared pan.
  • Bake for 10 minutes.
  • Lower oven temperature to 350°F and bake 1 hour.
  • Turn off heat and allow cake to cool in oven with door closed (about 3-4 hours).
  • Remove cooled cake from oven, carefully remove sides of pan, store cake (well wrapped) in refrigerator.
  • Before serving, lightly sprinkle top of cake with Confectioner's (powdered, 10X) sugar.
  • Cake may be served chilled or at room temperature.
  • Note: Center of cheese cake will be lower than the sides when it is cooled.
  • This is not a defect!
  • It is supposed to be this way (makes it easier to hold the topping if you choose to use one).
  • VARIATIONS: Add raisins, chopped citron or chopped maraschino cherries to the batter.
  • Top cheese cake with crushed sugared strawberries or cherries before serving.
  • Cover bottom of crumbed pan with drained, sweetened crushed pineapple, applesauce or sliced apples before adding batter to pan.
  • Pie crust pastry may be used instead of Graham crumbs to line pan.

ITALIAN RICOTTA CHEESECAKE



Italian Ricotta Cheesecake image

This quick-and-easy dessert is lighter than traditional cheesecake, since it calls for ricotta instead of cream cheese.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cake Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 cup sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 pounds ricotta cheese, drained
1 teaspoon each orange and lemon zest
6 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Set rack in the middle of the oven.
  • Butter and flour a 9-by-2-inch springform pan and tap out excess flour. Place on a rimmed baking sheet.
  • In a medium bowl, sift sugar and flour.
  • In a large bowl, combine ricotta and zest and whisk until smooth. Add sugar and flour mixture and gently mix to combine.
  • Add eggs, 1 at a time, and whisk to combine. Add the vanilla and salt.
  • Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake in the center of the oven for about 55 to 60 minutes, until a light golden color. Make sure the center is fairly firm and the point of a sharp knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Cool completely on a wire rack. Cover with plastic wrap and transfer to refrigerator until chilled, at least 2 hours.

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the cheesecake will taste. Use full-fat cream cheese, fresh eggs, and high-quality ricotta cheese.
  • Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature: This will help it mix smoothly with the other ingredients.
  • Don't overbeat the mixture: Overbeating can make the cheesecake tough. Mix until the ingredients are just combined.
  • Bake the cheesecake in a water bath: This will help to prevent the cheesecake from cracking.
  • Let the cheesecake cool completely before serving: This will help it to set properly.

Conclusion:

Classic Italian cheesecake is a delicious and versatile dessert that can be enjoyed on any occasion. With its creamy texture, rich flavor, and elegant presentation, it's sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it. So next time you're looking for a special dessert, give this classic Italian cheesecake a try. You won't be disappointed!

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