Ree Drummond Says Her Pioneer Woman Burnt Cheesecake Is Chef’s Kiss: ‘This Will Change Your Cheesecake Life’
Want a *chef’s kiss* moment? Make Ree Drummond’s Burnt Cheesecake. The celebrity chef promises that this particular Pioneer Woman dessert recipe is nothing short of perfection. Beyond that, the Food Network star says a taste of the creamy dish has the ability to be life-changing.
Ree Drummond’s Burnt Cheesecake isn’t a traditional cheesecake
Cheesecake is a classic dessert. Traditionally it’s comprised of crust (most often graham cracker) and a creamy, cheesy filling. But not Drummond’s Burnt Cheesecake. Also called basque cheesecake, the Super Easy! author’s dessert is what happens when the top of the cheesecake gets thoroughly charred during the baking process.
And, as Drummond explained while preparing the dish from her sprawling ranch in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, it doesn’t have a crust. “This recipe completely eliminates the crust,” she said. “The cheesecake is the crust and it bakes up with this amazing caramelized top.”
The Pioneer Woman’s cheesecake recipe takes 2 hours to make
Per Drummond’s Burnt Cheesecake recipe instructions on Food Network’s website, it’s possible to have a dessert that, according to Drummond, “is going to change your cheesecake life,” on the table in two hours. As previously mentioned it doesn’t have a crust so Drummond begins with the filling. Similar to most any other cheesecake recipe, the food blogger turned Food Network star starts by mixing together the ingredients for the filling. She uses standard ingredients such as vanilla extract, egg yolks, sugar, and, of course, cream cheese.
“Here’s the magic, guys. There’s no crust in the pan at all. You just go right in with the cheesecake batter,” Drummond said as she transferred the filling from a mixing bowl to a springform pan.
Next, the 52-year-old puts the cheesecake in an oven preheated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Concerned about the high oven temp and long baking time? Don’t be. “Trust me, that thing is going to get burned in a delicious way,” Drummond assured viewers.
And remember it’s called Burnt Cheesecake so a little — or a lot — of charring on the top isn’t just expected it’s the goal. An hour later Drummond takes the cheesecake out of the oven. While it cools for about an hour she makes a simple blackberry sauce for the top. Finally, once the cheesecake is cooled and set she takes it out of the springform pan and slices it. All in all, the entire process takes about two hours from start to finish. And the majority of that time is spent waiting for the cheesecake to bake or cool.
The Food Network star has another unique cheesecake recipe
Drummond’s Burnt Cheesecake isn’t her only unusual take on the classic dessert. The Pioneer Woman has another variation even she admits is a little outlandish. She calls her Cheesecake Bites “absolutely ridiculous in a very delicious way.” Essentially bite-size pieces of deep-fried cheesecake, the Food Network star serves them up with a strawberry dipping sauce. And, unlike her Burnt Cheesecake recipe that doesn’t have a crust, Drummond’s Cheesecake Bites have graham cracker crumbs incorporated into the filling.
No matter the cheesecake mood Drummond’s probably got a recipe for it. In the mood for something different? Make her Burnt Cheesecake or Cheesecake Bites. Don’t want to use the oven? Whip up the Food Network star’s No-Bake Cheesecake.
