Old-World Ricotta Cheesecake

Name: Old-World Ricotta Cheesecake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 12 servings.
Ingredients: 1-2/3 cups zwieback, rusk or plain biscotti crumbs; 3 tablespoons sugar; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/3 cup butter, softened; FILLING:; 2 cartons (15 ounces each) ricotta cheese; 1/2 cup sugar; 1/2 cup half-and-half cream; 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 2 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten; TOPPING:; 1 cup sour cream; 2 tablespoons sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

I reconstructed this dessert based on an old recipe that had been in the family for years but was never written down. The subtle cinnamon flavor of the zwieback crust reminds me of the cheesecake I enjoyed as a child, but substitute other crumbs if you like. —Mary Beth Jung, Hendersonville, North Carolina

Ingredients

1-2/3 cups zwieback, rusk or plain biscotti crumbs
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, softened
FILLING:
2 cartons (15 ounces each) ricotta cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup half-and-half cream
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
TOPPING:
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Combine zwieback crumbs, sugar and cinnamon; mix in butter until mixture is crumbled. Press onto bottom and 1-1/2 in. up sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Refrigerate until chilled.
Preheat oven to 350°. Beat all filling ingredients except eggs until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low until combined. Pour into crust. Place pan on a baking sheet.
Bake until center is set, about 50 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand 15 minutes, leaving oven on. Combine topping ingredients; spoon around edge of cheesecake. Carefully spread over filling. Bake 10 minutes longer. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; cool 1 hour. Refrigerate 3 hours or overnight, covering when completely cooled. Remove rim from pan. Refrigerate leftovers.

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 260 calories, 14g fat (9g saturated fat), 83mg cholesterol, 191mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 0 fiber), 7g protein.

Originally published as Old-World Ricotta Cheesecake in Grandma's Great Desserts Cookbook

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Summy

May 14, 2018

I really want to make this recipe, so I went on Amazon, and...yup...they sell Zwieback. :)
Carol

May 13, 2018

Sam: Zwieback are not cookies. They are very much like melba toast...just thicker. Years ago Nabisco made them and sold them as teething biscuits for babies and they were stocked in the baby foods aisle in a bright yellow box. I have not seen them for over 30 years. Closest thing are pkgs of "rusks". Or....you can make your own by slowly toasting a plain fine-textured Italian bread sliced about 1" thick in a very low oven till completely dry and lightly browned. Zwieback makes a good crust for cheesecakes because it does not become soggy like graham cracker crusts can.
Sam

May 13, 2018

I have been looking for zwiebeck cookies for years and no seems to carry them.Does anyone know a grocery store that does?Thanks