Recipe: Dulce de Leche Cheesecake with Guava Sauce

DULCE DE LECHE CHEESECAKE WITH GUAVA SAUCE
Adapted from Source: Vida Restaurant's owner and executive chef, Rafael Palomino, author of Viva la Vida: Festive Recipes for Entertaining Latin-Style.
Makes two 9-inch cakes

42 ounces dulce de leche (recipe follows)
3 pkg. (8 oz each) cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup heavy cream
4 eggs
GUAVA SAUCE:
3/4 cup guava puree
1/4 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Position a rack in the center of the oven.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the dulce de leche and cream cheese. Beat until well blended. Beat in the heavy cream and eggs until completely smooth. Scrape the batter into two 9-inch springform pans. Place the pans in a roasting pan, and fill the roasting pan with water to come halfway up the side of the springform pan.

Place the roasting pan in oven and bake for 70 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. The top will be dry and browned.

Remove from the oven and the roasting pan. Let cool on a wire rack for at least 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, or up to 2 weeks.

Run a knife around the edge of each pan, place the pan on a plate, and remove the sides.

TO MAKE SAUCE:
In a small bowl, mix the guava puree and water. Put the sauce in a squeeze bottle and drizzle it over the cheesecake, or make decorative dots of sauce on the serving plate or platter.

DULCE DE LECHE
(caramel made with condensed milk)

You will need 42 ounces of the finished caramel for this recipe.

How To Caramelize Sweetened Condensed Milk
Board: Cooking Club at Recipelink.com
From: marilyn 10-8-1998
Source: Simply Delicious Desserts With Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

Oven Method:
Pour 1 can sweetened condensed milk into 9 inch pie plate. Cover with foil; place in larger shallow pan. Fill larger pan with hot water. Bake at 425 degrees for 1 1/2 hours or until thick and caramel colored. Beat until smooth.

Stovetop Method:
Pour 1 can condensed milk into top of double boiler; place over boiling water. Over low heat, simmer 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until thick and caramel colored. Beat until smooth.

Microwave Method:
Pour 1 can condensed milk into 2 quart glass measure. cook on 50% power (medium) for 4 minutes, stirring briskly every 2 minutes until smooth. cook on 30% power (medium-low) 12-18 minutes ot until very thick and caramel colored, stirring briskly every 2 minutes until smooth.

CAUTION; NEVER HEAT UNOPENED CAN