If you are in the search of a perfect patriotic dessert for Independence Day celebration, this American flag cheesecake is a perfect choice. It is decorated with berries and cream to add to its taste. This scrumptious dessert will never disappoint any of your guests. It is a perfect idea to turn the colors of our flag into something delicious to eat. Blueberries are used for the star section and the cream is piped in thin lines to resemble the strips in the flag.
Moreover, you are free to play with the ingredients in your kitchen. Use your favorite toppings and flavors. You can also give it the shape of patriotic pies, cake slices or bars. American flag cheesecake is prepared by a number of bakeries. They are served in attractive cake boxes to add to the festivity of the event. These custom boxes are designed from high-quality material to prevent the cake from spoilage. Sometimes the manufacturers work on the cake boxes design to make it according to the theme of the event. People also love to bake American flag cheesecake at home. You have to go through some basic steps to make it done.
Yield: 8
Cook time: 1 hour
Cuisine: Cheesecake
Ingredients Required:
- 11/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon or 1/4 cup ground nuts
- 4 Tablespoons (1/2 stick or 1/4 cup) melted butter
- 4 8-ounce packages cream cheese
- 11/2 cups white sugar
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- Whipped cream 1.5 – 2 cups
- Washed and dried blueberries, raspberries or strawberries cut in half
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Step 1: Let the Ingredients come at Room Temperature
Before making cheesecake, set the cream cheese, sour cream, eggs, and milk to come at room temperature for one to two hours. This helps all the ingredients to mix together easily and thoroughly. Meanwhile, preheat the oven at 350°F.
Step 2: Mix the Ingredients Together
Take a small bowl. Put graham crackers crumbs, 1/3rd cup white and nuts/cinnamon in it. Mix well until they combined thoroughly. Now pour the melted butter over the crumbs and mix until everything is evenly moistened.
Step 3: Pour the Mixture in the Baking Pan
Pour the mixture in a 9-inch cake pan. Press evenly into the bottom and sides if required. Use a glass or a measuring cup to pat down the mixture evenly.
Step 4: Beat the Cream Cheese and Eggs
Use hand or an electric mixer to mix together cream cheese with 1.5 cups of white sugar. Keep mixing until the mixture gets smooth. Add milk on low speed. Start adding eggs one by one and mix until combined. Stop using the mixer and mix it by hand. Add salt, sour cream and vanilla until the mixture gets combined.
Step 5: Add Flour
Start adding flour into the mixture until combined. Pour it over the graham crackers crust.
Step 6: Bake the Cake
For baking, you have two options. Either you may use a water bath or bake directly. In the case of cheesecake, the experts recommend using a water bath so that the cake gets a smooth and creamy texture and do not break.
Now, if you wish to use a hot water bath, wrap the base of a large springform pan with two foil layers and place the baking pan with cake inside the larger pan. Place the setup in the over in its middle rack. Pour hot boiling water carefully around the pan. Make sure that it does not get inside the springform pan. If you want to bake the cake directly, place it in the middle of the oven. Bake it for one hour and keep the temperature 350°F. If you are using a hot water bath, remove the cheesecake from it and allow it to cool. If you are not using a bath, keep the cake in the oven for 5-6 hours to let it cool. Keep the door closed. Once your cheesecake gets ready, remove it from the oven and keep refrigerated overnight.
Step 7: Decorate with Fruits or Cream Cheese Batter
Before serving, remove the ring of the springform pan. American Flag Cheesecake usually comes up with two decorations. Either, decorate the cheesecake with whipped cream. Let the icing cool. Place some blueberries on the top of the cheesecake in the left corner. Make them halfway over and halfway down to resemble the stars of the American flag. Place raspberries side to side to make red strips of the flag. In the case you are using strawberries, slice them in half from top to bottom to make strips.
Another way is to use the cream cheese batter you prepared in step 4. Separate one-third of the mixture before pouring it onto the graham cracker crust. Separate it in two sections. Color it red and blue separately. Now pour the colored batter one by one in a piping bag. First, use blue to create the corner of the flag. Make some small stars or a single large one. Pipe red strips across the remaining cheesecake. Remember, if you go for this decoration, it is to be done before baking. Decorate the cake and then bake it afterward.
Ready to Serve!
Once your American Flag Cheesecake gets ready, put it in custom cake boxes. You can send it to your friends, family or relative as a gesture to celebrate Independence Day with full thrill and excitement. A number of bakers use ready-made custom printed boxes by TheCustomBoxes for this purpose. Make sure that the packaging printing on the boxes matches the theme of the event. This makes your cheesecake even more special.
