The Secret to the Perfect Cheesecake

Summer is all about bright, fresh flavors that don't weigh down taste buds. Once the weather warms up, I love to incorporate fresh fruit in my baked goods, cheesecakes included. Berries are always a favorite because they can be dressed up in an endless number of ways - paired with chocolate, pastry cream, fresh whipped cream, and of course, cheesecake. Raspberries and white chocolate are quite a natural tandem and when swirled together into a rich and creamy cheesecake are darn near irresistible.

The key to this White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake recipe is to use the best quality ingredients available. White chocolate is particularly finicky when it comes to melting, so a high quality brand is a must. As for the raspberries, when I shop for berries, I always look for Driscoll's. Many berries can be hit or miss when it comes to quality - a lot of packages sport tiny berries or ones that are way past their prime; Driscoll's are always large, plump and perfectly fresh.

Now let's get to that cheesecake! Below are a number of tips for ensuring that your cheesecake turns out picture-perfect each and every time:

• Make sure that all ingredients (including the eggs!) are at room temperature. This helps create a smooth, creamy consistency.
• Don't overbeat the batter; it will add air into the batter, which can cause the cheesecake to crack.
• Keep the oven door closed during baking; the draft of air can also cause the cheesecake to crack.
• Run a knife around the outside edge of the cheesecake immediately after removing it from the oven - this also helps to prevent cracking as the cheesecake cools and begins shrinking a bit.

Michelle Norris was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA and considers herself a sports fanatic as well as a baker extraordinaire. When she's not cheering on her favorite teams, you can find her baking up delicious treats. Discover all her tasty recipes on her blog, www.browneyedbaker.com

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