In light of some very exciting travel plans next week which I hope will bring lots of fun things to write about, today's recipe is called Hollywood Cheesecake.
It's actually a very old recipe, but I'd never tried it; and with its simple proportions, it was the perfect recipe for experimentation. Rather than make a full 9 inch cheesecake, I wanted to try cutting a recipe in half and just baking it in a loaf pan. As you can see from the picture above, the experiment worked. It was just a matter of lining the pan with graham cracker crumbs...
...then baking and trimming.
And cutting into triangles.
Based on the Hollywood Cheesecake experiment, I think you could take just about any cheesecake recipe, cut it in half and bake it in a loaf pan. A bonus is that a loaf pan won't leak should you need to use a water bath.
Recipe
Hollywood Cheesecake -- Small Batch
Ingredients
Crust
- ½ cup graham crumbs or about 10 graham squares
- 1 ½ tablespoons melted butter
- 1 ½ tablespoons granulated sugar
Filling
- 1 8 oz pack cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ tsp. vanilla
- 1 large egg separated
- Topping
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325F. Line a 9x5 inch metal loaf pan with non-stick foil or line with regular foil and spray foil with cooking spray.
- In a food processor, process the graham crackers to make about ½ cup of crumbs. Add the butter and sugar and process until mixed. Press mixture into bottom of loaf pan and bake for 10 minutes.
- Reduce oven heat to 300F.
- Clean out the food processor with some water. Add the cream cheese and sugar and process until smooth, stopping to scrape bowl if necessary. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla and process to blend, then add the egg yolk and process. In a separate bowl, whip the egg white until stiff. Fold the cheesecake batter into the egg white (or vice versa) and then transfer it to the loaf pan.
- Bake for about 40 minutes at 300F. Mix topping ingredients and spread over top. Bake for another 10 minutes. Let cool completely, then chill for 4 hours or preferably, overnight.
- Before serving, grasp foil and lift from the pan. Cut into two large squares and then cut diagonally to make triangles. If you want, you can trim the edges before doing this, but it’s not necessary.
Barbara
This is the perfect old fashioned cheesecake. The flavor of lemon is just right and the sour cream topping is the final touch. I love that you made a half batch...I hate making the entire recipe for just one or two.
Trisha
I love the idea. We are just 2 of us at home and one whole cheesecake becomes a little too much. This way I can try out so many more variations. Thank you for sharing this idea!
HeartofGlass (Chewthefat)
You HAVE truly outdone yourself with this accessible cheesecake! I haven't made one, not because I am afraid of the cracking, but because it's so rich most people only want a small slice and I can't justify making a big one--this is a perfect size (until I get a baby pan). Just out of curiosity, do you know why it is called Hollywood Cheesecake (love the name)?
Anna
Martha, I have a couple of little 3 inch cheesecake pans, but I can never find them.
Martha in KS
Brilliant! I have a little 7" springform pan I use for half cheesecakes, but a loaf pan is a great idea. Thanks
Anna
Okay, I'll leave it. It's less funny when the caffeine wears off.
Darlene, thanks! It goes on right after you pull the cheesecake from the oven. You put it on the hot cheesecake, then bake it for 10 more minutes to set it.
The cherries are optional, but I think they look pretty/
Darlene
I love a sour cream topping on cheesecake, it's a delicious balance of flavors. Do you add the topping after it is baked and cooled? This looks delicious!
Katrina
If you deleted the step right up thing, it's still there. And fun, leave it.
And THIS is a kind of cake my family would like. They love plain cheesecake, but their favorite topping IS cherries. What a great idea to do a half recipe in a loaf pan.
Sue
Looks delicious! Practical too. And I love the print feature!!! Very cool!!!
Anna
Gloria, I deleted it. Too much caffeine ;).
I forgot to mention that the texture of this cheesecake was really great thanks to the egg white.
Gloria
So easy and good looking (Hmmm??) -- I bake something like this, but this looks better and easier!!! I love the "step right up"...is it a circus over at your house??? 🙂