Author Notes
My husband doesn't like cake. So each year for his birthday I dig out a box of girl scout Thin Mints from the freezer and make this cheesecake for him. 10 years ago on his 40th birthday, I used chocolate letters to spell out "happy birthday" and then lit 40 candles around the perimeter....by the time I got the last one lit, the letters were a horror movie mess...but it did add a nice chocolate "glaze"... But that's gilding the lily! I'm entering this into your best recipe with mint...and you can add a dollop of whipped cream with a mint leaf garnish...but the mint flavor here comes from the mint cookies gently infusing the cheesecake which has a small amount of creme de mint.. Those wonderful boxes of cookies have gotten smaller over the years...start with 2 boxes and keep one sleeve out to munch on while you bake this for your loved one! —lorigoldsby
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Ingredients
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3
Sleeves of Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies
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3 tablespoons
Butter
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3 packets
Cream cheese
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3
Eggs
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1 cup
Marscapone cheese or ricotta or sour cream
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1 cup
Sugar
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1/4 cup
Creme de mint
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2 teaspoons
Pure vanilla extract
Directions
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To make crust: pulse 3 sleeves of cookies to a fine grind. Wrap bottom and sides of springform pan with foil...Add butter and pat into a springform pan. Bake at 350 for 5 minutes.
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Eggs and cream cheese and marscapone should be at room temperature. Do not substitute low fat cheeses...they will cause your cake to crack! Beat cheeses and sugar on low speed...add eggs one at a time, incorporating completely before adding the next one.
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Add creme de mint and vanilla. Don't over whip...but mix until smooth, pour into pan. Tap several times on counter to remove any excess air bubbles
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Prepare cheesecake with a Bain Marie ...place foil wrapped springform pan in a baking dish and fill with hot water 1/2 way up the sides. Bake at 350 for one hour or until "almost" set.
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When cake is finished, remove from water bath, remove foil, cool on wire rack...after 30 minutes, run a knife around the edge. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
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Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream and a mint leaf.
I learned to cook with my Gran. I can still see her reading a recipe and figuring out how she would make it better. She was fearless about substituting ingredients--but also knowledgeable. She approached food in the same way she built her antique business--appreciate quality ingredients and workmanship, but don't be a snob. I think I carry those same beliefs in my approach to cooking. I love family style dinners, I love a fancy ladies' luncheon with my wedding china, or a backyard seafood boil to celebrate my husband's birthday...I love to share food with others.
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