Shelly's Recipe

CHEESECAKE 5 WAYS - Easy

Category: Cheesecake

Crumb Crust(recipe follows)
3 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

Prepare Crumb Crust. Heat oven to 350.

Beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Pour into prepared crust. Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until almost set* Remove from oven to wire rack. With knife, loosen cake from side of pan. Cool completely; remove side of pan.

Cover; refrigerate several hours or until chilled. Just before serving, garnish as desired. Cover; refrigerate leftover cheesecake. 10 to 12 servings.

Crumb Crust: Heat oven to 350. Stir together 1 cup graham cracker crumbs and 2 tbspsugar in small bowl; blend in 1/4 cup melted butter, mixing well. Press mixture onto bottom and 1/2 inch up side of 9-inch springform pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Cool.

*Cheesecakes are less likely to crack if baked in a water bath.

Variations:
Chocolate Cheesecake: Increase sugar to 1 1/4 cups and add 1/3 cup Cocoa. Increase vanilla extract to 1 1/2 tsp

Toffee Bits Cheesecake: Prepare vanilla cheesecake batter as directed. Stir 1 1/3 cups (8-oz pkg.) Toffee Bits into batter.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake: Prepare vanilla cheesecake as directed. Stir 1 to 1 1/2 cups Mini Chips Semi-Sweet Chocolate into batter.

Mocha Cheesecake: Prepare Chocolate Cheesecake, using Special Dark cocoa. Add 1 1/2 tsp instant coffee granules to batter.

Mocha Toffee With Chocolate Chips Cheesecake: Prepare Mocha Cheesecake as directed. Stir 3/4 cup Toffee Bits and 3/4 cup mini chips semi-sweet chocolate into batter.