Melanie Underwood is a cooking and baking instructor in New York City and has worked as a pastry chef in Washington D.C. and Manhattan. In her new title, Making Artisan Cheesecake, she shares everything we need to know to turn out show stopping desserts.
Melanie starts with over a dozen different types of crusts and that does not include the variations she offers for those recipes. Streusel Crumb Crust, Brownie Crust and even a Vegan Coconut Crust are a few examples. Helpful decorative techniques are covered such as layering batters and swirling batters.
The cheesecakes in this book include more than your classic New York style cheesecake. Ricotta Honey, Japanese Souffle, Saffron with Sauteed Pineapple and Avocado Cheesecake with Almond Brittle are a few of the unique sweet variations. Savory selections are equally tempting with recipes for Blue Cheese with Candied Walnuts, Roasted Tomato with Parmesan and Spiced Butternut Squash Cheesecake. Presentations and Garnishes offer Fruit Sauces, Sides, Chocolate, Caramel, and Whipped Cream, Nuts and Seeds, Flavored Oil and Syrup accompaniments.
My favorite is the Pecan Praline Cheesecake which I plan on making very soon. Thanks to Melanie – you can make it as well by clicking the link on the recipe name.
Random Number Generator chose #84 – Laurel Eden – congratulations!
GIVEAWAY: Time for the giveaway – many thanks to Melanie Underwood for offering the following gift package to one lucky reader: A copy of Making Artisan Cheesecake, OXO products to help with preparing your cheesecake consisting of: a 2-cup angled measuring cup, a set of stainless steel measuring cups, a set of stainless steel measuring spoons and a medium spatula. Thanks to Anolon for offering a 9 inch spring form pan. I love OXO and Anolon products – they are top quality and workhorses in the kitchen and if you love cheesecake, this cookbook will get a workout in the kitchen as well.
The giveaway is open to US Addresses. A random winner will be chosen on November 5th. Good luck!
There are four chances to win the prize package – you must leave a SEPARATE comment for each option.
#1 Leave a comment on this blog post telling me your favorite cheesecake flavor.
#2 Share this giveaway on Facebook.
#3 Visit Melanie Underwood’s Facebook Page – a like is not required, but appreciated.
#4 Visit Anolon’s Facebook Page – a like is not required, but appreciated.
Anolon 9 inch Spring Form Pan
OXO Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
OXO Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
OXO Medium Spatula
OXO Angled Measuring Cup
Strawberry Cheesecake
Heath bar cheesecake is my favorite!
Caramel apple cheesecake.
I shared the giveaway on Facebook.
I visited Melanie Underwood’s Facebook page and I liked it…LOL
I visited Anolon’s Facebook page and I already liked it.
My favorite cheesecake used to be The Cheesecake Factory’s Pineapple Upsidedown Cheesecake, but they took it off the menu.
Shared on FB
Liked Melanie’s FB page!
Visited Anolon’s FB
Visited and liked Melanie ‘ s FB page.
LOVE Cheesecake!
Visited Anolon’s FB page. Already liked them 😉
Favorite flavors — apple, chocolate, and traditional NY cheesecake.
Shared on FB!
Chocolate!
Shared on Facebook.
Visited Melanie’s page and “Liked” it because I liked what I saw. 😉
Visited and “Liked” the Anolon page as well. I’m looking forward to seeing fun new things in my news-feed.
White chocolate raspberry cheesecake
My favorite cheesecake is pretty traditional, but with a little basil in the crust and some macerated strawberries.
I love plain and strawberry cheesecakes!
Visited and liked Ms. Underwood’s facebook page.
Visited and liked analon’s facebook page.
Speculoos Cheesecake with Pretzel Crust.
Shared giveaway on facebook, too!
Blueberry cheesecake.
I shared giveaway on Facebook.
I visited Melanie Underwood’s Facebook page
I visited Anolon’s Facebook page.
My favorite cheesecake is my moms recipe. It’s a cream cheese and sour cream version
I visited and liked Anolons page
I visited and liked Melanie’s fb page
Off to share this giveaway
Pecan praline!!!
I remembered being in her class while i was at culinary school.
She’s an amazing instructor and wonderful baker/pastry artist.
Classic cheesecake with graham cracker crust is one of my favorites
My favorite is Turtle Cheesecake. Best of both worlds chocolate, caramel and pecans. Yum!!!
My grandma used to make a lemon cheesecake, YUMMMY!
Shared
I love strawberry cheesecake.
I visited and liked Melanie Underwood’s Facebook Page
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I shared about the giveaway on facebook.
Lemon mascarpone with a ginger snap crust.
My favorite is basic vanilla with mini dark Choc chips
Traditional NY Cheesecake all the way
white chocolate mousse is my favorite
Vanilla bean cheesecake
I’m a traditionalist. Traditional Vanilla American cheesecake.
Brownie Mosaic Cheesecake!
I Visited Melanie Underwood’s Facebook Page and liked it.
My favorite cheesecake is the original NY style.
I Visited Anolon’s Facebook Page.
I shared on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/sharyl.wolter/posts/10201045680060539
I love a traditional New York cheesecake.
My favorite cheesecake is the Autumn Cheesecake from Issue no. 40 of Philadelphia Cream Cheese Cheesecakes. It has apples in it!
Shared this on Facebook.
Visited Melanie Underwood’s Facebook page.
Visited Anolon’s Facebook page.
I love the regatta cheesecake with cherries on top
I shared this giveaway on Facebook
I visited Melanie’s Facebook page and liked because let’s face it cheesecake rocks!
I visited Anolon’s Facebook page and have like them for quite a while.
I love all cheesecake! Right now, I’m craving a caramel apple cheesecake.
I visited Melanie’s FB page.
I visited Anolon’s FB page.
My favorite flavor is just plain cheesecake. Go back to the basics!
I shared your giveaway on my facebook. Here is the link https://www.facebook.com/susanbroughton606/posts/1536675809956781?pnref=story
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Sour cream cheesecake!!
I love traditional cheesecake topped with strawberries.
I love key lime cheesecake!
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espresso ricotta cheesecake!
Vanilla!
My favorite cheesecake is Pumpkin Marble Cheesecake!
Pumpkin cheesecake with ginger snap crust
I visited Melanie Underwood’s Facebook page Alison Wood Harper
I shared the giveaway on my page.
I visited Anolon’s Facebook page Alison Wood Harper
I visited and liked the Anolon page.
I visited and liked Melanie Underwood’s FB page.
I love any type of cheesecake, especially Pina Colada.
I am now Melanie’s friend on Facebook.
I am also Anolon’s friend.
Definitely pumpkin cheesecake is my favorite!
I am a purist, plain NY style cheesecake.
I like pumpkin cheesecake
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I’ve only ever had regular cheesecake. I don’t know what some of these fancy flavors taste like. It would be interesting to find out. royalegacy at gmail dot com
I shared this giveaway on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/royalegacy/posts/10153169535326319
I visited and like Melanie Underwood’s FB page
I visited Anolon’s page, and I have liked their page for quite some time now.
Thank you so much for offering such a wonderful giveaway! My favorite is chocolate cheesecake, but that pecan praline could change my mind. 😉
I shared the giveaway on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/cindy.aiton/posts/999950286714363
I visited and liked Melanie Underwood’s Facebook page.
I visited and liked Anolon’s Facebook page.
Cheesecake is my all time favorite dessert, Key Lime Cheesecake is the one I go for making most often
here is the link to my share on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.essad/posts/850924205020866
I visited and liked Melanie Underwood’s Facebook Page
I visited and have liked and followed Anolon on Facebook for quiet some time now – Thank you for this amazing chance to participate to win, I love to back from scratch for my family and friends
I love ALL flavors of cheesecake! I honestly have never tasted one I didn’t like! Sharing on FB!
I love chocolate cheesecake.
love cheesecake ,beautiful looking book
I would have to say that it is stawberry
shared – https://www.facebook.com/trabajardd/posts/735267759910547
visited – Melanie Underwood’s Facebook Page
visited – Anolon’s Facebook Page
I love dulce de leche cheesecake. Thank you!
I visited Analon’s FB page. Thank you!
I visited (and liked) Melanie’s FB page. Thank you!
I love an old-school plain cheesecake with a sour cream topping.
I visited and like Melanies FB page.
Visited and already liked Analons’ FB page.
I love strawberry cheesecake.
I shared on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=183976821941202&id=100009866550754
I also like both Facebook pages.
I love chocolate cheesecake!
I visited Melanie’s Facebook page
Still waiting to taste a cheesecake I didn’t like! The last cheesecake I ate was a peanut butter and honey cheesecake. Yum!
Like Melanie’s page…and that shrimp dish looks delicious.
My fave is Turtle!!! Yummie!!
I visited Melanie Underwood’s Facebook page.
My favorite is lilikoi (passionfruit) cheesecake.
I visited Melanie’s Facebook page.
I’m not sure if it has a name, but my favorite cheesecake is a simple one, with a graham-cracker-crumb crust and a filling made with cream cheese and sour cream, flavored with vanilla. And if there’s a raspberry sauce to serve with it, I’m a very happy lady.
I shared your blog post on Facebook, both the prizes and the gorgeous Pecan Praline Cheesecake.
I visited Melanie’s Facebook page, which I liked, so I “liked” it!
I also visited Analon’s Facebook page, of which I have been a fan for quite some time now.
My new favorite… CInnamon Roll Cheesecake! It’s one of my personal concoctions 🙂
Liked on facebook! I’ve had my eye on this book for quite some time… I’d love it for sure! 🙂
Analon…. <3 on facebook! 🙂
Analon… <3 on facebook 🙂
Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
I shared on Facebook
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I’m a classic cheesecake kinda guy.
Chocolate brownie cheesecake!
Cheesecake brownies!
Pumpkin cheesecake with a chocolate crust