CREAMSICLE CHEESECAKE

This dessert combines a childhood favorite with creamy cheesecake.

With Summer peeking around the corner, I’ve been working on creating refreshing recipes that will be perfect to soothe the hot weather. For this recipe, I thought of my mom and my favorite childhood summer treat: creamsicles. I used to love those colorful popsicles with a creamy center. Creamsicles are refreshing fruit juice popsicles stuffed with a creamy, vanilla filling. Yes, they came in different flavors but the orange was the most delicious, in my opinion! 

So for this recipe, I combined one of our childhood favorites- creamsicles and creamy cheesecake. It’s a perfect pairing. Bonus- this is a no-bake treat which means there’s no need to heat up the house by turning on the oven. 

This will be your new go to summer dessert for a picnic, pool party or BBQ!

Trust me…. everyone will LOVE it!

My family on Mother’s Day!

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE CRUST

• 24 whole Golden Oreo cookies, crushed
• 6 tbsp. melted butter
• Pinch of kosher salt

FOR THE FILING

• 3 (8 oz. each) packages cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoon sugar
• Zest of one orange
• Juice of one orange
• 1 box (3 oz.) orange jello
• 1 cup boiling water

FOR GARNISH

• 1 c. whipped topping
• 1 clementine, peeled and separated into segments

INSTRUCTIONS

Make crust: In a medium bowl, mix together cookie crumbs, butter, and salt. Press into the bottom of an 8″ springform pan or a loaf pan and up the sides.

Chill in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.

Using an electric mixer set at medium-high speed, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth. Beat in the condensed milk a little at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl, as necessary. Beat in the Jell-O mixture, orange zest, orange juice and vanilla.

Pour the filling into the crust; smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, 4 hours or overnight before serving.

To serve: When firm, pipe dollops of whipped topping around the outside of the cheesecake. Top each dollop with a clementine segment, garnish with orange zest, and serve.

Advertisement

Homemade Strawberry & Citrus Shrubs

Have you made shrubs before? 

They are a beautiful sweet and tangy combination of fruit and vinegar. 

Shrubs add sweetness and tang to cocktails and mocktails. Splash some in ice-cold seltzer to make a mocktail or make a boozy beverage with vodka. 

Well having brunch at the C House in Seminole Heights, I learned about shrubs. I tried one of their signature cocktails that uses their homemade Strawberry shrub. It was delicious! I was inspired to try my hand at making my own shrub. 

Ingredients

Strawberry Shrub

• 1 cup strawberries, halved  
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup Apple cider vinegar
• 1 (1 inch) strip lemon zest

Citrus Shrub

• I cup lemon, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup orange, peel and chopped 
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar

Directions

Strawberry Shrub

1. Combine strawberries, sugar, vinegar and lemon zest in a medium saucepan. 
2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. 
3. Remove from heat and let stand for 20 minutes. 
4. Pour into a mason jar.
5. Refrigerate until cold, about 4 hours or up to 1 week.

Citrus Shrub

1. Place all the fruit flesh into a blender and pulse until smooth. 
2. Pour puree mixture, sugar and vinegar into a saucepan. 
3. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. 
4. Remove from heat and let stand for 20 minutes. 
5. Pour into a mason jar.
6. Refrigerate until cold, about 4 hours or up to 1 week.

For the cocktails

In a cocktail shaker, add 1 ounce of vodka, ¾ ounce of Shrub, and ice. Cover and shake until cold, about 30 seconds. Strain into a glass of ice and top with Prosecco. Garnish with mint.

For a mocktail, serve Shrubs over Seltzer water and ice.