I love cheesecake. I hate how expensive they are to buy. I looked at a cheesecake that was $21.95 in the store! While this cheesecake wasn’t totally budget friendly, I made this cheesecake for under $5.50 and I think it was even better than the store bought.
I know a no bake cheesecake is an even cheaper option, they are just to heavy for my taste. I like a really light airy cheesecake. I tried this recipe with some Ricotta cheese I got super cheap, and sans the pan marks on the cheesecake (see photo), it came out lovely. The texture is wonderful, the taste is light and creamy. It baked like a dream and came out of the pan fairly easy. To really enjoy this cheesecake, you must like ricotta. If you hate ricotta cheese, don’t make this and tell me how bad it tastes! The texture is not like the thick ones made with all cream cheese. The Santa Claus plate it is on is totally optional. I am totally pathetic, but the Santa plate fits the cheesecake perfect and I can’t find anything else that does. Also, it only cost $1.00 :)
INGREDIENTS
- 28 ounces of ricotta cheese $1.29
- 16 ounces of cream cheese $.69
- 1 1/2 cup white sugar ~$.40
- 6 eggs $.50
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour ~$.35
- 1/2 cup sour cream ~$.25
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract $.30
- fruit topping of your choice $1.55
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C.) Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. (tip – cut a circle out and place it in the bottom of the pan instead of trying to line the sides) Tightly wrap the outside bottom of a 10 inch springform pan with foil, this keeps the water from seeping into the pan.
Cream together ricotta cheese, cream cheese and sugar until smooth. (If you don’t cream well enough, your cheesecake will be gritty! Make sure you mix it well)
Mix in the eggs one at a time. Add flour one tablespoon at a time, mixing well. Stir in the sour cream and vanilla, almond extract optional. Pour mixture into a 10 inch springform pan.
Place cheesecake in a large rectangular pan filled with 2 inches of hot water. Bake for 90 minutes.
After 90 minutes turn oven off, but leave the cake in the oven for another 90 minutes.
Remove cheesecake from rectangular pan and place springform pan in the refrigerator overnight. This will allow the cheesecake to firm. Turn upside down and add fruit topping of your choice.
Howard says
Perhaps this is a regional thing. I live in San Jose, CA (South San Francisco Bay). I would have no idea where to search for coupons such as these. My wife and I watch the food coupons pretty closely (she is a chef), and I have never seen such prices. I travel a bit, and I find that most food prices in other parts of the West are fairly comparable to here, so I don’t think it a SF Bay phenomenon. What kinds of stores do you find the cheap ricotta in?
Howard says
I would SURE like to know where you can find Cream Cheese for 69 cents a pound and Ricotta (which I love) for $1.29 a quart! I have never seen these ingredients for anything approaching these ultra-low prices.
Shannon says
Howard,
Cream cheese is frequently on sale for $1.29 … use a coupon and that price is easily attainable.
Ricotta cheese – I used a $.55/1 coupon which doubles to $1.10.
I have gotten these items even lower priced.