It’s springtime! Which means rhubarb! Which means #YARROTDF (Yet another rhubarb recipe on The Domestic Front). Do you think I can get that trending? If you’ve been reading my blog for the past five years, you know I am a rhubarb apologist. It’s not too tart, it’s not too weird, and no, I don’t want to mix it with strawberries. I love the flavor of rhubarb and every spring around this time I want to get into the kitchen with those rosy stalks.
This spring I’ve been trying to cut a lot of carbs out of my diet (more on that later, if you’re interested), and so after thinking about some new ways to use rhubarb, I hit on rhubarb cheesecake. Pairing rhubarb with creamy custard is classic, and the almond crust plays a nice crunchy counterpoint to the creamy filling. What I especially love about this recipe is that it’s so versatile for this time of year – the rhubarb cheesecake would be a beautiful addition to your Easter table, or, given that it’s gluten- and grain-free, a great Passover treat. I’ve provided both the low-sugar version (I used a sugar substitute) and the full-sugar versions below.
The cake is great on its own, but serving it with the remaining rhubarb compote really punches up the springtime flavor. Both of my kids were fans, and repeated words that were music to this rhubarb-loving mama’s ears: “More rhubarb, please!”
More rhubarb recipes for my fellow rhubarb-lovers:
- Yeasted Rhubarb Coffee Cake
- Rhubarb Clafoutis
- Rhubarb Crumble
- Rhubarb Parfaits
- Blancmange with Rhubarb
- 22 oz. raw rhubarb, cut into 1 inch pieces
- ¼ cup sugar (2 Tablespoons Truvia Baking Blend)
- pinch salt
- 1 cup whole almonds (skins are fine)
- 1.2 tsp almond extract
- ¼ cup sugar (2 Tablespoons Truvia Baking Blend)
- salt
- 2.5 Tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 2 8-oz. blocks cream cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ cup sugar (1/4 cup Truvia Baking Blend)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Pinch salt
- ¼ cup sour cream
- Combine rhubarb, cut into 1 inch pieces, in a saucepan with the sugar or sugar substitute. Cook covered over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the rhubarb has broken down. It should be similar to a chunky applesauce in texture.
- Take 1 cup of the rhubarb compote and puree it in the blender or food processor until smooth.
- Toast the almonds in a 350 degree oven until golden brown, rub off any loose skins, but some skins are fine, let cool.
- Combine the toasted almonds, the sugar or sugar substitute, the almond extract and the salt in a food processor, and process until the nuts resemble coarse crumbs.
- Transfer crumbs to a bowl and add in melted butter. Mix thoroughly.
- Butter a 7 inch springform pan. Pat the almond mixture into the bottom of the pan and up the sides, compacting as much as possible. Wrap the bottom and sides of the outside of the pan with aluminum foil.
- Refrigerate or freeze the crust until you're ready to bake the cheesecake.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place a baking dish into the oven filled with 1-2 inches of water while preheating.
- Place the cream cheese into the stand mixer and process until smooth. Add the eggs and the egg yolk, processing each until thoroughly incorporated, and scraping down the sides of the processor bowl. Add the sugar or substitute, vanilla and salt, and the sour cream, and process until the mixture is smooth and uniform with no lumps.
- Pour half the cheesecake batter into the pan with the prepared crust. Dollop half of the pureed rhubarb over the surface of the cheesecake, and, using a skewer, swirl the rhubarb mixture. Pour the remaining cheesecake mixture into the pan, and dollop the remaining pureed rhubarb, swirling into a pleasing pattern.
- Place the cheesecake into the prepared water bath. Bake at 450 degrees for 12 minutes, then reduce the heat to 200 degrees and bake for 1 hour more.
- Cool thoroughly before serving. Serve topped with the remaining rhubarb compote.
Thoughts on using almond meal for the crust rather than starting from whole almonds? I have some that I’d love to use up if I can. It’s finer-grained than what you’re describing.
You can use almond meal, but the crust will be denser and less crumbly. I’d try to get it a little thinner to compensate when you pat it into the pan. Almond meal also freezes beautifully, and here’s another recipe that uses it: http://www.thedomesticfront.com/2009/10/22/after-school-snack-gluten-free-pear-almond-muffins/
Hope that helps!
xoxo, Kate
Additional questions I should’ve asked before tackling this last night:
* Should 1.2 tsp almond extract be 1/2 tsp?
* Is 200 deg F correct? Granted, I made the 9″ version (it was the pan I had), but I left it in for a whole extra hour and it was still pretty jiggly when I took it out in desperation because it was 45 min past my bedtime. I just tried a small slice and it doesn’t seem cooked.
Jyllian,
Yes – 1.2 tsp should be 1/2 – I’ll make that correction.
Yes, 200 degrees is correct. If you’re baking a 9 inch, you might bake at the higher temp for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature and bake an hour more. It should be a little jiggly when you remove it, but when it’s fully cooled it should be creamy but not dense.