Cookies & Cakes

Blushing POM Wonderful Holiday Cheesecake

Cheesecake is always something special. Topped with succulent POM Wonderful pomegranate arils and syrup, it's simply superb!

Serves 12-15.
Prep Time: 25 minutes.
Cooking Time: 42 minutes (plus 2 hours chilling time).

Ingredients

Cooking Instructions

Preheat oven to 200°C.
Mix together the cookie crumbs, 1/2 cup of the sugar, and butter until mixture is moistened. Press evenly into the bottom of a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish.
In a large mixing bowl beat the cream cheese and 1 cup of sugar on medium speed until fluffy.
Beat in eggs, milk, vanilla and salt until blended.
Pour over crust in dish, spreading evenly.
Bake for 15 minutes at 200°C, then reduce heat to 180°C and bake 20-25 minutes more, until cake is firm at sides and soft-set (jiggles slightly) in the centre.
Cool cake in dish on a wire rack for up to 2 hours, then cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours before serving. (Refrigerate cake for up to 1 week.)
In saucepan combine juice with 1/3 cup of sugar and cornflour. Bring to boil; reduce heat.
Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Cool slightly; spread glaze over cake.
Garnish with fresh arils and mint leaves if desired.

Prepare garnish

Score 1 fresh pomegranate and place in a bowl of water.
Break open the pomegranate underwater to free the arils. The arils will sink to the bottom of the bowl and the membrane will float to the top.
Sieve and put the arils in a separate bowl.

Prepare fresh pomegranate juice

For 1 cup of juice, cut 2 large pomegranates in half and juice them with a citrus reamer or a juicer. Pour mixture through a cheesecloth-lined strainer or sieve.