Coconut Cream Cheesecake

Step 1

First toast 1 cup fine dried (desiccated) coconut. See note.

Step 2

When the coconut is toasted reduce the heat to 300 degrees to keep it preheated for the cheesecake.

Step 3

In a small bowl combine the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of the toasted coconut) sugar and melted butter.

Step 4

Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased or parchment lined 9 inch spring form pan. (Grease bottom only!) Parchment paper is ideal here because it makes it very easy to release the cheesecake from the bottom of the pan. No need to grease the pan at all if you are using parchment paper.

Step 5

Wrap the outside of the springform pan with a double or triple layer of aluminum foil. This performs 2 functions: buffering the direct heat to the pan so that the cheesecake bakes more evenly and secondly, it will catch any butter from the crust that may leak out while baking and hit the bottom of your oven. Preventing a smoky kitchen is always good!

Step 6

Cream together the cream cheese and sugar for 2 to 3 minutes until well combined.

Step 7

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Step 8

Beat in the coconut extract & vanilla extract.

Step 9

Blend together the coconut milk and the 1/4 cup whipping cream and add it to the cheesecake batter, blending well until the batter is very smooth. Using a rubber bowl scraper/spatula, scrape the bottom and the sides of the bowl as well as the electric beaters/paddle and give the batter a final beating for 1 minute on a higher speed. This final step ensures that there are no lumps in the batter and introduces a little air into the cheesecake to make it lighter.

Step 10

Finally stir in the 1/2 cup toasted coconut.

Step 11

Pour the cheesecake batter over the prepared base and bake at 300 degrees F for about 90 minutes. (Oven temperatures will vary slightly. Mine takes the full 90 minutes.

Step 12

Don't be an compulsive oven door opener! Don't open it at all in the first hour.

Step 13

The cheesecake does not have to brown at all in order to be fully baked; the surface of the cheesecake should lose any shine when the cake is properly baked. It can still be slightly wobbly just at the center at this point.

Step 14

Remove the cake from the oven and run a sharp knife completely around the edge of the pan. This will allow for the cheesecake to shrink as it cools and hopefully not crack (Allow the cheesecake to cool thoroughly on a wire rack at room temperature. (NOT in the fridge). Refrigerate after fully cooled.

Step 15

Whip together the whipping cream, coconut extract and icing sugar until firm peaks form.

Step 16

Use the cream to garnish the edges of the cheesecake and sprinkle on the remaining toasted coconut.