What is it about Texans that we love any food we can possibly put on a stick? You’d think we’d be wary of this arguably foreign practice, evoking as it does the skewered meats of Persia and the Middle East that get grouped under the name shish kebab. But no, we love everything on a stick, especially with some fair, festival or rodeo as the world’s most natural side dish. There’s an unlimited collection of possible coatings - which means that in Texas most cheesecakes on a stick come out chocolate, pretty much like these.
Crust:
1 cup Graham cracker crumbs
½ cup chopped pecans
½ cup melted butter
Filling:
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
½ cup sugar
¼ cup sour cream
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
2 eggs
Coating:
24 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
3 tablespoons shortening
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil to extend over the sides of the pan. Spray foil with cooking spray. Mix the crust ingredients in a small bowl and press into the bottom of the lined pan. Set in oven for about 8 minutes. Let cool.
Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl, then add the remaining Filling ingredients and beat until smooth. Pour Filling over cooled crust and bake until edges are set, about 45 minutes. Soft center will set as the cake cools. Refrigerate 1 ½ hours then freeze until firm, about 2 hours. Remove cheesecake from the pan by lifting and removing the foil. Cut into 3 equal strips. Then, by shifting the knife angle back and forth, cut the strips into triangles resembling Christmas trees. Insert wooden “popcycle” sticks into bottom of each tree.
Working quickly, while cheesecake is still mostly frozen, melt the chocolate and shortening together in a saucepan, stirring frequently. Cool slightly, 2-3 minutes, then pour into a glass 2-cup measure. Holding by the stick, dip each triangle into the melted chocolate to cover the bottom and sides. Let any excess chocolate drip off. Return to waxed paper and set in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Makes about 12 triangles.
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