MASCARPONE COOKIES GIADA RECIPES

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Tightly wrap the outside of a 9-inch diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides with 3 layers of heavy-duty foil. Finely grind the almonds, cracker crumbs, and sugar in a food processor. Add the butter and process until moist crumbs form. Press the almond mixture onto the bottom of the prepared pan (not on the sides of the pan). Bake the crust until it is set and beginning to brown, about 12 minutes. Cool. Decrease the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• For the filling: Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, and sugar in a large bowl until smooth, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat in the lemon juice and vanilla. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
• Pour the cheese mixture over the crust in the pan. Place the springform pan in a large roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the springform pan. Bake until the center of the cheesecake moves slightly when the pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour 5 minutes (the cake will become firm when it is cold). Transfer the cake to a rack; cool for 1 hour. Refrigerate until the cheesecake is cold, at least 8 hours and up to 2 days.
• For the topping: Combine the chocolate-hazelnut spread and cream in a small bowl. Heat in the microwave until warm, stirring every 20 seconds to blend, about 1 minute.
• Cut the cake into wedges. Drizzle the chocolate sauce over the wedges and serve.

Steps:

• Combine sugar and butter in bowl. Beat on medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add egg, mascarpone cheese and almond extract; continue beating until well mixed. Add flour, baking powder and salt; beat at low speed until well mixed.
• Divide dough in half. Shape each into disk; flatten slightly. Wrap each half in plastic food wrap. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm.
• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, one-half at a time (keeping remaining dough refrigerated), to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with 1 3/4-inch cookie cutter. Place, 1 inch apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake 6-7 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Transfer to cooling rack. Cool completely.
• Place whipping cream into 1-quart saucepan. Cook over low heat until bubbles form around outside edge. Remove from heat; stir in chocolate until smooth. Pour into small bowl; place small bowl into larger bowl of ice water. Stir occasionally 15 minutes or until slightly thickened. Remove bowl from ice water.
• Spoon about 1 teaspoon filling onto bottom side of half of cookies. Top with remaining cookies. Let stand until filling is set.