🧺 Ingredients:
Crust:
- 1 ½ cups (150g) graham cracker crumbs
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 6 tbsp (85g) melted butter
- Pinch of salt
Filling:
- 4 (8 oz) blocks cream cheese, room temp (900g)
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (240ml) sour cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs, room temp
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour (optional for firmer texture)
🧑🍳 Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Grease a 9″ springform pan. Wrap the bottom in foil for a water bath.
- Make crust: Mix all crust ingredients, press into the pan bottom. Bake for 10 minutes, then cool.
- Make filling: Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar, then sour cream and vanilla. Add eggs one by one. Don’t overmix.
- Pour filling over crust. Place pan in a larger pan and fill halfway with hot water (water bath).
- Bake for 55–70 mins, until edges are set but center jiggles slightly.
- Cool gradually: Turn off oven, crack door, cool 1 hour. Then chill 4+ hours or overnight.
- Serve with fruit, whipped cream, or caramel.
🍪 2. Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies (Soft & Chewy)
🕒 Time:
- Prep: 15 minutes
- Bake: 10–12 minutes
- Total: 30 minutes
🧺 Ingredients:
- 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150g) brown sugar
- ¾ cup (150g) white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups (280g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 cups (340g) chocolate chips
- Optional: 1 cup chopped walnuts
🧑🍳 Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment.
- Cream butter and sugars until fluffy.
- Add eggs and vanilla; beat until smooth.
- Whisk dry ingredients, then mix into wet.
- Fold in chocolate chips (and nuts if using).
- Scoop dough into balls. Chill 20 mins if time allows.
- Bake 10–12 mins until golden around edges, soft in center.
- Cool 5 mins on pan, then transfer to rack.
🥧 3. Classic Pecan Pie (Rich & Gooey)
🕒 Time:
- Prep: 15 minutes
- Bake: 50–60 minutes
- Cool: 2 hours
🧺 Ingredients:
- 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust
- 1 cup (240ml) light corn syrup
- 1 cup (200g) brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- ¼ cup (60g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 ½ cups (160g) pecan halves or pieces
🧑🍳 Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Whisk corn syrup, sugar, eggs, butter, vanilla, and salt.
- Stir in pecans.
- Pour into crust. Cover edges with foil if needed to prevent overbrowning.
- Bake 50–60 mins until center is just set.
- Cool completely before slicing.