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Instant Pot Lemon Cheesecake With Animal Cracker Crust

July 24, 2020

Instant Pot lemon cheesecake is sunny, delicious, and perfectly-sized! You just need a mini springform pan and a few great ingredients. You won’t want to stop eating!

a close-up picture of a lemon cheesecake

I teach a ton of Instant Pot classes at The Chattery…I couldn’t even tell you how many I have taught. The most popular one is Instant Pot 101, where I teach the basics of using an Instant Pot. One of the most frequently asked questions that I get is, “Have you made a cheesecake in the Instant Pot?” Y’all, my husband doesn’t like cheesecake. So I basically never make them because then I’m stuck eating it by myself. However, when my brother told me that he wanted a lemon cheesecake for his birthday, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to make a test Instant Pot lemon cheesecake for myself. In a 7-inch pan, it seems justifiable, right? I sub in animal crackers for the usual graham cracker crust, but you can totally go with graham crackers if you prefer. Whatever your preference, please just make this!

an angled photo of a slice of lemon cheesecake on a white plate with lemon slices in the background

What You Need:

a photograph showing the ingredients for Instant Pot lemon cheesecake
  1. Animal crackers
  2. Unsalted butter
  3. Cream cheese
  4. Sugar
  5. Sour cream
  6. Eggs
  7. Lemons (juice and zest)
  8. Vanilla extract

How to Make Instant Pot Lemon Cheesecake:

a photo collage showing the first four steps to make lemon cheesecake
A photo collage showing steps 5-7 for making lemon cheesecake
  1. Process the animal crackers into crumbs in the food processor. Add melted butter and process to combine. Alternately, if you don’t have a food processor, you can crush the animal crackers in a bag and combine with the butter in a bowl.
  2. Wrap a 7-inch springform pan with aluminum foil. 
  3. Press the cracker crumb mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the pan.
  4. Beat the cream cheese, sugar, and sour cream together with a stand mixer or a hand mixer.
  5. Add the eggs, lemon juice and zest, and vanilla and beat again until thoroughly combined.
  6. Pour the mixture into the pan and smooth the top. Pour water into the Instant Pot, place the rack in the Instant Pot, and cook the cheesecake for 25 minutes using the manual/pressure setting. Allow to release naturally for 15 minutes then manually release any remaining pressure.
  7. Thoroughly chill the cheesecake before removing the ring and slicing.
a close up picture of a slice of lemon cheesecake on a white plate

Yield: 8 servings

Instant Pot Lemon Cheesecake With Animal Cracker Crust

20 minPrep Time:

40 minCook Time:

1 hrTotal Time:

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Ingredients

    For the Crust
  • 6 ounces/180 grams animal crackers
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick/2 ounces/60 g), melted
  • For the Filling
  • 16 ounces (2 bars or 800 g) cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup (6 ounces/180 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup (2 ounces/60 g) sour cream
  • 2 eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. In the bowl of a food processor, process the animal crackers until finely ground into crumbs. Add the melted butter and process until the crumbs stick together when pressed between your fingers. If you do not have a food processor, place the animal crackers in a gallon-sized storage bag and crush with a rolling pin, meat mallet, or heavy skillet, then combine with the butter in a bowl.
  2. Wrap the outside of a 7-inch springform pan with aluminum foil.
  3. Press the butter and animal cracker crumb mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the pan.
  4. Using a hand or stand mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and sour cream in a large bowl on medium speed until thoroughly combined and smooth.
  5. Add the eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla to the cream cheese mixture. Beat on medium speed until smooth.
  6. Pour the filling into the prepared pan. Smooth the top. Pour 2 cups of water into the inner pot of a 6 or 8-quart Instant Pot. Place the steamer rack into the pot. Fold two long pieces of foil several times lengthwise and place them crosswise across the bottom of the pan to form a sling. Lower into the Instant Pot and make sure that the foil sling is sticking out over the top of the pan. This will make the cheesecake easy to get out of the Instant Pot. Press the manual or pressure button, make sure the pot is set to high pressure, and set the time to 25 minutes.
  7. Once the cook time is finished, press the "keep warm/cancel" button to turn off the Instant Pot. Set a timer for 15 minutes and allow the pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes. Once the natural release has finished, manually release any remaining pressure. Remove the cheesecake from the Instant Pot using the sling and place in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, until completely chilled and set.
  8. Before serving, run a spatula or thin knife around the inside edge of the pan. Remove the foil from the outside of the pan, then remove the springform ring, slice the cheesecake, and serve.

Notes

*The cook time includes 15 minutes natural release but does not include the time that it takes to come to pressure. This will vary based on your Instant Pot but averages around 15 minutes. *This recipe is adapted from a Williams-Sonoma recipe.

7.8.1.2
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https://chattavore.com/instant-pot-lemon-cheesecake-with-animal-cracker-crust/

Filed Under: By Course, Dessert, Easy Baking, Easy Recipes, Instant Pot, Recipes Tagged With: baking, dessert, Instant Pot By Mary // Chattavore Leave a Comment

6 Awesome Recipes to Make With Summer Tomatoes

July 20, 2020

Isn’t tomato season the best? Nothing beats a perfect tomato sandwich or a simple Caprese salad, but if you want to think outside of the box a little, here are 6 awesome recipes to make with summer tomatoes. You’ll be wishing for summer year-round!

a photo collage showing various recipes to make with summer tomatoes

There are not many times of the year that I think are better than July, August, and early September, because tomatoes. I think we are all pretty much in agreement about the fact that a tomato outside of these three months is pretty much just a vaguely tomato-flavored orb. A summer tomato, though…well, there just really isn’t much that I love more. I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite recipes to make with summer tomatoes!

Green Tomatoes

Your tomatoes don’t have to be ripe to be a perfect specimen. In fact, I love a green tomato almost as much as I love a perfectly ripe red tomato that requires three napkins (and probably a sink to lean over) to eat. Green tomatoes aren’t always easy to find, but this is one iteration of tomato that I am happy to buy at the supermarket, and they are usually available at Publix. I haven’t tried it, but I have read that if you can’t find a green tomato, an unripe supermarket red tomato can actually make a decent substitute.

Oven-Fried Green Tomatoes
Everyone automatically thinks of fried green tomatoes, and there’s a reason for that. I am not a huge fan of frying, though, so I dip the tomatoes in the coating, give them a spritz of oil, and bake them in the oven. You could totally do these in the air fryer as well!
Check out this recipe
Fried green tomatoes are Southern food at its best, but oven-fried green tomatoes take the messy, popping oil factor out of the equation! | Recipe from Chattavore.com
Fried Green Tomato Sandwich With Bacon
I realize that it’s barely a variation of the last recipe, but how can you go wrong when you put oven-fried green tomatoes on a chewy hoagie roll with bacon and remoulade? That’s right. You can’t.
Check out this recipe
If you love fried green tomatoes and bacon, you'll love this fried green tomato sandwich with bacon and remoulade! It's a new Southern classic. | recipe from Chattavore.com

Beefsteak Tomatoes

The classics, beefsteak tomatoes are what you see on just about every produce stand’s tables this time of year. When they are perfectly ripe, they are impossibly red and juicy and I couldn’t possibly hate on them. Feel free to sub in any red, yellow, orange, or even purple tomato in these recipes!

Pimento Cheese Tomato Pie
Tomato pie is a classic. Usually, the filling is made with onions, cheese, and mayonnaise, so pimento cheese is just a little bit of a variation. Feel free to make your own or use your favorite store-bought brand. I used Palmetto Cheese for the pie pictured here. However you make it, it will be perfect.
Check out this recipe
Pimento cheese tomato pie is a perfectly simple, Southern dish that is wonderful as a main or a side, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! | Recipe from Chattavore.com
Tomato Cobbler With Biscuit Topping
Fresh summer tomatoes and onions topped with homemade garlic cheddar biscuits? Yes please!
Check out this recipe
tomato cobbler | chattavore

Grape or Cherry Tomatoes

Tiny tomatoes can be a little harder to find at the farmers market or produce stand, but you can find them if you look hard enough. Or grow your own! But seriously, even if you make these recipes with grocery store tomatoes, you won’t regret it.

BLT Pasta Salad
This BLT pasta salad has rotini pasta, bacon, grape tomatoes, and romaine lettuce tossed in a buttermilk-mayo dressing. It’s a BLT in a bowl!
Check out this recipe
Chattavore.com | BLT pasta salad is a BLT sandwich in a bowl!
Grilled Naan Bread Pizza With Grape Tomatoes and Basil
When you want a grilled pizza but don’t want to fool with homemade dough, naan bread is there for you. Grape tomatoes pair perfectly with fresh mozzarella and basil atop the charred bread!
Check out this recipe

I hope these recipes get you excited about summer tomatoes! I know that I am personally excited to still have a couple of months to look forward to them. If writing this post has shown me anything, though, it’s that I need to get on creating more tomato recipes for you!

Filed Under: By Course, By Main Ingredients, Easy Baking, Easy Recipes, Grill, Main Dishes, Recipes, Salad, Salads and Cold Dishes, Sheet Pan Recipes, Vegetables or Vegetarian Tagged With: round up, tomatoes By Mary // Chattavore Leave a Comment

9 Amazing Summer Fruit Desserts

July 10, 2020

a thumbnail photo collage showing photos of 9 summer fruit desserts

One of the best things about summer is the fruit! Of course it’s delicious on its own, but how can you resist these 9 amazing summer fruit desserts?

a photo collage showing 9 different summer fruit desserts

Summer fruit desserts are one of my favorite things! Summer produce is one of the best parts of summer, in my opinion. And while there is really nothing better than a perfectly ripe fresh peach that doesn’t need a single grain of sugar added to it, summer fruits are amazing to bake with. Pies, cakes, tarts, cobblers…there’s really no limit to the desserts that you can make with your farmer’s market haul. Here are 9 of my favorites!

Strawberries

The first sign of summer is fresh strawberries. They don’t stick around for long, but a beautiful fresh strawberry is like nothing that you’ll find in the grocery store in the middle of winter. I’ve got quite a few strawberry desserts to share with you!

Strawberry Pie
This is a slight adaptation of my grandmother’s recipe. She was an amazing cook, but of all the things that she made, this was one of the things that got me most excited. No red Jell-o in sight!
Check out this recipe
From her book of handwritten retro recipe cards and clippings, my grandmother's strawberry pie might be my favorite thing she made. It's easy and so tasty! | recipe from Chattavore.com
Strawberry Cream Pie With Pretzel Crust
If you mash together my strawberry pie recipe and that strawberry pretzel salad that you will find at every southern potluck, you’ll get this pie. With a salty pretzel crust, a tangy cream cheese layer, and luscious strawberries, this pie has it all!
Check out this recipe
Strawberry cream pie with pretzel crust is the pie of my dreams! | chattavore.com
Strawberry Fluff
I’m not going to try to sell fluff to you as a “salad”, but as a dessert, this fluff is easy and just so good! Whipped cream, cream cheese, strawberries, and marshmallows…I mean, how can you go wrong?
Check out this recipe
Who doesn't love strawberry fluff? This version is made with fresh strawberries, fresh whipped cream, cream cheese, and marshmallows. | Recipe from Chattavore.com

Blueberries

As I type this, I just picked a pint jar full of blueberries from the bushes in my front yard, and that makes me so happy. I probably won’t get enough to make any of these delicious desserts, but supermarket blueberries (even frozen!) are amazing here!

Blueberry Dump Cake From Scratch
I’m guessing that we can all agree that “dump cake” really needs a new name…but I already made over the recipe. Usually made with cake mix, this dump cake is made from scratch with pantry ingredients and it is perfect with a scoop of ice cream on top!
Check out this recipe
Blueberry Creme Brûlée
Creme brûlée is my husband’s favorite dessert. It seems intimidating, but really, it’s so easy! I love to put a blueberry compote in the bottom of the ramekin before I bake the brûlées. So delish!
Check out this recipe
Blueberry creme brûlée is a simple but fancy dessert that is a perfect use for fresh summer blueberries (but is just as good with frozen)! | Recipe from Chattavore.com
Blueberry Pineapple Pie
After watching a documentary about pies and learning about a pie called the “Blue Hawaiian” I had to figure out how to make it myself. This pie pairs blueberry and pineapple with a streusel topping. Unexpected and amazing!
Check out this recipe
Think of all things summery and you have blueberry pineapple pie - complete with a buttery coconut crumb topping, it's summer at its best! | recipe from Chattavore.com
The Best Blueberry Pie
The name says it all. This pie is loaded with blueberries with a beautiful golden crust. Serve it with ice cream or whipped cream. Either way, it lives up to its name!
Check out this recipe
blueberry pie | chattavore

Peaches

I think peaches may be my favorite fruit, so its odd that I really don’t have that many peach recipes on my blog. But the two that I have are pretty great, if I do say so myself.

Peach Breakfast Crisp
A summery dessert that doubles as breakfast? Yes, please! This peach crisp is perfect for dessert with ice cream or with yogurt for breakfast.
Check out this recipe
peach breakfast crisp | chattavore
Peach Fried Pies With Raspberry Sauce
A callback to peach melba, these fried pies are full of peachy flavor with perfectly golden crust and a delicious raspberry dipping sauce.
Check out this recipe
Seasonal peaches and raspberry sauce pair perfectly in this Southern take on peach Melba, fried pies! | chattavore.com

Filed Under: By Course, By Main Ingredients, Dessert, Easy Baking, Easy Recipes, Fruit, Recipes Tagged With: baking, desserts, fruit By Mary // Chattavore Leave a Comment

Wedding Cake Bars

July 6, 2020

Wedding cake bars are one of the easiest and most delicious desserts in my collection! Seven ingredients: white cake mix, eggs, oil, almond extract, powdered sugar, butter, and milk. You just mix the ingredients for the cake bars and spread them in the pan, bake, and top with a super-simple frosting when they are cool. They taste just like my favorite bakeries cakes!

a photograph of a wedding cake bar cookie with a pan of cookies and a glass of milk in the background

I am a lover of all things wedding cake flavored. It’s no secret that my favorite bakery is Federal Bake Shop in Hixson, Tennessee, and I try to replicate their almond-flavored confections in as many of the dessert recipes that I share here as possible. I already have wedding cake cookies and wedding cake bites…so why not wedding cake bars? They’re basically just cake mix cookies turned into bar cookies by baking them spread in a pan instead of scooping out individual cookies. Easy-peasy. Add a simple frosting flavored with almond extract and you’re in business!

an overhead photograph of a pan of wedding cake bars and a plate with a wedding cake bar

What You Need to Make Wedding Cake Bars

  1. An 8×8 inch square baking pan
  2. Non-stick cooking spray or butter to grease pan
  3. A box of white cake mix (any brand)
  4. 2 large eggs
  5. 1/3 cup canola oil or vegetable oil
  6. 3 teaspoons almond extract
  7. 1 stick butter (softened)
  8. 3 cups powdered sugar
  9. Enough milk to make the icing a spreadable consistency

 

a photograph showing the steps to make wedding cake bars
a photo collage showing the steps to make wedding cake bars

How to Make the Bars

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and butter an 8×8-inch square baking pan or spray the pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Place the contents of a box of white cake mix, 2 large eggs, 1/3 cup of canola or vegetable oil, and 1 teaspoon of almond extract in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Stir the ingredients until well-combined.
  4. Spread the ingredients in the greased pan. Bake for 20 minutes, until light golden. Cool completely.
  5. Place 1 stick of softened unsalted butter (cut into pieces), 3 cups of powdered sugar, and 2 teaspoons of almond extract in a mixing bowl.
  6. Use a hand or stand mixer to mix the frosting ingredients together. Add enough milk to get the frosting to a spreadable consistency (this could be as little as 1-2 teaspoons or as much as 2 tablespoons) and continue to mix until the frosting is completely smooth and spreadable.
  7. Scoop the frosting onto the bars in the pan.
  8. Spread the frosting onto the bars and cut the bars into pieces before serving.

 

a photograph of a wedding cake bar on a white plate with a fork with a glass of milk and a pan of wedding cake bars in the background

Wedding Cake Bars
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Ingredients

  • A box of white cake mix (any brand)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/3 cup canola oil or vegetable oil
  • 3 teaspoons almond extract
  • 1 stick unsalted butter (softened)
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • Enough milk to make the icing a spreadable consistency (1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and butter an 8x8-inch square baking pan or spray the pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Place the contents of a box of white cake mix, 2 large eggs, 1/3 cup of canola or vegetable oil, and 1 teaspoon of almond extract in a large mixing bowl. Stir the ingredients until well-combined.
  3. Spread the ingredients in the greased pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until light golden. Cool completely on a wire rack.
  4. Place 1 stick of softened unsalted butter (cut into pieces), 3 cups of powdered sugar, and 2 teaspoons of almond extract in a mixing bowl. Use a hand or stand mixer to mix the frosting ingredients together. Add enough milk to get the frosting to a spreadable consistency (this could be as little as 1-2 teaspoons or as much as 2 tablespoons) and continue to mix until the frosting is completely smooth and spreadable.
  5. Scoop the frosting onto the bars in the pan and spread onto the bars. Cut the bars into pieces before serving. I like to let the frosted bars stand for a few minutes before cutting to allow the frosting to develop a "dry" texture on top.
7.8.1.2
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https://chattavore.com/wedding-cake-bars/

Filed Under: By Course, Dessert, Easy Baking, Easy Recipes, Recipes Tagged With: baking, cookies, desserts By Mary // Chattavore Leave a Comment

Strawberry Rice Krispies Treats (So EASY!)

July 1, 2020

a close-up photograph of a Rice Krispies treat on a napkin

Strawberry Rice Krispies treats are so easy to make, and they are a perfect after-school snack or lunchbox treat! Everyone will love them. All you need are Rice Krispies, marshmallows, butter, and strawberry cake mix! SO GOOD!

I never would have considered myself a creator of all things Rice Krispies treats, yet here we are. My salted brown butter Rice Krispies treats were not actually my own creation, instead adapted from a recipe from Smitten Kitchen. From that recipe, though, I learned that I actually loved RKTs, a treat, if you will, that I had been pretty indifferent about up until that point. Since then, I have created several iterations of the ubiquitous Rice Krispies treats, with the most recent being these strawberry Rice Krispies treats.

And guess what? Transforming these from plain to strawberry is as simple as some dry cake mix. Armed with that knowledge, you really could make them whatever flavor you might fancy! These are seriously the easiest snack to make. You can make them, from start to finish, in 15 minutes or less!

What You Need to Make Strawberry Rice Krispies Treats

  1. Unsalted butter
  2. Mini marshmallows
  3. Rice Krispies (duh) or other crisped rice cereal
  4. Strawberry cake mix

How to Make Strawberry Rice Krispies Treats

I numbered my photos incorrectly, so steps 9-10 in the directions are steps 10-11 in the photos!

  1. Butter an 8×8-inch square pan.
  2. Place a large, heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Place the butter in the pan and cook, stirring constantly, until the butter is melted.
  3. Add one cup of strawberry cake mix to the melted butter and stir until completely combined.
  4. Leave the pan over medium heat and add the marshmallows.
  5. Again, cook, stirring constantly, until the marshmallows are melted.
  6. Add six ounces (half of a box) of crisped rice cereal to the marshmallow mixture.
  7. Stir until the cereal is completely coated.
  8. Spread the mixture into the prepared pan.
  9. Use the butter wrapper to flatten the mixture into the pan.
  10. Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares.

Mary

Yield: 16 treats

Strawberry Rice Krispies Treats

5 minPrep Time:

10 minCook Time:

15 minTotal Time:

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Ingredients

  • 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter plus more for buttering the pan
  • 10 ounces (1 bag) miniature marshmallows
  • 1 cup boxed strawberry cake mix
  • 6 ounces (1/2 box) Rice Krispies or other crisped rice cereal

Instructions

  1. Butter an 8x8-inch square pan and set aside.
  2. Place the butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pot set over medium heat. Set the butter wrapper aside for later use. Cook, stirring frequently, until the butter has completely melted.
  3. Leave the pan on the heat and add the marshmallows. Cook, stirring frequently, until the marshmallows have melted completely.
  4. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the strawberry cake mix and stir until well incorporated.
  5. Add the cereal to the marshmallow mixture and stir until the cereal is completely coated.
  6. Spread the cereal mixture into the prepared pan. Use the butter wrapper to press the mixture into the pan. Allow the Rice Krispies treats to cool completely before cutting into 16 squares.
7.8.1.2
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https://chattavore.com/strawberry-rice-krispies-treats-so-easy/

Filed Under: By Course, Dessert, Recipes, Snacks, Uncategorized Tagged With: desserts, snacks By Mary // Chattavore Leave a Comment

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About Chattavore

Hi, I'm Mary! Welcome to Chattavore, a destination for people who want to feed themselves and their families well every day! Life can be crazy, which means that getting dinner on the table can be a challenge (more often than not!) and my mission is to take all your favorite recipes and figure out how to serve them on a Tuesday.

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