February 7, 2010

Pomegranate Swirl Cheesecake with Chocolate Cheerio Crust and a Giveaway


(this giveaway is now closed) Happy super bowl Sunday! Since I absolutely don't care about football (I'm tall- I've always liked basketball {players}) the Superbowl is just a good excuse for a party. It's been a fun weekend and I'm finally getting around to posting a winner for the General Mill's Chocolate Cheerio's giveaway. A trip to random.org has chosen Audra Roberts- so email me your address Audra and I'll get them right in the mail! Now here is the promised dessert featuring the cheerios. I made a crust using ground up Chocolate Cheerios. I figured they're a lot better for you than Oreos but still chocolately and delicious. I wasn't sure how it would turn out but I think it worked. I also swirled in some mini chocolate chips and pomegranate molasses I made with some juice that Pom Wonderful mailed me. Pomegranate juice is seriously healthy (my dad loves him and couldn't believe I was going to cook with it instead of letting him drink it all!) Alton Brown has an awesome episode on Pomegranates and I used his recipe for the molasses which I've kept in a jar in my fridge for a while. I tried making Molasses Crinkle cookies with it but the color and the flavor didn't come through- I'm saving the rest for some yummy pork loin. Back to the cheesecake. I just swirled in those two ingredients to my basic cheesecake batter from my favorite Lemon Curd Cheesecake. Between the cereal crust, reduced fat cream cheese, and pomegranate juice this is practically health food. Haha. You could also sub in cherry pie filling or something similar. As Ina would say, "Chocolate, Cream, Sugar, Butter- how bad can that be?"


Speaking of health food, Safeway and FiberOne Yogurt (through myBlogSpark) have given me a $50 Safeway gift card to give to one of my readers so you can try their yogurt. They sent me one and a coupon to try it so I could let you know what I thought. I couldn't believe how yummy it was. I used to have a Yoplait almost every morning in college but I've since consumed most of my yogurt frozen via Golden Spoon. I think this Fiber One Yogurt has changed my mind, though. It's crazy delicious and good for you too (for real, unlike my cheesecake). So leave a comment to be entered to win the gift card. And stop by Safeway- the four packs of yogurt are 2 for $4 through Tuesday. Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you and enter by Friday night, midnight AZ time. And if your store has it make sure you try the Key Lime flavor!


Pomegranate Swirl Cheesecake with Chocolate Cheerio Crust
by Anne Strawberry

Crust:
2 1/2 Cups Chocolate Cheerios, crushed (in a baggie with a mallet or in the food processor)
1/4 Cup Melted Butter
1 Tablespoon Sugar
1 Tablespoon Cocoa Powder (I like Hershey's special dark)

Preheat the oven to 350. Combine all ingredients and press into four mini springform pans or one regular springform. A pie pan will also work if that's all you have. Make sure the layer is even and not too thick. Bake for 8 minutes and set aside to cool completely.

Filling:
2 packages Neufchatel (1/3 less fat) Cream Cheese, completely softened
2/3 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
1 teaspoon Vanilla
3 tablespoons Pomegranate Molasses (or cherry pie filling)
1/3 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips

Optional Garnish:
Chocolate Syrup or Sauce
Whipped Cream

Preheat the oven to 350. Beat cream cheese in stand mixer for two minutes, or until completely smooth. Add sugar and eggs and beat for one more minute. Mix in the sour cream and vanilla and divide mixture among pans. Spoon 1/2 tablespoon molasses at a time over the cheesecake, sprinkle on the chocolate chips, and use a butter knife to gently swirl it in.

Bake for 45 minutes for a full sized springform or 25-30 minutes for miniature pans (or until it looks set and doesn't jiggle too much- it may crack, but don't stress it!) Allow to cool at room temperature and then in the fridge until chilled. Serve with chocolate sauce and whipped cream.

55 comments:

  1. Thanks for always sharing your recipes, Anne. If we ever get Chocolate Cheerios I will try to make some kind of dessert with them.... if I don't eat them myself, first. Please enter me in the contest, if you would.

    Jared U.

    P.S. FiberOne Granola bars aren't bad.

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  2. Just came across your blog and love love love it! I would love it even more if I could win this fantastic give-a-way!

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  3. Just tried the Chocolate Cheerios plain, now to try baking with them... Yum! Looks good.

    Next up... Key Lime Fiber One Yogurt! I've already had the vanilla and really liked it.

    Thanks for the contest.
    brookekittle@hotmail.com

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  4. I've seen the chocolate cheerios in the store but I haven't yet bought yet - I'll get to it if I get the gift card!

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  5. what a cute blog you have!...this cheesecake looks awesome!...question...how did you get your categories list to look like you did?...with the random words larger then the others and not in a list form. if that makes sense. :) if you could email me that would be great. fever.overjoyed@gmail.com. Ill be back to visit soon again. :)

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  6. I would not have thought of a Cheerio crust but why not? I have to play around with this idea. In the meanwhile, I will have a piece of cheesecake, please.

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  7. That cheesecake looks sooooo good!! I saw that fiber one had a key lime flavor and I want to try it :)

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  8. Thanks for the opportunity to win! I love Fiber One yogurt! Thanks again!

    apinkcbrad@yahoo.com

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  9. I love cheesecake and I would love to win!!

    www.nwcouponlady.blogspot.com

    horsley_fricke at msn dot com

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  10. I love it! I just bought two boxes of Chocolate Cheerios at Safeway with their Buy 4, save $4 promo, perfect timing! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  11. Hi, thanks for the recipes. I'll have to try some of those. Please enter me in the contest. You can reach me at mommyluvs2save@yahoo.com Thanks

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  12. I saw those Chocolate Cheerios in my friend's cabinet the other day and she offered me a box... I shouldn't have turned her down. YUM!

    Thanks for hosting such a fab giveaway!

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  13. Oh that looked so yummy! Please sign me up for the contest. Thanks

    chibiepona@gmail.com

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  14. Sounds good--thanks for the recipe. I didn't even know they made chocolate cheerios.
    Mrspoofa(at)aol.com

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  15. that cheesecake looks amazing! and what a great giveaway...would love to win!

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  16. Your recipe looked delicious - I just recently bought the chocolate cheerios and can't wait to try them.

    1couponnut@cox.net

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  17. Love your blog! Love yogurt! Would love to win!

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  18. These yogurts are very yummy indeed! Thank you for this opportunity!

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  19. Great recipes, I'd definitely try it! And Fiber One yogurt!

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  20. That sounds like a fabulous recipe. Please enter me in the contest.

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  21. Looks amazing! Really like your blog.

    jencala28 @ yahoo.com

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  22. Thanks for the give-away. I have never tried Fiber One Yogurt. Please enter me.

    Lynn
    keithlynn6@msn.com

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  23. I would love to be entered in the contest as well. :o)

    Chelsea

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  24. Wow, that cheesecake looks incredible! And I would love to enter the contest. I love yogurt.

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  25. I would love to win! Kbroderi@msn.com

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  26. Your recipe looks great! I love chocolate with fruit, so I may just have to try this. Thanks for having a giveaway. Sounds fun!!

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  27. Would love to win! lange.kristi@gmail.com. Love your recipe!

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  28. What a clever idea to use the chocolate cheerios in a crust! I'm so excited to try it. Thanks for the Safeway giftcard entry, my fingers are crossed!

    Rexigirl@hotmail.com

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  29. That recipie sounds to die for! And I love Fiber One yogurt.

    couponmomma2010@hotmail.com

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  30. I LOVE cheesecake and can't wait to try your recipe! Thanks!! I just love your blog!

    kwhiz84@live.com

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  31. I love the Fiber One yogurts, SO much yummier than Activia! I'd love to enter your giveaway, thank you! :-)

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  32. Oh, awesome. Please enter me.

    kathrynbaby2004@yahoo.com

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  33. Delicious looking dessert. Sounds like a great giveaway, thanks for the opportunity.
    cheri@calavaris.com

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  34. Thanks for chance on your giveaway!
    Blessings ~

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  35. I have an addiction to cheesecake so I can't wait to try this recipe. Thanks for the chance to win your giveaway.
    deanenpr at yahoo dot com

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  36. This recipe looks awesome - I love cheesecake!

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  37. Key Lime? Sounds good!
    Heather
    h _ erlandson @ hotmail. com

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  38. OMGoodness that cheesecake looks so delectable.
    I would love to win the $50 Safeway card :-)

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  39. What a great creative blog . . . would love to win that giftcard and buy the supplies to make some great desserts myself!

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  40. Hi - I'm a friend of Caralee's. I think that's how I found your site, though it was some time ago, so I can't remember. I'm always drooling over your recipes, in particular, anything dessert related.

    I eat the Fiber One Honey Clusters cereal almost every morning! I add a banana to it - and at 13 grams of fiber, it sure keeps me full for a very long time so that I don't make those PB browines for breakfast (though I should make them for dessert soon!)

    Thanks for the giveaway chance! I'm actually in CA - I hope that doesn't 'disqualify' me! We have the Safeway-sister company, Vons, here.

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  41. wow- that recipe looks awesome. Would love to win the gc! thanks for the chance
    onecrypticmama AT yahoo DOT com

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  42. I think the only way I would try Fiber One yogurt is if I win! So pick me! :)

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  43. Safeway gift card would be most welcome right now!

    alaskawildrose AT gmail DOT com

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  44. Count me in! Your cheesecake looks terrific!

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  45. Love your recipes! Count me in.

    hollykallison at yahoo dot com

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  46. Mmmm, chocolate and pomegranite! Never thought of that combo, but it looks great!

    erin.thomas@yahoo.com

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  47. Looks yummy!!

    deborah150 at hotmail dot com

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  48. Your recipes are awesome! I think I just gained 5 pounds!

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  49. My kids love the key lime pie!
    sbphair@hotmail.com

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  50. What a fun, yummy sounds cheesecake!

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