Dunn's CheeseCake Montreal Gazette

 

Dunn's Cheesecake

One of the best cheesecakes you will ever eat, 
Dunn's Famous Cheesecake is a Montreal, Quebec favorite 
 

This recipe is from the Montreal Gazette. (Wednesday, July 8, 1998 by Johanna Burkhard) I have the actual newspaper clipping, but it is getting old, yellow and very paper worn. It is such a delicious cheesecake that I make from memory all the time, but I thought I would share it here so if my memory fails it will be here for at least as long as I am alive! Enjoy one of the most delicious offerings Montreal has to offer! 
INGREDIENTS: 
2 pkg. (8 oz. each) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened 
1 4 oz. pressed (dry) Cottage Cheese (Astro or Crescent preferred) 
4 large eggs 
1 1/2 cups sugar 
1 cup sour cream 
1/3 cup flour 
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 
3/4 teaspoon lemon extract or lemon zest 
2 tablespoons fine dry breadcrumbs 
4 cups whole strawberries 
1/3 cup strawberry or red currant jelly 
METHOD:
 
In a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and cottage cheese. 
Using electric mixer, beat at low speed for 5 minutes or until smooth and creamy. 
Beat in eggs, one at a time, until incorporated. Add sugar, sour cream and flour. 
Continue to beat for 3 minutes at low speed. 
Add Vanilla and lemon and  beat 1 minute more.
Generously butter an 8 1/2-inch Springform Pan. 
Coat bottom and sides with breadcrumbs; shake out excess. Pour in cheese mixture. 
Place in oven pre-heated to 275 degree F. 
After 1  1/2 hours of baking, cake will start to rise almost to top of pan. 
Remove cake from oven and let stand for 10 minutes.  
If there is a ridge around edge of cake, using your fingertips, gently press down to even the top. 
Return the cake to the oven and bake for 1  1/4 to 1  1/2 hours more or until the cake is set in the center. Touch center gently with the tips of fingers,  it should feel dry to the touch. 
WARNING: Do not overbake.
 
Remove the cheesecake from the oven and place on rack to cool. 
Refrigerate for at least 1 day before serving. 
Garnish:
Wash berries well and let dry on clean dry towel. Remove stem ends.  Arrange an even layer of whole berries on top of cake. Place jelly in glass bowl with 1 teaspoon of water. Microwave on high for 1 minute or until melted and boiling. Brush berries with Jelly mixture. 
Refrigerate
Serve: Take cake out of fridge 30 minutes before serving. 
Dip a large knife into hot water each time you cut a slice of cake. 
TIME: Approx 2 1/2 hours 
Serves : 12   
TIP:
For the sides of the cheesecake,  Dunn's used a product only available to commercial bakeries named Gumperts Biskrunch. I just buy slivered almonds and crush them and mix them with the breadcrumbs or crunched vanilla wafers. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How to Prepare a Simple Substitute for Gumperts Biskrunch To best replicate the product, crush your chosen vanilla biscuits or cookies in a food processor until they reach the desired consistency (1-3mm). You can use a rolling pin if you do not have a food processor. If the mixture seems dry, you may add a small amount of melted butter to help it hold together, depending on the intended application.
How to make dry cottage cheese from regular cottage cheese?
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To make dry cottage cheese from regular cottage cheese, rinse the curds under cold water to separate them, then place them in a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth-lined colander and let them drain for at least 10 minutes, or longer for a drier, more crumbly texture.
You can gently press the curds or tie them up in the cheesecloth and squeeze out excess moisture to speed up the drying process.
Rinse the curds: Place regular cottage cheese in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse it under cold running water. Continue rinsing until the curds are separate and the whey is washed away. 
Drain the curds:
Allow the curds to drain in the sieve for at least 10 minutes. For a drier result, press the curds gently with a spoon or your hands to squeeze out more moisture. Alternatively, you can gather the curds in a cheesecloth, tie it into a bundle, and hang it over a bowl to drain for several hours or overnight.

Refrigerate: Store the finished dry cottage cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator.