Yummy dessert - white chocolate, strawberries, cream cheese...

[oceanjasper]

My aunt made this cake for her birthday last week and it was so good that everyone had to have two pieces! I am generally not a big white chocolate fan, but this recipe is a definite exception. I think it would make a wonderful spring or summer dessert. I am planning on making it for my family for Easter. Enjoy!!

Grand Slam Finale

1 cup (250ml) vanilla wafer cookie crumbs (24 wafers)
1/2 cup (125ml) toasted almonds – finely chopped
1/4 cup (50ml) butter – melted
4 cups (1L) fresh strawberries
12 oz (375g) good quality white chocolate
4 oz (125g) cream cheese
1/4 cup (50ml) sugar
1/4 cup (50ml) orange liqueur or frozen orange juice concentrate
1 tsp (5ml) vanilla
2 cups (500ml) whipping cream
2 tbsp (25ml) cocoa powder

Combine wafer crumbs, almonds and butter. Press into the bottom of a 9” springform pan.

Wash, dry and hull berries. Reserve a few for garnish.

Chop chocolate and melt in a double boiler or microwave. Spread 3 tbsp chocolate over cookie base. Arrange whole berries, points up, on base. Refrigerate.

Allow remaining chocolate to cool slightly. Beat cream cheese until smooth, then beat in sugar. Mix in liqueur (or juice) and vanilla. Slowly beat in remaining chocolate.

Whip the cream. Stir about 1/3 into chocolate mixture and fold in the remainder. Pour over berries, shaking pan gently to fill in between berries.

Refrigerate 3 hours or overnight. To remove, run knife carefully around edge and gently remove from springform. Dust with cocoa and garnish with reserved strawberries.

From the Grand Slam cookbook by The Best of Bridge

[lonetree1353]

Thanks for posting this. I haven't made a dud recipe from any of the cookbooks in this series yet. Will have to try this one out.

[Dawna]

The ingredient list alone sounded wonderful. This looks fantastic. As the lifelong holdout in a family of chocolate lovers (I'd just as soon have something different most of the time), I married a man who thinks dessert and chocolate are synonymous. I can't imagine trying to get a non-chocolate dessert by him.

When asked whether he preferred light or dark chocolate, his answer was that he prefers "cake" chocolate. Of course, we were sitting in a small cafe/bakery at the time, and he couldn't remove his eyes from the individual bundt-shaped chocolate cakes in the display at the time. That may have had something to do with his answser!

I really may have to try this, no matter what he says. I just need to have someone ready to LEAVE with the leftovers afterward, or I will eat the whole thing.

dawna

[oceanjasper]

I really may have to try this, no matter what he says. I just need to have someone ready to LEAVE with the leftovers afterward, or I will eat the whole thing.

I know exactly what you mean! There were four of us at dinner and there was one measly little piece left after we were done with it! Luckily, my uncle had already staked claim on it! :D

[cjc]

Oceanjasper- this sounds amazing! I'd love to make this for DH's birthday because he loves everything in it - except the orange flavor. Is the orange flavor really noticable? If so, do you think I could sub amaretto or something for it? I was thinking amaretto only because there are almonds in the crust.

Thanks!
Carrie

[oceanjasper]

Oceanjasper- this sounds amazing! I'd love to make this for DH's birthday because he loves everything in it - except the orange flavor. Is the orange flavor really noticable? If so, do you think I could sub amaretto or something for it? I was thinking amaretto only because there are almonds in the crust.

Thanks!
Carrie

I called her and she made it with the orange juice concentrate. Without knowing that, I would have guessed that she left it out, because I didn't notice any orange flavour. It must be very subtle. I think you could definitely go with the amaretto flavour though.

[brr9270]

This looks wonderful, and I am going to make it for our Easter dinner this Sunday. I come from a family of wonderful cooks, and it is always so hard to come up with a showstopper from me. I hope his does it! Did it have somewhat of a cheesecake consistency or not quite as dense?

[oceanjasper]

This looks wonderful, and I am going to make it for our Easter dinner this Sunday. I come from a family of wonderful cooks, and it is always so hard to come up with a showstopper from me. I hope his does it! Did it have somewhat of a cheesecake consistency or not quite as dense?

Definitely not as dense as a baked cheesecake. More the consistency of a no-bake cheesecake - creamier and fluffier, and not so much sticking to the roof of your mouth. Hope that makes sense!

The funny thing is that the first time my aunt made the cake, she forgot to whip the cream. The instructions actually say "Whip cream.", which I guess she took as add the whipping cream. Obviously, the cake never set up, but they still ate it and everyone wanted her to make it again! :)

[JennieL]

This was a huge hit at Easter and very easy. I didn't put in all the alcohol (Triple Sec) because I was afraid it was going to be too boozy for the kids, but I really couldn't taste it. Next time I'll use the full amount. I'll definately repeat this one.