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Blackberry and Vanilla Marbled Cheesecake
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Half-Baked Blackberry-Vanilla Swirl Cheesecake

While you can make this a “no-bake” cheesecake, we like to give the crust a few minutes in the oven , but the filling is the real prize: whipped vanilla and blackberry batters swirled into a beautiful pattern. Using freeze-dried berries lends stability and turns this into a year-round treat — though we love to top it with fresh berries to celebrate berry harvest season.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time1 hour 12 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cake,, Cheese, Cheesecake, No Bake
Author: Emily Clifton, Nerds with Knives

Ingredients

For the Crust:

  • 9 ounces graham cracker crumbs (about 2 cups; 250g)
  • 2 1/2 ounces unsalted butter melted but cool (about 5 tablespoons; 70g)
  • Kosher salt to taste

For the Filling:

  • 16 ounces plain full-fat cream cheese, (recommended: Philadelphia) (455g), divided
  • 5 1/4 ounces sugar about 3/4 cup; 150g, divided
  • 1 ounce lemon juice 2 tablespoons; 25g, divided
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla paste or extract
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 2 cups heavy cream about 14 ounces; 395g, divided
  • 1 1/4 ounces freeze-dried blackberries about 1 1/2 cups; 35g

Instructions

For the Crust:

  • Pre-heat oven to 350ºF (if baking crust)*. Add cookie crumbs, melted butter and a pinch of salt to a small bowl, then stir to combine. Tip into a 9-inch tart pan or pie plate, loosely spread into an even layer, then press firmly with the bottom of a drinking glass or measuring cup, making sure to press up the sides as well. Back until the crust smells toasty and is just barely golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool completely before filling. If not baking, refrigerate the crust until ready to use (this can be done a day or two ahead, if wrapped in plastic).

For the Vanilla filling:

  • Combine half the cream cheese (one 8 oz brick), 6 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, vanilla, and a pinch of salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix at low speed until a thick paste forms, then turn up to medium until soft and smooth, scraping the sides as necessary. Then switch to the whisk attachment and pour in half the cream (1 cup). Mix at low speed to combine, then increase to high and whip until the mixture can hold stiff peaks, 3 to 5 minutes depending on the horsepower of your mixer. Scrape the filling into a bowl and set aside. Set the bowl back on the mixer (no need to clean it), and put the paddle attachment back on.

For the Blackberry filling:

  • In the bowl of a food processor, grind the rest of the sugar (6 tablespoons) and the freeze-dried blackberries until powdery and fine, about 1 minute. To the mixing bowl, add the other 8 oz cream cheese, blackberry-sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, cardamom, and the rest of the salt. With the paddle attachment, mix at low speed until a thick paste forms, then increase to medium speed and beat until soft and smooth. Scrape the bowl and beater with a flexible spatula, then switch back to the whisk attachment. Add the other cup of cream, mix on low speed to combine, then increase to high and whip until the mixture can hold stiff peaks, 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Working in heaped tablespoons, add dollops of the two fillings in an alternating pattern and swirl with the back of a spoon or smooth with an offset spatula. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the filling is fully chilled and firm, at least 6 hours, up to overnight. Top with fresh blackberries and a few mint sprigs and serve!

Notes

* you can leave the crust un-baked, if you'd rather. Baking gives it a little more of a toasty flavor, and helps it stay crisp if you don't plan on serving it right away.
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