Fabulous Individual Cherry Cheesecake

June 27, 2012

These individual cherry cheesecakes from Life's a Feast are absolutely fabulous. Crushed chocolate cookies for the crust of the cheesecake (chocolate and cherries are a dynamite combination). This cheesecake is made with ricotta instead of classic cream cheese.  To finish this dessert, it is topped with cooked cherries that have been flavored with lemon zest (a dash of kirsch, a cherry flavored liqueur, would also be lovely).  The best this about this sweet treat is that no baking is required.  Individual cherry cheesecakes are a summertime dessert that celebrates this seasonal stone fruit.

Ingredients:

A scant pound (400 – 500 g) fresh cherries
2 Tbs granulated brown sugar
3.5 oz (100 g) chocolate wafers or chocolate or vanilla Palets Bretons or speculoos
1 cup (250 g) ricotta, chilled * 
1 cup (250 ml) heavy whipped cream, chilled
2 Tbs or more powdered/confectioner’s sugar, to taste
½ tsp vanilla extract
Finely grated zest and the juice of one lemon, optional**

For full recipe instructions, click here.

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