Sweet potatoes are a starchy root vegetable commonly used in both savory and sweet dishes, including sweet potato cheesecake. Recipes call for roasted or canned sweet potatoes and a richer crumb crust, such as chopped pecans or ginger biscuits. A springform pan is recommended for baking, and a double boiler is used to prevent cracking. The cheesecake is less sweet than other types and is often served with a sweet topping, such as whipped cream or caramel.
A sweet potato is a type of starchy root vegetable. Although it grows in a variety of colors, the most commonly used sweet potato variety tends to be dark orange. Sweet potatoes are generally considered mild in flavor and are often used in both savory and sweet dishes. One type of sweet dish in which the vegetable can be used is sweet potato cheesecake, a dessert usually consisting of a crumb crust, topped with a sweet cream cheese and sweet potato puree filling.
Sweet potato cheesecake recipes tend to call for roasted sweet potatoes that are then mashed once cooked enough to soften. Canned sweet potatoes can also be used and typically require no other preparation. Although traditional plain cheesecake tends to use a graham cracker crumb crust, recipes for the sweet potato version of the dessert often recommend using a richer crumb, such as chopped pecans or ginger biscuits, in order to to add extra sweetness to the dish.
One of the commonly recommended pieces of baking equipment for making sweet potato cheesecake is a springform pan. A springform pan is a round pan with removable sides. The crust is usually pressed into the bottom and sides of the pan, then filled with the filling. Usually the pan is kept intact while cooking, so the sides tend to be removed before serving to fully display the sides of the crust.
Sweet potato cheesecake is often cooked in a double boiler, a process in which the springform pan is placed in another dish partially filled with water. As the water heats up in the oven, it is thought to add moisture to the cheesecake filling and prevent the top from cracking. The cheesecake is usually baked until the center still jiggles slightly when shaken, then the center is allowed to firm up at room temperature to prevent the outside of the cheesecake from overcooking.
Because sweet potatoes are starchy and have a milder flavor on their own, sweet potato cheesecake tends to be less sweet than other types of cheesecake. Recipes often recommend serving the cheesecake with a sweet topping to balance out the sweetness of the sweet potatoes. Dollops of plain whipped cream or blobs of caramel topping can be added to dessert. Sweet bourbon-based sauces also commonly accompany cheesecake.
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