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Shoofly Cheesecake

Rich, creamy cheesecake with the golden flavor of molasses.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Amish
Keyword: Molasses, Shoofly
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Shoofly Cake

  • 1/3 c white whole wheat flour
  • 1/4 c brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp butter
  • 2 Tbsp dark molasses
  • 1/4 c boiling water
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • scant 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp vinegar

Crust

  • 1 1/4 c almond meal/flour
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • Pinch salt

Filling

  • 8 oz Neufchatel cheese
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp white whole wheat flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch salt
  • 3 Tbsp Greek yogurt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 c milk

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Shoofly Cake

  • Combine the 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and cinnamon in the work bowl of food processor. Add the butter and pulse to fine crumbs. Alternately, cut in using a pastry blender. Spread this mix in an 8-inch pie pan or other shallow baking pan. Mix the molasses, boiling water, vanilla and baking soda. Add the vinegar, which will cause the mixture to foam. Quickly pour over the crumb mixture in the pie pan and dsitribute evenly. Bake for 5-7 minutes, or until the cake on top is set. Watch carefully, as it will burn easily. Remove and cool slightly. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.

Crust

  • Pour the almond meal and salt into the work bowl of food processor, pulse to combine, then pulse the 1 tablespoon of butter to very fine crumbs. Scoop one quarter of the baked shoofly cake into the food processor and process to crumbs. Butter a 9-inch pie pan, then press the crumb mixture in firmly. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 15 minutes. Remove and cool slightly. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.

Filling

  • Combine all ingredients in workbowl of food processor and process to combine. Alternately, mix well in a large mixing bowl. Scoop the remainder of the shoofly cake into the work bowl and pulse to distribute throughout the filling mixture. If mixing by hand, fold the shoofly cake into the filling until it is distributed well. Pour the filling into the crust and bake at 300 degrees for 35-40 minutes, till set in the center. Remove to cooling rack. Cool, then chill for several hours before slicing.

Notes

Prepared as written, one 1/8 slice of cheesecake is approximately 24 grams of carbohydrate.