Sopapilla Cheesecake Pie

April 28th 2010

And rounding up the Tex-Mex series is this dessert. This is easy to make, has a cheesecake like filling and a nice crust to go with it. Like the crowded streets clear for the President, all the food in your stomach will clear and make way for the dessert, the king of foods. [Quoting the famous Tenali Raman].

Makes enough for about 8-10 people easily. Tastes even better the next day when you have no one to share it with :)

Difficulty level : Easy

Time: 15 min (prep time), 30-35 min (making time)

Ingredients 

• 2 ( 8 oz) packages Cream Cheese, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon Mexican vanilla extract ( I ended up using pure vanilla extract)
• 2 ( 8 oz) cans refrigerated crescent rolls
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup butter at room temperature
• 1/4 cup honey (optional)

 Method de Preparation

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter from the wrapper. Don't waste it!
2. Beat the cream cheese with 1 cup of sugar and the vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth.
3. Unroll the cans of crescent roll dough, and use a rolling pin to shape each piece into 9x13 inch rectangles. Press one piece into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. The crescent roll is just that, a roll, so unroll it and then spread it out.
4. Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture into the baking dish, then cover with the remaining piece of crescent dough. 
5. Stir together 3/4 cup of sugar, cinnamon, and butter. Spread the mixture over the top of the cheesecake. Make sure you powder the cinnamon well, else you will be left with pieces you bite into.
6. Bake in the preheated oven until the crescent dough has puffed and turned golden brown, about 30 minutes. 
7. And it is really ready at this stage. The recipe calls for drizzling honey on the top which I skipped because I felt it would be too sweet. 
8. Cool completely (~ 1 hr at least) and then cut into squares, rectangles, hearts or circles and serve.

Chef's Tip: I think this would go well with a dollop of whipped cream, did not have any, but next time :P But if you are watching your weight or stuff, I can understand but the dessert will not. So please please eat a piece!

Variations: This is a heavy dessert but if you want more cheesecake filling then use one more pack of cream cheese. 

Source: Original recipe from Allrecipies.com