One of the first things I learned to make as a child was “Impossible Pie”, a dish named for the transformation that occurs as it bakes. Ingredients are spread in a pie plate, a mixture of biscuit mix, eggs and milk is poured over the top, then it goes in the oven where the mixture "magically" separates and forms a crust. My favorite flavors were the cheeseburger and taco versions, and my family liked the chicken and broccoli version. For some reason I never got around to trying the cheesecake version, Impossible Cheesecake Pie, until recently.

Impossible Cheesecake Pie aka Impossible Pie made with biscuit mix

Todd enjoyed it and it was super fun to put prepare, plus I learned a few things along the way. The recipe is supposed to be made in a deep dish pie plate, but I used 4 ½ inch springform pans which worked okay but were not ideal. The sides buckled in and look shriveled. Stick with a pie dish. Or if you want to try a half-size version, you could try making it in a loaf pan. That's probably what I'm going to do next time.

Also, make sure to use a blender rather than a handheld mixer. I tried it both ways and while the mixer version tasted okay, it was lumpier and had cracks.

Finally, be ready for a really dense cheesecake. Someone in the Betty Crocker review section described this as similar to Polish cheesecake. I imagine there are lots of different types of Polish cheesecakes, but this biscuit mix cheesecake certainly did remind me of the one Polish cheesecake I ever tasted.

Update: I've since tested Impossible Cheesecake Pie with homemade biscuit mix and it works just fine. I also use my food processor rather than a blender.

Recipe

Impossible Cheesecake Pie

Anna

An easy and very dense, thick, cheesecake that forms its own crust as it bakes. Make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature -- leaning toward warm rather than cool.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 40

Total Time 50

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings

Ingredients

¾ cup milk, room temperature or warmed
2 large eggs room temperature
1 cup sugar 200 grams
2 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup Bisquick baking mix or homemade biscuit mix
2 8 oz packages of cheese, softened (make sure it is not cold)
Optional Topping: 1 cup sour cream mixed with 2 tablespoons of sugar and a splash of vanilla I use just half of the topping, so ½ cup sour cream, 1 T. sugar and small splash of vanilla

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 ½ inch pie plate generously with butter or spray with cooking spray. I recommend using a deep dish!
In a blender, blend the room temperature milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla and Bisquick for 15 seconds. Cut the softened cream cheese into pieces and add it, then blend for about 2 minutes or until smooth.
Pour mixture into pan and bake for about 40 minutes.
In my experience, the pie puffs up quite a bit as it bake, but it settles as it cools.
Let cool at room temperature for about an hour, then chill thoroughly before serving. If you want, you can make a topping. Mix the topping ingredients together and spread it over the cake once cool.

Notes

To use a food processor, follow the directions as written, but be careful to hold down the blade so that the batter doesn't leak too much when you lift it off the base. If you need to make a quick ½ cup of homemade biscuit mix, throw ½ cup flour, ¾ teaspoon baking powder, ⅛ teaspoon salt in the processor and pulse to mix. Add ½ tablespoon of butter and pulse until crumbly. Proceed with the recipe by adding all of the other ingredients (make sure they are not too cool!) and pulsing about 20 times. Add the cream cheese and pulse until smooth.

Keyword Biscuit Mix, Cheesecake, Impossible

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Comments

I love hearing from other bakers and appreciate helpful comments. Rude ones will be deleted immediately.

Anna

June 25, 2023 at 3:32 pm

Glad you tried it, and thanks for noting your bake time.
Kathleen Clifford

June 25, 2023 at 3:24 pm

I just made this today. it was surprisingly easy. I did use my hand mixer because I don't have a blender . it mixed completely. I did end up baking it for 50 minutes (maybe my oven is a little off).
Anna

March 08, 2018 at 11:52 am

Hi Montgomery,
Maybe you could try making the cream cheese a bit warmer. And maybe try warming the eggs a bit by putting them in some very warm water before cracking.
This is a fun little recipe, but I just make it for the family and haven't tried doubling it or tripling it. For the wedding, you might consider going with a New York Cheesecake recipe -- the kind with 5 blocks of cream cheese, extra egg yolks etc. I'm afraid that this one probably will not double well.
Montgomery

March 08, 2018 at 11:48 am

I have been asked to make this particular cheesecake for a wedding. My issue is making it pretty. My cream cheese tend to stay lumpy. Even if I soften it or leave at room temperature. I want it to be presentable for this wedding. I also tried the spring form pan and it did not work. Also I want to double the recipe to make it taller and more presentable. Have you tried making a double recipe? This is my favorite recipe for cheesecake yet though.
Anna

August 12, 2014 at 12:09 pm

Megan, you could try making homemade biscuit mix, but I can't guarantee it will work. I tried it with another Impossible Pie and it didn't separate properly.
megan

August 12, 2014 at 11:54 am

I love cheesecake in any form..... but what could I use as a substitute for the Bisquick?
Anna

August 07, 2014 at 2:24 pm

Valerie, I think a food processor would be fine. The only thing you'd have to watch is when you lift the processor off the base, it could leak. The batter is pretty liquid.
Valerie Suhanosky

August 07, 2014 at 2:01 pm

Could you whip it up in a food processor ,or is it not enough air?
Anna

August 07, 2014 at 1:13 pm

Jan, it does look like a lot on paper, but it was definitely not too sweet. Plus, cutting the sugar might mess up the separating. I wouldn't try it, but if you do then let me know!
Jan Harris

August 07, 2014 at 1:05 pm

That looks like an awful lot of sugar, I'm thinking you could use 1/2 or 2/3 cup and it would still be plenty sweet, especially with 2 tsp of vanilla.

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