Chocolate Chip Cheesecake!

Baked cheesecake is just about the only sweet treat that I have been afraid to bake. I am not sure whether it is because I have eaten some really awful baked cheesecakes in coffee shops and restaurants or whether it is that most recipes have a lot of steps and need to bake for a while.

Melanie Riddell, a lovely friend who I have met through photography, was kind enough to share her recipe for Chocolate Chip Cheesecake with me. I tested it out at the weekend and am pleased to report that it was a success! This is the best baked cheesecake that I have tasted and to make it even better, the recipe is easy and it only bakes for a short time.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

Base
250g chocolate ripple biscuits, crushed
1/3 cup melted butter



Cheesecake
675g cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup castor sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup milk chocolate chips
1/3 cup white chocolate chips


Icing
2/3 cup milk chocolate chips
2 tbsp whipping cream



Method:


Base: Mix biscuit crumbs and butter together. Firmly press into base of 9" springform pan. Bake at 180C for about 4 minutes.



Cheesecake: Beat cream cheese with electric mixer until soft and fluffy. Gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla and choc chips. Pour the mixture over biscuit base. Bake at 180C for about 25 - 30 minutes (monitor closely so it does not overcook or burn the top or edges, a light golden top is perfect). Turn oven off and leave in oven with door partially open for another 30 minutes. Remove from oven and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.


Icing: Melt choc chips and gradually stir in cream. Keep stirring over the heat until smooth and thickened. Remove from heat and spread over cooled cheesecake. Chill.


(I didn't worry about adding the icing, but I am sure it would have finished the cheesecake off nicely!)

My husband and brother in law, who aren't sweet tooth's, raved about this cheesecake, so that is a great indication of how great it really is :)

Would love to hear from you if you give this recipe a try :)


Enjoy the rest of the week.




Mrs KT.

Maggie's 5th Birthday Princess Party!

My youngest niece, Maggie Jane, celebrated her 5th birthday today with family and friends. I was thrilled to be able to make her cake and style her dessert and lolly table.

Luckily I came across some fabulous free princess party printables a few months ago by Enchanted Events and Design. They were pink and had a pretty princess crown on them. These were used for the invitations, the menu labels, chocolate bar wrappers and cupcake toppers, as well as labels for the take home favour boxes.

{ Dessert and Lolly Table styled by me! }

 The castle cake was the centerpiece of the table. It was the first time I had made a castle cake and was thrilled with the end result. The bottom tier was red velvet cake with milk chocolate ganache, the top tier was caramel mud cake with milk chocolate ganache and the columns were jam rolls.

The rest of the dessert table consisted of vanilla and chocolate sponge cupcakes with vanilla buttercream, vanilla sugar cookies wands, chocolate bars, marshmallows, musk sticks and strawberry bon bons.

The guests received little party boxes filled to the brim with goodies which included lollies, stationary and a vanilla sugar cookie.

The birthday girl had a fabulous time with her family and friends. Here she is with her sisters and her dessert and lolly table.

Happy 5th Birthday to our beautiful Maggie Jane xxx

Fabulous suppliers:

White milk glass cake stands, tablecloth, ribbon and strawberry bon bons from Sweet Style.


Pink Cake Stand and Large Glass Candy Jars from Sharnel Dollar Designs.

It felt great being back in the kitchen and creating and baking again. I have a couple of birthday cakes to make this week, so it looks like my baking mojo has returned!

Enjoy the coming week.

What I have been up to!

Thought I had better post something on my poor neglected blog, so all of my followers know that I am still here :)

I seem to have lost the drive to blog at the moment :( I have been having a break from my cake making which has been nice and relaxing, therefore the lack of cake related posts here on my blog.

So what have I been up to? I am enjoying photography at the moment. I participated in an online photography workshop a little while ago, with the very talented Sheye Rosemeyer - Eye Candy Workshops. I formed many great friendships through this workshop and this has continued, supporting each other with our photography.

{ Image taken by me! }

 During June we took part in a 30 day photography challenge, a different topic for each day. I enjoyed this so much, as it forced me to pick up the camera every day and to do things I wouldn't normally do! The above photo of some of my beautiful cake stands was day 8 - bad habit!!

Here are a few of my favourite photo's from the challenge.

{ Image taken by me! }

Day 4 - Something Green.

{ Image taken by me! }

Day 7 -Fruit

{ Image taken by me! }

Day 11 - Something Blue.

{ Image taken by me! }

Day 20 - Bokeh.

{ Image taken by me! }

Day 23 - Sunflare.

{ Image taken by me! }

Day 25 - Something Pink.

I am participating in a challenge for July, with a new set of topics. Another month of fun photo taking!! I have another online photography workshop booked for the end of the month too. So my photography journey is continuing....

My niece Maggie is turning 5 at the weekend, so I am in party planning mode for the next few days. She is having a "Pink Princess" themed party, which involves crowns and a castle cake. Please come back next week to see what I create for her special day.

Enjoy the weekend :)