Recipe: Coconut Cheesecake (Instant Pot or pressure cooker)

COCONUT CHEESECAKE

"This velvety cheesecake is made with toasted coconut in the crust plus a shaggy garnish of shredded coconut on the top. As with the classic cheesecake recipe, make sure your cream cheese is very soft before beating it. If your kitchen is cold, consider microwaving the cream cheese (removed from its foil package) for a few seconds. Cold cream cheese is much harder to beat until smooth."



TIME: 1 hour 15 minutes, plus at least 8 hours chilling
YIELD: 6 servings

FOR THE CRUST:
1/2 cup (about 50 grams) graham cracker crumbs (6 to 7 graham crackers)
1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted*
3 tablespoons coconut butter or oil, melted
1 tablespoon coconut sugar or light brown sugar
Pinch of salt
FOR THE FILLING:
12 ounces cream cheese, softened (see headnote)
6 tablespoons sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened coconut cream, at room temperature
1 tablespoon coconut-flavored rum, such as Malibu, or 1 teaspoon coconut extract
Pinch of salt
2 large eggs
Shredded sweetened coconut, for topping

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

To make the crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, toasted coconut, coconut butter, coconut sugar, and salt in a small bowl. Pat the mixture into a 7-inch springform pan, patting it all over the bottom and 1/2- to 1-inch up the sides.

Bake until the crust has set and is golden brown, 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer the pan to a rack to cool.

Make the filling: Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and sugar until the mixture is very smooth (this could take several minutes if your cream cheese is not soft). Then add the coconut cream, beating again until incorporated. Add the rum and salt, and beat on medium speed until all the ingredients are incorporated and smooth. On medium-low speed, beat in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl between additions. Pour the filling into the prepared shell and cover the top of the springform pan with aluminum foil.

Fill the pressure cooker with 1/2-inch of water. You can either place a steamer rack in the pot and then lower the cake pan onto the rack using a homemade sling or, if you have a rack with an attached handle, simply lower the rack and pan together. Cover and cook on high pressure for 32 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 8 minutes, and then release the remaining pressure manually. Lift the pan out of the pressure cooker and transfer it to a wire rack. Remove the foil. Note that the center of the cheesecake will still be wobbly; it will set further as it cools. Top the warm cheesecake with the shredded coconut and let it cool completely.

Cover the cooled cake with plastic wrap and transfer it to the refrigerator to chill for at least 8 hours and preferably overnight to firm up.

When you are ready to serve it, release the springform sides and place the cheesecake on a platter.

*To toast the coconut, place it in a small skillet, set it over medium heat, and toast. stirring, until it turns
brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the coconut to a plate to let it cool before using.

Used by permission to Recipelink.com from Clarkson Potter
Adapted from source: Dinner in an Instant: 75 modern recipes for your pressure cooker, slow cooker, and Instant Pot by Melissa Clark