Recipe

Mom's Skinny Cheesecake

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by testkitchenette

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by testkitchenette

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by testkitchenette

This recipe was entered in the contest for The Best Recipe or Technique Your Mother Taught You
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testkitchenette's Notes: Growing up cheesecake meant one thing, Mom's skinny cheesecake, which was a staple dessert at our house. It graced the table sporadically for weeknight desserts (fruit was the usual only...
Growing up cheesecake meant one thing, Mom's skinny cheesecake, which was a staple dessert at our house. It graced the table sporadically for weeknight desserts (fruit was the usual only choice), always for holidays and many birthdays, and requested by family/friends frequently. It has the lightness of an Italian ricotta cheesecake using a not too sweet creamy blend of cottage cheese, lemon, and vanilla topped with a thin sweet sour cream topping. My mom doesn't mess around with fiddly recipes and this one describes her to a "t" in that it's easy to prepare (she makes everything look easy), it's not cloyingly sweet (just like her), and is loved by everyone who tastes it (just as all those who meet her love her at the first hello). I am proud to call her my mother and thank her everyday for being the person who instilled the love of the stove and oven in me. The photo is my parents circa 1971 (2 years before I was born) about a year after they got married, next to my uncle's snazzy yellow Corvette.

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Serves 8-12 slices

Graham Cracker Crust:

1 and 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs Ask a question about this ingredient

1/4 cup butter, melted Ask a question about this ingredient

Mix together and press to the bottom of a 9 inch spring-form pan. Chill while preparing the filling.
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Cheesecake and Sour Cream Topping:

2 cups cottage cheese (I used Breakstones 2% pot style because it had the least amount of preservatives in it) Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 cup sugar Ask a question about this ingredient

2 eggs Ask a question about this ingredient

1 teaspoon lemon zest Ask a question about this ingredient

1 teaspoon lemon juice Ask a question about this ingredient

1 teaspoon vanilla extract Ask a question about this ingredient

scant 1/4 teaspoons salt Ask a question about this ingredient

1 cup sour cream Ask a question about this ingredient

2 tablespoons sugar Ask a question about this ingredient

1 teaspoon vanilla extract Ask a question about this ingredient

Cheesecake: Preheat oven to 350F. Combine the cottage cheese, eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and salt in a food processor and combine until smooth and creamy, scraping down sides once. Bake for 50 minutes or until filling is slightly puffed. Cool for 5 minutes.
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Sour Cream Topping: Whisk the sour cream, sugar, and vanilla until smooth in a small bowl and spread carefully over the hot filling. Bake for 5 minutes longer. Cool and chill.
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5 Comments on Mom's Skinny Cheesecake

AntoniaJames added over 2 years ago

What an exceptional dessert! I made this for a small weeknight dinner party for some Very Special Guests. Everyone raved about this dessert, which is not too sweet, not at all heavy, and simply perfect. I served it with strawberries and raspberries. More details are on my facebook page, Antonias Cooking. (I haven't been able to link to Facebook directly from this site. There is only one "Antonias Cooking" on Facebook, and I've opened the wall to "everyone.") ;o)

monkeymom added over 2 years ago

I made this and really liked it. Served it with some fresh sliced strawberries. Like you say it is light and not too sweet, which went perfectly with the fruit. Thanks to you and your mom for the recipe!

testkitchenette added over 2 years ago

Thanks Monkeymom! I am so flattered and pleased that you liked it. It is one of my all time favorites that I come back to over and over again. My mom will be so happy her recipe is making the rounds and making others happy!

testkitchenette added over 2 years ago

I used 2% (Breakstones, pot style/large curd) because it had the least amount of preservatives in it but I recall my mother using up to 4% all the way down to 1%. Thanks, it tastes delicious too!

monkeymom added over 2 years ago

This recipe looks fantastic! What % fat cottage cheese do you recommend?