Friday, August 10, 2012

FlavorStorm's Essential Cane Flavored Sugar Giveaway...Featuring Triple Berry Cheesecake In a Glass


Today, I want to tell you about a fantastic food product that I was recently introduced to: FlavorStorm's Essential Cane flavored sugars. These sugars are organic fair-trade evaporated cane sugars flavored with all natural ingredients. I was sent four flavors to try out and create a recipe to share with you. I received Raspberry, Tangerine, Vanilla Bean, and the very unique Sweet Onion. We tried the fruit and vanilla bean varieties in a variety of ways: in tea -- both iced and hot -- and even sprinkled on top of our breakfast cereal! The flavors are very natural and nicely balanced: you definitely can tell what the flavor is, but it’s not overpowering or fake tasting. I’m saving the very unique Sweet Onion to use next time I caramelize onions...to bring out a sweet depth of flavor.

I had some blueberries and strawberries in my fridge, so I decided to use the Raspberry sugar to create a berry-licious summertime dessert. It comes together in a flash, and it requires no oven or stove. Triple Berry Cheesecake In a Glass is my personal spin on a Nigella Lawson recipe. Cookie crumbs, creamy raspberry-infused cheesecake filling, and macerated berries are layered into martini or wine glasses. They can be served immediately or chilled before serving. I used a double shot of the Raspberry Essential Cane in this recipe: to flavor the cheesecake filling...and to decorate the rim of each glass. This dessert is simple enough to whip up on a busy weeknight, but it’s fancy enough to serve to company!


Triple Berry Cheesecake In a Glass
adapted from Nigella Lawson

Step 1: Combine the following ingredients in a small bowl: 1 cup blueberries, 1 cup chopped strawberries, a squeeze of lemon juice, the zest of one lemon, and 2 tbs. sugar. Stir to combine and set aside in the fridge while you make the rest of the components.


Step 2: Add the following ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer: 4 ounces softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup cream, 2 tbs. lemon juice combined with 1/3 cup of the Essential Cane Raspberry sugar, and 1/4 cup sugar. Combine on low until ingredients are slowly incorporated. Scrape down sides of bowl, and increase speed to high...until the cream cheese mixture is light and fluffy. This takes about 3 minutes.




Step 3: Assemble the cheesecakes. Rub a wedge of lemon around the rim of each glass. Place each glass in a plate of the raspberry sugar to decorate the rims. Crush 1 cup of vanilla wafers in a ziploc bag. Place 1/4 of the cookie crumbs in the bottom of four martini or wine glasses. Spoon 1/4 of the cheesecake mixture into each glass, on top of the cookie crumbs. Then, spoon 1/4 of the berries on top of each cheesecake. Serve immediately, or refrigerate to let it firm up a bit.


This dessert is so good! The fresh berries, creamy cheesecake filling, and sweet cookie crumbs provide all the flavors and textures of traditional cheesecake...in a fraction of the time! That’s my definition of a win-win scenario, people. This was a very popular dessert while we watched the Olympics one night this week...and it’s even a bit patriotic with the red and white berries on top! Now...how would you like to try these fun gourmet flavored sugars out in YOUR kitchen?!?!?

FlavorStorm is going to give one of you two 5-ounce bottles of  their Essential Can flavored sugars: Raspberry (so you can recreate this no-bake cheesecake for yourself!) and one flavor of your choosing. To enter, simply visit the Essential Cane website and check out their full catalog of flavors. Then, come back here and leave a comment telling me which flavor you most want to try...and how you would use it in your kitchen. You have until Monday at 1159 p.m. to enter...I will notify the winner next Tuesday. Don’t forget to leave your e-mail address so I can find you if you’re the winner. Good luck...I’m off to have one of these yummy cheesecakes right now!!

10 comments:

  1. I would love to try the habanero! Sweet AND spicy!

    juanitas_cocina@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a neat idea!! I've made my own vanilla sugar, and a lemon one (to go with the limoncello jello shots!), but I love all the ideas they have. Liv says her favorite would be the cinnamon sugar, she wants to put it on or in her pancakes or waffles. Me? I'll go for the lime!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think the Habanero sugar would be soooo fun on a martini or margarita glass to add a little extra kick and heat to a special martini or margarita!! lisaroath@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. YUM! Love how you styled it with the sugar on the rim. It sounds divine.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Delicious! These look so fun!~ I would love to try the Espresso sugar for espresso flavored drinks like a frappuccino and the lime sugar for a mojito! YUm! Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh my goodness! Those are great flavors -- so hard to choose! I would probably pick the ginger to try on a creme brulee...or maybe the dark cocoa on a chocolate creme brulee. So inspirational!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would like to receive the Habanero Sugar to make my Fire and Ice Salsa made with watermelon. Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I would like to try the Habanero and the Toasted Coconut. I would use the Habanero in my tamales and salsa and the Toasted Coconut in Pina Colodas!!!!

    ReplyDelete

I love hearing your feedback!!!