Cheesecake with Charred Rhubarb Compote and Sliced Strawberries

Name: Cheesecake with Charred Rhubarb Compote and Sliced Strawberries
Cook time: PT0D5H0M
Total time: PT0D5H0M
Yield: serves 10-12
Ingredients: 5 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted, plus more for greasing; 6 oz. graham crackers; 1 tsp. sugar; 1 ⁄ 4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg; 1 ⁄ 4 tsp. kosher salt; 1 ⁄ 2 cup sour cream; 3 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened; 1 1 ⁄ 4 cups sugar; 2 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened; 4 eggs, room temperature; 2 tbsp. dark rum; 1 ⁄ 2 tsp. kosher salt; 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped and reserved; Charred Rhubarb Compote; Sliced strawberries, for garnish

Serves
serves 10-12
Time
5 hours

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINA HOLMES

Pastry chef Anna Posey of Chicago's Publican blackens rhubarb in a wood-fired oven for the cheesecake's compote topping. A standard oven will also do the trick.

Ingredients

For the Crust

5 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted, plus more for greasing
6 oz. graham crackers
1 tsp. sugar
¹⁄₄ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
¹⁄₄ tsp. kosher salt

For the Filling and Garnish

¹⁄₂ cup sour cream
3 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
1 ¹⁄₄ cups sugar
2 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
4 eggs, room temperature
2 tbsp. dark rum
¹⁄₂ tsp. kosher salt
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped and reserved
Charred Rhubarb Compote
Sliced strawberries, for garnish

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Instructions

Step 1

Make the crust: Heat oven to 375°. Grease a 9″ (3″-deep) springform pan with butter. Pulse graham crackers in a food processor into fine crumbs. Add melted butter, sugar, nutmeg, and salt; pulse to combine and press mixture into bottom and 1 1⁄2″ up the sides of pan. Bake until set, 6–8 minutes, and cool. Wrap outside of pan with aluminum foil; transfer to a roasting pan.

Step 2

Make the filling: Reduce oven to 325°. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, beat sour cream and cream cheese on high until smooth. Scrape down sides of bowl and add sugar and butter; mix on medium until combined. With the motor running, add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add rum, salt, and vanilla bean and seeds; mix until combined and pour into prepared crust. Pour enough boiling water into roasting pan to come halfway up the side of springform pan; bake until filling jiggles slightly in the center when the pan is tapped on the side, 50 minutes to an hour. Remove springform pan from water bath and let cool completely; chill until set, 3–4 hours.

Step 3

Spread Charred Rhubarb Compote over cheesecake and garnish with strawberries; chill 1 hour before serving.

Make the crust: Heat oven to 375°. Grease a 9″ (3″-deep) springform pan with butter. Pulse graham crackers in a food processor into fine crumbs. Add melted butter, sugar, nutmeg, and salt; pulse to combine and press mixture into bottom and 1 1⁄2″ up the sides of pan. Bake until set, 6–8 minutes, and cool. Wrap outside of pan with aluminum foil; transfer to a roasting pan.
Make the filling: Reduce oven to 325°. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, beat sour cream and cream cheese on high until smooth. Scrape down sides of bowl and add sugar and butter; mix on medium until combined. With the motor running, add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add rum, salt, and vanilla bean and seeds; mix until combined and pour into prepared crust. Pour enough boiling water into roasting pan to come halfway up the side of springform pan; bake until filling jiggles slightly in the center when the pan is tapped on the side, 50 minutes to an hour. Remove springform pan from water bath and let cool completely; chill until set, 3–4 hours.
Spread Charred Rhubarb Compote over cheesecake and garnish with strawberries; chill 1 hour before serving.