Chai-Spiced Cheesecake Recipe With Cranberry Compote
Go for this festive centerpiece when you need a break from holiday cookies
You can order one of Sarah Osborn Blue's exquisite holiday desserts to pick up in-store, but those of us not lucky enough to live in St. Louis have to take matters into our own kitchens. Niche Food Group's executive pastry chef brings the holiday magic with via a ready-to-be-cheesecaked chai spice blend—which you should keep on hand for the next time you want to add zing to a batch of oatmeal.
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Recipe adapted from Sarah Osborn Blue, Niche Food Group, St. Louis MO
Chai Cheesecake with Cranberry Compote
Get the recipe for this chai-spiced cheesecake with cranberry compote, which is perfect for holiday entertaining, from a popular St. Louis pastry chef.
Prep Time
20
minutes
Cook Time
1.17
hours
servings
8
cheesecake
Total time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Ingredients
- For the Crust
- 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs
- 2¼ tablespoons milk powder
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2½ tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2½ tablespoons heavy cream
- For the Chai Spice Blend
- 1 tablespoon ground cardamom
- 1 tablespoon ground allspice
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ground cloves
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- For the Cheesecake
- 28 ounces cream cheese
- ¾ cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon chai spice blend
- For the Cranberry Compote
- 12 ounces cranberries
- 1 orange, zested and juiced
- 1 cup sugar
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Spray an 8-inch cheesecake pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Make the crust: In a bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, milk powder, sugar and salt. Melt the butter and cream in a small pan over low heat to combine.
- Pour the butter mixture over the graham cracker mixture and stir until everything is combined. Add to the cheesecake pan and press down into an even layer. Bake for 8 minutes and let cool while making the filling.
- Make the chai spice: Sift all the ingredients together in a bowl and set aside.
- Make the cheesecake: Lower the heat to 300°F. In a stand mixer on high with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until completely smooth. Scrape down the bowl and the paddle multiple times to ensure that there are no lumps in the cream cheese.
- In a separate bowl, combine the sugar and chai spice blend. This step ensures that the spices will distribute evenly throughout the cheesecake. Turn the mixer down to low speed and add the sugar mixture, beating for about 30 seconds, until completely combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and mix for another 30 seconds.
- Add the eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl again, and mix for 30 more seconds. Pour the batter into the prebaked crust. Wrap the bottom of the cheesecake pan first in plastic wrap, then in foil, to prevent the water bath from leaking into the cake.
- Place the wrapped cheesecake pan inside a roasting pan, and fill the roasting pan halfway with water.
- Bake the cheesecake in the water bath for 40 to 50 minutes, until it doesn't jiggle when you shake the pan. Remove from the oven and cool at room temperature for 10 minutes, then cool in the refrigerator overnight (or at least 4 hours).
- Make the compote: Combine the cranberries, orange zest, orange juice and sugar in a pot over medium-low heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- Boil for 5 to 8 minutes; the cranberries should be broken down. Pour into a heat-safe bowl and let the compote cool completely before topping the cheesecake to serve.
Nutrition
Calories per Serving | 677 |
Total Fat | 43.8 g |
Saturated Fat | 23.9 g |
Trans Fat | 0.2 g |
Cholesterol | 187.3 mg |
Total Carbohydrates | 65.9 g |
Dietary Fiber | 4.3 g |
Total Sugars | 53.4 g |
Sodium | 566.4 mg |
Protein | 9.8 g |