Edith's Cheesecakes/Plus Gluten Free Option

Recipes and neighbors go together.  First tried this recipe in 1987.

Ingredients

1 pkg. Christie vanilla wafers

(tried GF MI-DEL Ginger Snaps for GF version)

1 cup sugar

3 x 8 oz pkg. cream cheese (softened)

4 eggs

2 tbsp. lemon juice

Topping ideas

-cherry pie filling

-blueberry pie filling

-whipped cream with shaved chocolate

- fresh fruit

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix sugar, cheese, eggs and lemon juice until smooth.  Line cupcake pans with muffin cups. Place one vanilla wafer (or GF wafer) in botton of each cup.  Spoon cheese mixture over wafers to fill cups 3 / 4 full.  Bake in preheated oven for about 18 minutes.  Cool.  Finish with your choice of topping.

GF choice

Gluten Free Carrot Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup canola oil or vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups Pamela's artisan gluten-free flour
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 2-3 cups carrots, finely shredded (I used a little over 2 cups)
• ½ cup pureed carrots (optional but great!)
• ½ cup sweet coconut flakes, finely shredded
• FROSTING (double the recipe if you like a thick layer of frosting)
• 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 4 tablespoons butter, room temperature
• 2 cup confectioners sugar (may need more to thicken if desired)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Grease and flour (with Pamela's flour) 2 (9-inch) cake pans. Set aside
3. In a large bowl cream together oil, sugars, and eggs. Set aside.
4. In a separate bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk.
6. Mix just until fully combined. (careful not to over mix)
7. Fold in shredded & pureed carrots, coconut flakes and vanilla extract.
8. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.
9. Bake for 20-25 minutes until center is set. (do not over bake!)
10. Place pans directly into freezer to cool.
11. While cakes are cooling prepare the frosting by first creaming together the butter and cream cheese.
12. Add in the confectioners sugar and vanilla extract.
13. Mix until silky and creamy. Add more sugar if a thicker texture is needed.
14. When cakes are cooled remove them from pans and frost, sprinkling the tops with walnuts.

Notes

This carrot cakes tastes even better the next day!