Little Ivy Cakes

BANANA-CREAM CHEESECAKE


So I have this friend. Right.? Hahaha. I know it's funny already. Hahaha. Yeah.
Before this year, he hated his birthday and would not tell many people about it. In fact he didn't really even want to talk to people or be around people on his birthday. However, he wised-up and decided to tell me when his birthday was IF I made him a banana-cream cheesecake. One of his favorites, I assume. And usually ordered from Cheesecake Factory.

Luckily for me, I found a recipe entitled, "Banana Cream Cheesecake(copycat)- just like Cheesecake Factory"
I added my own twist to the recipe here and there. Part of the description of the cheesecake on the Menu at CcF is "... and topped with Bavarian cream" what the hec was Bavarian cream? Great! I looked it up and seemed simple enough for me to make.
What is Bavarian Cream according to Wikipedia?

I found a recipe for the Bavarian cream to go on top but, it didn't keep it's shape very well. If you make my version I suggest storing the Bavarian cream in a separate dish and spooning some onto each slice of cheesecake when ready to serve. OR if you're fancy and know how to make it so it will gel better-then there ya go

*UPDATE*

(I have found a good Bavarian Cream recipe on Round Two of this Recipe that works at Joe Pastry, Here is is.)

The cheesecake was eaten by many friends at the Birthday bash along side a game of Scatergories and a heated game on TV between the L.A. Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. Yikes!
Everyone thought it was good and I thought it was a perfectly light cheesecake. The one I have been searching for, I'll be dramatic here, *all my life!!!*. I will keep this recipe close by for all other cheesecake flavors to come. I think what made a difference is the whipping cream that went into the mix.
* Update* Round two of this Recipe - I made mini versions of this for the same friends, Ken and Erica, at their going away party. :( Where we, again, played Scatergories. HAHA! I belive the link is above if you want to see the new and improved version. :)

Banana Cream Cheesecake adapted from a Cheesecake Factory(copycat) recipe

The Crust
20 vanilla cream-filled sandwich style cookies (I used Golden Oreos)
1/4 cup melted butter

The Filling
24 ounces(3 pks of 8oz) softened cream cheese
2/3 cup sugar
2 tbs cornstarch
3 large eggs
3/4 cup mashed banana(I think it was 2 med bananas)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 tbs vanilla
shredded toasted coconut for garnish if you want.
1/2 cup melted semi-sweet chocolate chips

What to do
-Use a blender to finely crumble the cookies with their filling.
-Pour crumbs in a medium bowl and add butter. Mix until they are well combined.
-Press mixture into the bottom of a 10" spring-form pan and smooth it out *with the bottom of a small spoon*-it works really well. :)
-Or if you are making 12 minis use about 2 Tbs of crumbs for each cheesecake.

-In a medium bowl, beat bananas until there are no clumps and set aside.
-Melt chocolate chips in a bowl over a pot of simmering water, set aside.

-Beat cream cheese with electric mixer until creamy and soft.
-Beat in sugar and cornstarch followed by the eggs (one at a time).
-Beat in bananas, whipping cream, and vanilla.

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees
-Swirl some melted chocolate on the crust. or just sprinkle chocolate chips if you don't want to melt chocolate.

-*optional for choc switrls* Pour 1/2 the cheesecake mixture into crust.
-Swirl more chocolate into the batter

-Pour the rest of the batter into the pan.
-Swirl more chocolate into the batter.

-Place pan on a cookie sheet and bake in a 350F oven for 15 minutes.
-Then, reduce oven temp to 200F and bake an additional 1 hour 25 minutes, or until center is almost set.
-Allow to cool completely before removing rim of pan -- Before removing the pan, run warm water over a knife and slide a knife around the edge of the cake to separate the cake from the pan cleanly.
-Refrigerate cheesecake, uncovered, up to 6 hours.
-Garnish with slices with a dallop of Bavarian cream, toasted coconut, and *bruleed bananas when ready to serve.
*Sprinkle slice bananas with sugar and use your culinary torch to toast sugar.

Bavarian Cream *update* this recipe doesn't work so well, OKAY!
You need
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped

What to do
-Combine sugar, flour, cornstarch and salt. Gradually stir in milk.
-On med-high heat (turning down to med, if necessary), cook and stir until mixture thickens and boils.
-Cook and stir 2-3 minute.
-Stir a little of the hot mixture into beaten egg.
-Stir egg mixture into the rest of the hot mixture and bring it just to boiling.
-STIRRING CONSTANTLY.
-Add vanilla.
-cover entire surface with plastic wrap or waxed paper. Chill in fridge.
-Beat mixture until smooth.

-Whip cream up and fold the chilled Bavarian cream into the whipped cream.


THE END!