October 8, 2008

Easy Low-fat Cheesecake with Strawberry marbling

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October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
It is the second most common kind of cancer affecting women, after lung cancer.
I am all for women supporting women in any little way possible. Please raise awareness about breast cancer if possible in your blogs or websites. You can find more information at NBCAM
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is focused on encouraging women to take charge of their own breast health, by practicing regular self-breast exams, making sure to schedule an annual mammogram, adhering to prescribed treatment and knowing the facts about recurrence - NBCAM

Relevant to the awareness theme, I decided to make something pink, hence the cheese cake with pink strawberry marbling. And to stick to the health factor, the low-fat version.

This is probably one of the quickest cheesecake recipes you can whip up. So people who are on the run, or who are just plain lazy (like me at times) citing "lack of time" to bake this beauty is no excuse!

Condensed milk has a ton of sugar in it, so I did not bother to add extra sugar, if you would like it to be a little sweeter you may add a little, say a few spoonfuls of sugar. This is completely optional though.

I have done a marbled effect by swirling the liquid strawberry preserves with a toothpick on top of the cheesecake. You can do this step as soon as it is out from the oven.
You may add sugar-free cherry pie filling on top for a added visual appeal. Either way, chill thoroughly before indulging.

With lower fat content, it is a calorie-conscious indulgence without any compromise to your sweet tooth.
As you all might know by now, my sweet tooth is huge, golden and gleaming! I polish and make it shine with my desserts every now and then. (Grin)

Easy Low-fat cheese cake with Strawberry marbling

Ingredients:

Reduced fat graham cracker crust - 1 shell
Eggs - 4 (I used 3)
Low fat cream cheese - 1 small tub (About 180 gms)
Fat free condensed milk - 1 can
Low fat evaporated milk - 1 can
Sugar - 2-4 tbsp (optional, I did not use it)
Pure vanilla extract - 1 tsp

Method:

Preheat oven to 325F.

Beat the eggs until light and fluffy with a hand mixer.

Add softened cream cheese and beat for a about 3-5 minutes till the mixture becomes smooth and soft.

Add the vanilla extract, condensed milk, and evaporated milk and mix for another couple of minutes.

Pour mixture into the graham cracker crust and bake at 325F for 50-60 min. Insert a toothpick and check if it comes out clean. It there is cheese sticking to it, bake it for some more time. The center should be almost set at this point.

At that point, remove and let rest for at least 4 hrs in the refrigerator after bringing it to room temperature. Letting it sit in the fridge overnight is a better option.

Slice and serve chilled with sliced strawberries.

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This goes to Ley's Baking for Breast Cancer Awareness

70 comments:

  1. This cheesecake is making my mouth water....the pics are excellent too:)

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  2. wow.. looks really tempting... Fantastic entry... looks yummy & delicious... Great click as well.. thxs for sharing anu..

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  3. looks yummy! thanks for the info!

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  4. wonderful effect Divya.I love the baked cheese cake.it is awesome.

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  5. Superb looking cheesecake n fantastic pics!!

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  6. The marbling effect is so pretty .. love cheesecake :)

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  7. Looks neat and cute...Loved the way you spread the strawberry preserve

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  8. Divya,I get more and more attracted towards ur blog..wr do find these recipes yaar?simply superb

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  9. lovely cheesecake ... mouth watering

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  10. good one anu...luved the cake and is the strawberry that big or u have taken the pic like that? looks inviting!

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  11. to answer ur question, i have not kept golu here....only doing pujas

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  12. I pretty mch use the same recipe for my cheesecake cravings, except omit condensed milk:) loved the strawberry topping!:)

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  13. Cake looks awesome. I have had cheesecake only one or two times in the bakery. Is there any way to replace eggs with something else? pls reply to my mail.

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  14. WOW, AWESOME. YOUR PRESENTATION IS MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN THE RECIPE ITSELF.
    RAMKUMAR

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  15. i meant-reply to my Question reg. egg replacement in mail:) just read it.. thx for replying.

    One more suggestion, I think you take these pictures at night. It would come out even more lovely will you take it in day light without flash. As such they look great as well.. just a thought.

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  16. Tasty cheese cake for an excellent cause :) Love the marbling effect Div!

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  17. divya nice one and looks yummy with marbling effect

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  18. Looks lovely great marbling!

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  19. Ramya - Thanks :) You are very kind.

    Sangeeth - The strawberry is a good sized one, and the fanning makes it look bigger.

    Mahimaa - As I said, you can try silken tofu, or flax seeds (ground and mixed with water) as substitutes. I have not tried it though. So if you decide to experiment, let me know.

    And regarding your other question... I never use flash in my pics.
    Girl, I live in the Pacific NW, and sunlight is at a premium! Days are pretty gloomy. So I have to use indoor lights (not flash though!) :)
    Sad... I am gonna give up of food photography if the sun gods don't smile on me soon.

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  20. Lovely click...mouthwatering anu...would love to pick them from the pic..yummyyyy

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  21. As usual, again a tempting recipe in ur blog :).. it looks great! and yes thanks for the info.. it is a good way of creating awareness amongst women.. keep up the good work.

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  22. Wow, that cheesecake is perfect. I like how you cut back on the fat by using all the milk combo. Very sweet idea. My family would love this :)

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  23. Great work Divya..Just love cheesecakes..We had been to cheesecake factory last weekend and I skipped all the gorgeous desserts just thinking of how much calories they are loaded with..This seems a better option..

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  24. Love cheese cakes.This looks delicious.I will try it with egg replacement

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  25. Suuuuuuper Duuuuuuuuper cake divya i wanted to grab a piece of cake from plate and eat just right now.....Excellent pics...

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  26. I am still stuck at the rasmalai ice cream, now you have low fat cheese'cake and strawberries...can I come home ??

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  27. Oh kewl, lotsa sweets this week though but I still cant move down from your cheesecake picture ;)

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  28. Oh yum! This looks so good- makes me want to eat cheesecake to support breast cancer awareness. It counts as awareness if it's just me and my hubby wolfing down cheesecake, right? ;) Seriously, though, your dishes look fabulous and props to you for bringing awareness to a very real threat to many women. Cheers!

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  29. wow, lovely cheescake Divya! what a beautiful texture! But 4 eggs? hmmm.

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  30. yum! This I MAY try as I desperately love cheesecakes and have been forgoing it coz of the calorie content!

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  31. Delicious Cheese cake for a good cause. Would love to try it.

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  32. Mmm, I'm always looking for a good lowfat cheesecake (it seems nonfat is near impossible if you want the right texture). I need to experiment more with ricotta/cream cheese for the filling. Love the strawberry swirl, without it cheesecake can look so boring.

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  33. Cheesecake that to lowfat gooood thanks for the recipe. Ur pics are delicious.

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  34. Great try..and good outcome...It looks perfect in shape color...Awesome

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  35. I think I can find some low fat cream cheese around here, but the low fat condensed milk and low-fat evaporated milk? I don't think so...

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  36. That strawberry swirl makes it so nice! And lowfat too. YUM!

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  37. What a fabulous reminder of why we need to be eating well. I love that you lightened this cheesecake. It's gorgeous.

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  38. A worthy cause to cook for, Divya! Nice job.

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  39. my god..look how many fans u have got :)

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  40. no words to expresss..in short perfect cake.. :)

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  41. Divya

    Happy Vijayadasami

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  42. Wow ! Simply superb Divya! Ur pics are delicious & drooling...

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  43. Nice to highlight the cause using food. hThats a lovely cheesecake with strawberry swirls!

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  44. Hi Anudivya,
    First time to your blog. I loved your recipes like the baked masala vadas.

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  45. I made this cheese cake for my niece during her last visit who is crazy about Cheese,she devoured every last crumb of the pie. Your low-fat version looks deeeelicious:)

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  46. Can I have one piece please? LoL

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  47. wow this is superb :). delicious, and mouthwtareing. really dekh ke he pani aa gaya muh mein.

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  48. Looks awesome! My favorite dessert.. perfect texture and color! great recipe..

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  49. 48 comments vechindu, fans enga nu kekara? idhu nyayamaa? lol

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  50. yummy yummy! Cheesecake is my fave! What a perfect one for the cause too :)

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  51. I love that you are doing a lower fat cheesecake. I also love the strawberry swirl - can't wait to make it.

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  52. looks awesome.....attractive...tempting to taste one

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  53. Lovely presentation,the cheesecake looks awesomely delicious...

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  54. vow never cheesecake is sth i tried a long back at CF....but never tried out at home.....thats a beutiful colorr

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  55. why no new posting? Are u busy with the festival?WISH YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND ALL YOUR BLOGGERS A HEALTHY & PROSPEROUS FUTURE.
    RAMKUMAR

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  56. Love the marble effect anu..comes out perfect!!!

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  57. Perfectly baked one,looks lovely and yummy....:)

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  58. Oh boy this looks delicious..drooling over it now....gud one Divya..Wish you & family Happy Dussehra

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  59. Happy Dusshera to you and Your Family Divya !!!

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  60. hi anudivya
    you have made nicely the cheesecake with strawberry marbling..nice pictures as well. Great job.

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  61. looks so perfect. Love the colour..strawberries makes one feel happy..:-)

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  62. That cheesecake looks good!

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  63. wow!looking very tempting.Nice photography & the topping look soooooperb

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  64. Wow. That cheese cake looks sooo Tempting. I think I better try this coz de recipe looks quite simple and my kids just looove cheesecake. But can I substitute condensed milk with something else?

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  65. Hey! This looks amazing! Thank you so much for participating in the event! My email is DulceBelleza721@aol.com, if you still need it...but I think I can find all the information I need from here. Thank you so much!

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  66. Looks too good and I LOVE the low fat twist.

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  67. I am so sad I can't make this ... :( I am breastfeeding, and my daughter is allergic to cheese :(:(

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  68. i still have lots of frozen strawberries in my freezer, i think this is a great idea... thanks for sharing... :)

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  69. i made the cheesecake... turned out to b real good!
    except there was a little confusion... when u say 1 can of condensed and evaporated milk... you didnt specify size... like u did with cream cheese... i approximated .... but for next time can you tell me what size can... like 14oz/5oz!
    please leme knw!

    and thanks for sharing this receipe... cheesecake is my fav!!

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Thank you for taking the time to comment on this post. I will try to respond to queries as soon as I can. If I miss anything that needs to be addressed... please feel free to ping me again.
Happy cooking/baking or whatever it is you are doing in the kitchen! :)