Retro Baking: Recreating 1930s New England Rum Pie

[@yonkersz]

"make sure you measure the rum carefully" proceeds to free pour the rum

[@CameronBales]

Free pour the rum, behind the mixer where we can't watch him add a quarter cup.

[@ijustreview]

The old Sandra Lee pour. A New York tradition

[@truepeacenik]

We will do the same!

[@spetch21]

This is the way. I thought the amount of rum in the official recipe sounded a little light.

[@brianbenson3669]

Gingersnaps crumbs make an interesting pie crust too, depending on pie flavours!

[@RSidneyB]

Ginger snaps would be excellent! Vanilla wafers would work as well.

[@markbollinger1343]

I like biscoff

[@lusnorthernhome3410]

I use ginger snaps in my banana cream pie. Sounds terrible but it’s delicious.

[@essaboselin5252]

The sour cream layer is fairly common in New York style cheesecakes. The reported purpose was to cover any cracks that might have formed in the cheesecake while baking, giving it a cleaner appearance.

[@JB-fv6vx]

was going to say you see that a lot in Barbara Fairchild recipes

[@elisabethairey3447]

I rewatched the video to see if I missed him referencing New York style cheesecakes the first time though. It is 100% what I thought of when I saw the final product and Julie's comments about the flavor.

[@JamesPotts]

I once had one where they used gelatin. It was the only time I've ever had gristle in my cheesecake.

[@CrazyAuntVal]

As others have said, the sour cream topping is de rigueur for "New York style cheesecakes." The award-winning recipe my (California born & raised) husband uses says to bake the cheese layer first, let it cool at room temperature until cracks form, then pour on the sour cream topping and bake again. It is the most requested birthday/holiday/celebration dessert in our family (and by neighbors & co-workers) and dubbed "the best cheesecake I have ever tasted" by nearly everyone who tries it. For those folks who can't find graham crackers, Vanilla Wafers make an amazing crust, just cut the recipe's required sugar in half. Kahlúa in place of the rum makes a dangerously irresistible cheesecake. Add it into the batters (reduce the added sugar if you're so inclined) and drizzle some across the top of the sour cream topping then drag a toothpick through it decoratively before baking.

[@CrazyAuntVal]

As others have said, the sour cream topping is de rigueur for "New York style cheesecakes." The award-winning recipe my (California born & raised) husband uses says to bake the cheese layer first, let it cool at room temperature until cracks form, then pour on the sour cream topping and bake again. It is the most requested birthday/holiday/celebration dessert in our family (and by neighbors & co-workers) and dubbed "the best cheesecake I have ever tasted" by nearly everyone who tries it. For those folks who can't find graham crackers, Vanilla Wafers make an amazing crust, just cut the recipe's required sugar in half. Kahlúa in place of the rum makes a dangerously irresistible cheesecake. Add it into the batters (reduce the added sugar if you're so inclined) and drizzle some across the top of the sour cream topping then drag a toothpick through it decoratively before baking.

[@Emme4047]

In western N.Y. this is called Polish cheesecake. Bake graham cracker crust first for about 7 minutes and cool before adding cheesecake layer. Sour cream layer is essential. Rum, whiskey or vanilla, your choice. Glen you asked where this cheesecake has been all your life………across the lake. Absolutely love your channels 👍

[@Holmes235]

yep, here in Illinois too, although they have in rectangular form, not round shaped.

[@happyclam7320]

Graham crackers have in fact changed in size. The old ones were exactly twice as big.

[@maramakesjournals2319]

I wonder if my Polish husband would like rum cheesecake. His Polish mother made raisin cream pie. Scrumptious!

[@Theaterverslaafde]

Now that sounds good! ​@@maramakesjournals2319

[@erzsebetkovacs2527]

I knew that there had to be a Central Eastern European influence on account of the sour cream. This flavour combo, as described in the video, reminds me of traditional Hungarian desserts made with the local variety of fresh cheese, flavoured with vanilla, served with powdered sugar and a dollop of sour cream.

[@jaezon4ll]

"I have to assume the size of a graham cracker hasn't changed much..." proceeds to show me graham cracker size I've never seen 🤣 love it!

[@michael-ms4ho]

I kind of missed that lol that is also not the size of the graham crackers we buy here in the New York metro area either… Thankfully not as critical in this type of application…. Been there done that making crust for pies

[@pamelabraman7217]

Hi Glen My Mom always had multiple of the same sized pie tins. When she made a graham cracker crust she used another matching tin to press it in to shape. Gave an even spread that didn't crumble as much.

[@Jeffffrey0902]

Chilling also makes the crust less crumbly because the butter in it solidifies.

[@violetwithey4618]

In the States Philadelphia cream cheese used to come in an 8 ounce or 3 ounce packs.

[@violetwithey4618]

Good guess on the amount of cheese

[@practicallyprepared9389]

Yes. To me, small is 3 ounces.

[@applegal3058]

Oh, I haven't ever seen it any other size than 8 oz here in Newfoundland, Canada. Interesting.

[@ic_trab]

That would mean Glen probably had a 1/3 too much cream cheese.

[@lesliemoiseauthor]

Agree​@@practicallyprepared9389

[@GypsyWomanWindy]

Oh!! I might have to try this with some Limoncello!!

[@robertmoore1215]

Italians know a thing or two about beating the heat. What an excellent idea to shave off 10 degrees from a heatwave.

[@GypsyWomanWindy]

@@robertmoore1215 I lived in Sicily for 3 years and beating the heat was a struggle 😅

[@gramateur5776]

My German immigrant grandmother found this recipe while living in California and made it her secret recipe. It’s wonderful, a blue ribbon winner at the Oklahoma State Fair, and been passed down 3 generations. She never used alcohol for flavoring but was generous with vanilla. Thanksgiving desserts were always pumpkin pie or Nanny’s cheesecake. With hot coffee, it’s divine.

[@kymschoeff2858]

I’m so old that I remember the 4 ounce (125g) packages of cream cheese. I also remember when cream cheese would get moldy really quickly so you only bought it when you needed it.

[@SeasonedCitizen]

I wish it was still sold in a 4oz size. Then I could half Glenn's recipe and use my 8" pie tin. Seasoned, solo, gals with a sweet tooth deserve Rum Pie too!

[@joannesmith2484]

It was always available at my local supermarket in 4oz packages, as well as neufchatel (lower fat cream cheese), especially in the store brand. I usually buy the whipped for myself if I'm just eating it. But I wanted the 4oz packs of the neufchatel cheese for a recipe. They had neither neufchatel or 4oz packs. When did that happen?

[@TamarLitvot]

@@SeasonedCitizen Glenn's recipe calls for the equivalent of 2 8-oz packages, so you can buy just one and halve the recipe

[@cynthiaamitrano8915]

I’ve only ever seen it in 8 oz and 3 oz. They still make it in both these sizes, but the 3oz isn’t available in all stores, just Whole Foods and some others. I don’t buy it because it’s fairly impractical.

[@GoingGreenMom]

If you half his recipe it would just be 1 regular package of cream cheese here in the US. ​@@SeasonedCitizen

[@RSidneyB]

Fun fact- the original graham cracker (no sugar) was invented by Sylvester Graham (as well as graham flour, from which it’s made). Sylvester was an early 19th preacher and health food promoter, an ardent vegetarian (we’ll ignore his many other crackpot theories). He lived much of his life in Northampton, MA, and used to walk in his bathrobe to the Connecticut River for his morning cold water bathing. The brick building he lived in still stands.

[@violetwithey4618]

Interesting, thanks.

[@blackcountryme]

But that name is Graham, (gray ham) not gram as that's a unit of measurement.

[@cougarhunter33]

Graham crackers were supposed to keep you from touching yourself in a sinful manner.

[@traumajock]

Sounds like Graham would've fit in with Kellogg for pure nuttiness.

[@traumajock]

I knew it! Graham died after receiving opium enemas. Kellogg believed in the curing power of stuff put up the butt.

[@amandahodgin9316]

I have seen the sweetened sour cream topping on New York style cheesecakes before.

[@jameslovelady7751]

Sunset Magazine recommended zwieback (sold for teething babies) for the crust. A little less strong flavored.

[@FiveSlow]

We had a restaurant here called Harry Bear’s, that served fried peaches.. the dip was Sour Cream, Brown Sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, and it’s great to dip strawberries in also

[@TamarLitvot]

My mother never bought cream, ever. We used sour cream for many of the kinds of things people use cream for, such as a dip for strawberries -- like you.

[@danam.8709]

I've made this pie, with vanilla not ruhm, for 65 of my 73 years one of the first things I learned to make 😊. It is that treat that disappears in 1 inch slices at midnight until it "mysteriously " vanishes. What a joy to see it shared. ❤

[@rabidsamfan]

The first time I had an actual New York cheese cake in New York it had the sour cream topping. That was in 1974 in a little hole in the wall restaurant at the Port Authority where I was waiting for a bus. I loved it! And now I know how to make it. Thanks Glen!

[@girle5584]

What a precise memnory you have,

[@laurielandau5058]

Hi guys! Replace the rum with vanilla in both the cheese layer and the sour cream topping and…voila! You then have my mother’s “Cheese Pie Royale…..highly touted during her day and still serving me well….. from her grease stained recipes on index cards which I typed up on an olden Underwood when I was a teen. Try it! But you also sprinkle the baked cheese layer with cinnamon before adding the topping. I enjoy your channel. Laurie

[@kewpiefan72]

I can’t wait to make this with spiced rum!

[@stevevarholy2011]

A sweeter Bourbon like Maker's Mark or Larceny and then a little more sugar in the sour cream topping would be interesting and probably less tart. Using a spiced or flavored rum like Captain Morgan would be an interesting variation, too.

[@rowejon]

I was thinking, this could be flavoured with sherry, & then i wondered - has Glen ever done sherry trifle?

[@philiposm]

my wife makes a topping like that for her Skor cheesecake. The tartness of the sour cream really balances out the sweetness from the caramel.

[@cccm60]

I’m from Connecticut. The recipe my family used has a sour cream, sugar topping that you used. Our recipe uses vanilla and lemon zest for favoring. Yummy New England favorite!

[@Jennifer-hj5rw]

I think I would try creme de menthe. Ohh, yum

[@eleanornelson5810]

Ooooo! That is an interesting idea!

[@bahrhopper]

This is very similar to my grandma’s cheesecake recipe. The tart sour cream layer on top makes it my absolute favorite. In my family we make it in a spring form pan and chill it completely afterwards. It holds together very well that way

[@wmschooley1234]

Glen: This looks so very similar to what my greatnana would make when she had a milk meal. But she always used Mogan David concord wine. The pie was purple and tasted of only grapes. As youngsters we called it her “purple pie” Thanks for the trip down memory lane this morning. Respectfully, W.S.

[@AvivaHadas]

Mogen David was my grandmothers favorite wine.

[@TamarLitvot]

Yes, milk meals! I've been working on recreating the blintzes that my father's cousin (who was really like a grandmother to me) used to make. I wish I had paid more attention when she made them. I always loved the dairy meals at my more religious relatives' homes. Never heard of using Mogan David wine for flavoring though.

[@CameronBales]

What is a milk meal?

[@AvivaHadas]

@@CameronBales one where meat (beef, chicken, etc) is not served. Macaroni & cheese, cheese pizza, vegetarian lasagne, eggplant parmesan, & spanakopita are specific examples. (It is my understanding that Catholics & possibly other Christians eat or ate in the past "fish on Friday" that is an example of another meal without meat, because fish is not considered to be meat by many.)

[@TamarLitvot]

@@CameronBales To add to what AvivaHadas said -- Jewish people who keep kosher keep dairy and meat separate. So a milk meal means no meat and dairy is the main dish (though, as Aviva said, it often includes fish -- thus: bagels with cream cheese and lox).

[@GlenAndFriendsCooking]

I will once again be flying in the Give Hope Wings fundraiser this year! Our June of 2024 flight will see us stop in many communities in Eastern Canada to raise awareness for this worthy cause. Last year 2023 we raised over $27,000 towards helping our neighbours - we made a positive difference in the lives of many. Here's the link to the 2024 fundraiser page: support.hopeair.ca/ghw2024/glens-hangar To learn more about the Hope Air Charity: hopeair.ca/

[@susandawson8527]

We have used the sour cream topping for years in our cheese cakes. Looks great

[@rkng1]

My mom always added a teaspoon or so of cinnamon to Graham cracker crusts. It always made the crust more tasty

[@janetmcg3086]

Philadelphia brand cream cheese used to come in 3 ounce packages along with the 8 ounce size.

[@grantkohler7612]

It's good to see a dessert recipe that does not use vanilla extract as most do. I hadn't heard of this recipe but I've often substituted the vanilla extract component with other flavored alcohols as extract here must be 70 proof (35% by volume). I've used rums, Amaretto, Francesca, any schnapps, Kahlua, but the one I like most as a vanilla replacement is tequila. PSA: A standard package of Cream Cheese is 8oz or roughly 226g. We won't miss the 48 gram (1&5/8ounce) difference - less cheese just means a slightly higher percentage of rum flavor.

[@losergrad]

My great aunt's recipe for cheesecake has two layers like this one. Even weirder, the crust is dry ingredients that no fat or liquid is added to-it soaks up liquid and fat from the filling and turns into a cookie-like crust when baking. As a kid, it was the only cheesecake I liked.

[@abbyrosiak8587]

My family is from Maine and we always make our cheesecakes with the sour cream topping! I didn't even know that was wierd, lol!

[@Jeffffrey0902]

I didn't, either, as it's quite common even here in Hong Kong.

[@LFalby]

Glen, I have a request. Please make a version of the Spanish Bar Cake that was famous from A&P grocery chain from years ago. I have found a few variations of the recipe online but so far none has really been spot on. I know you can do it! Check all your historical cookbooks and you'll find the perfect recipe.

[@robertmoore1215]

I remember those. Here's a tip- if you ever do find a good recipe try putting it in an empty metal coffee can and put the can in a crock pot low 4hrs. It does a much better job holding onto the moisture than an oven.

[@mariannesouza8326]

I am definitely going to add previously rum-soaked raisins to that! 🥂😀

[@MrNatWhilk]

I’ve lived in New England for 60+ years and never encountered this pie. Looks great!

[@josephteller9715]

Really? It's fairly common actually, just rarely done with rum these days since we don't make rum here anymore in the Boston area.

[@grahamrankin4725]

I remember my mother in the 50s getting small packages of cream cheese. They were 4 oz insterd of the 8 oz packages now available.

[@Honkey-Donkey]

My grandma's family cheesecake recipe calls for the sour cream layer and I have always partial to it. Especially when topped with a sweet fruit filling.

[@johnrussell7951]

Yoy folks have a great show, Tks!

[@delilah7815]

Jules, rocking that Paddington look. 😍

[@scpvrr]

Our family likes a sour cream rum raisin pie. As you described the topping, I simply said “yup”.

[@jamesellsworth9673]

I LIKED your unboxing and your first recipe video using this cookbook so I purchased it! I am pleased that I did. It took me back in time to the way I started to become a good cook. The two different layers are meant to produce an elegant result. I would add gelatine to the sour cream, use more rum...and refrigerate the pie until it is set. Ummm...' set': 'anisette? Gran Marniere? Something 'minty?' Your videos set the mind to whirring.

[@Chadswonderfulwalkingtours]

Watching from Mackinac Island Michigan

[@jenniferjensen8538]

Hmmmm... the flavor possibilities are endless! Yum!

[@Tensen01]

I think that for most people it's not not wanting to cook with alcohol, it's that lots of people don't, or can't, drink alcohol, so we don't keep things like rum or whiskey in the house. And we're not going to buy a bottle just for one or two recipes. Especially if we're teetotalers or recovering alcoholics.

[@anna9072]

You can get small bottles of rum or brandy flavoring, look in the spice section of your supermarket.

[@Desertthorn11]

Flavorings also contain alcohol

[@mayblossom4098]

@@Desertthorn11 flavourings without alcohol are available in many places specializing in groceries from the Middle East, as they are used by those who cook by rules of Halal.

[@anna9072]

@@Desertthorn11 yes, in fact vanilla extract has a higher alcohol content than most drinking alcohol. However, the alcohol evaporates during cooking, and if you want a bit of the flavor you can get it without having a bottle of liquor hanging around the house.

[@staceyn2541]

Alcohol does not evaporate during cooking.

[@A.W.1313]

I make a Thanksgiving & sometimes X-mas cheesecake similar to this. I add some of my home made Cranberry sauce & a lil sugar to the sour cream (takes more like 8-10 min to set). Its always a crowd favorite.

[@robertmoore1215]

That does sound outstanding. I may get bold and experiment sometime.

[@dottyk1637]

Sour cream topping is also used when finishing off palacinke, jam filled crepes placed in dish covered with sour cream and baked, Slovenian, like my mom made😋

[@juliacolandro7788]

Morning!!

[@littleshopintheshed]

Yum! That would probably be good with Bailey’s

[@dkorsey]

Lol, I made this so many times (with Vanilla not rum) in a Coleman camp stove oven! Love, love, love the sourcream topping! This a super easy and not fussy recipe. Nice to know it has a long history!

[@boozeontherocks]

That looks great. I like the idea of rum for a flavouring. am curious if a spiced rum would make it to sweet?

[@earlwheelock7844]

Use another 9" for forming the crust by pressing into the the grahmcracker crust mix in pie pan #1

[@Grunttamer]

This will go great with my rum ham

[@RoxanneRichardson]

I seem to remember that you could buy small pkgs of cream cheese that were 3 oz each.

[@3kids2cats1dog]

@4:47 Wait what? "MEASURE that carefully"? Rum?

[@applegal3058]

Haha, I think that was meant sarcastically, as he's just pouring it in lol

[@terrelldodson579]

I used to make a chocolate cheesecake that called for a sour cream topping with sugar and a little vanilla. Yum!

[@robertfore896]

Cool to see! This is the one kind of cheese cake I've known. I've seen people make cheesecake wondering where the sour cream topping went. Lol

[@thetattedpharmacist3215]

In Australia (at least in my house for a cheesecake base), we use either Arnott’s Milk Arrowroot biscuits, or for a flavour bomb, Arnott’s Ginger Nut Crunch biscuits to crush up for the base 😊

[@michaelkubler8391]

Awesome video!

[@groermaik]

Frickin' yum. Glen dance!

[@gsomers248]

This is essentially my family's cheesecake recipe, except we don't use rum. Goes amazingly with raspberries or other fruit. I don't think I've seen another cheesecake recipe with the two layers, creamed cheese and sour cream. Very interesting!

[@elspet3813]

❤ I think this would be fantastic made with Tia Maria ❤😊

[@ahhhlindsanityyy]

My mom always added a sour cream layer to her cheesecakes, even when the recipe hadn't called for one. It's delicious and covers up any cracks!

[@jm-um1tx]

Glen, please do a video on how the size of packages of stuff that needs to be kept cold changed with the advent of refrigeration.

[@Pam-56]

The cheesecake my mom made has a sour cream topping. It’s delicious

[@midhudsonmarketing6484]

I enjoyed this one. Thank you.(But I enjoy every video you make.)

[@fancyd66]

We used the sour cream topping to hide any cracks that formed on the top of the cheesecake while baking.

[@DownSpriggLane]

This is exactly what my MIL's recipe is but with vanilla, not Rum!! Been making it now for 35 years and it is our favorite. Didn't think I would like the topping but it is wonderful! We are from Oregon but she came from Michigan! Ours is on the sweeter side!

[@astroworfcraig9164]

Would be a great Keto dessert, using a pecan flour crust and your preferred sugar substitute.

[@melissahoward1019]

Banger!!

[@dwaynesundown2038]

The sour cream toping is also what cheesecake factory does on their classic cheesecake

[@auntlynnie]

Suggestion for determining what size pie tin/plate/dish: check the volume measurements of the filling and the volume capacity of the vessel.

[@meredithgreenslade1965]

That looks great. Easy too

[@stanfede5022]

Instead of a soyr cream layer, my mother's recipe used eqal amounts of cream cheese and sour cream, aling with eggs, sugar and vanilla. I still make it every Christmas and it's the family's favorite cheesecake.

[@cynthiaamitrano8915]

I would use a springform pan, 8 or 9 inch. Small cream cheese is 3 ounces. Sour cream topping should be smooth. Thank you for the recipe. I will try this one.

[@Ron-q4h]

Good show as always thank you kindly. Would amaretto go good in it.

[@sinocte]

Serve that up with some grilled pineapple and I'd be in absolute heaven!

[@winterstar4813]

So i did find a reference that states the small package from 1928 to 1940 was 3 oz it actually showed a picture of one that would be vs the 8oz of today

[@markphillips7538]

Glen's happy dance sells it. :)

[@markphillips7538]

Just an FYI there are half packs of cream cheese which are half the size of the 250g, but they are not easy to find in the States. I find them quite regularly here in Mexico though.

[@SeasonedCitizen]

Glenn, you had me at Rum! I'm still trying to figure out how to get a bottle of Maple Rum. The one you teased all of us sailors with on the Whiskey Vault.

[@knittiotsavant]

I make lots of different cheesecakes and several of them have sour cream topping on them (triple chocolate cheesecake, Margarita cheesecake, both come immediately to mind as having sour cream toppings). It’s my theory that the thinner/runnier sour cream topping started getting put on cheesecakes to help disguise or maybe even help prevent cracks. Just a thought. I love a sour cream topping on a cheesecake.

[@wingsabre]

If you really don’t want alcohol, you could take the volume of alcohol, double it, then take that and put it in a sauce pan and boil to reduce it by half. Most liquor are 40% ABV and alcohol has a lower boiling point so you’ll likely evaporate most of it. You’ll lose some volatile flavor compounds in the evaporating process so that explains doubling the liquor. You’ll still have trace amounts of alcohol but it’ll be like 2-4%.

[@laurarodgers7450]

If you’re dead against any alcohol you could flavour with rose water and cardamom, the ultimate non-alcoholic combo!

[@x0rld159]

in france the "creme fraiche" in general vs the higher quality is so different in texture

[@hattree]

Cream cheese in the US comes in 8 oz packages, They used to make, and occasionally you can find, a smaller 4 oz block. My mom had a recipe she preferred the smaller size for.

[@kevinolive]

my mom had a recipe similar to that but it used a cake mix for the crust and then topped the topping with a can of cherry pie filling. it made a lot-I think a 9x13 pan

[@kade82]

I have a recipe somewhere for a chocolate amaretto cheesecake. Good stuff.

[@TheEyesofSyn]

A good alternative for the rum if you're making this for someone who doesn't partake in alcohol for personal or religious reasons- pineapple juice, Piloncillo, and vanilla. It's not quite rum, but it hits a few of those similar funky dark sugar, fruit adjacent flavors. Banana can work too for that.

[@HarisJebrini]

My girlfriends nana always makes the Three Cities of Spain cheesecake for Christmas. It calls for the sour cream topping and it’s really a fantastic change up. I don’t make cheesecake any other way anymore

[@susanboyd7116]

I make this…we call it two tone cheese cake…. I like it with lemon flavoring. note- I do add a small amount of sugar to the cream cheese layer. It’s my family’s favorite ❤️

[@jelppt]

I always sprinkle some cinnamon over the pie before adding the sweetened sour cream layer.

[@denisecaringer4726]

I grew up in St. Louis, where our cheesecakes usually had a sour cream layer on top--at least the ones that we bought or that Mother made had the sour cream. The exception was that when we had luncheon at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel after shopping in the area, we'd often have Lindy's cheesecake, which they flew in from New York, and that did hot have the sour cream topping. This looks great. I'll make this, but I'll probably bake the pie shell first.

[@kellybryson7754]

Reminds me of the one the old Frugal Gourmet used to make.

[@dragoneye1589]

This recipe reminds me of the Cheesecake Cockaigne from the Joy of Cooking (with rum added). Though the sour cream topping on that recipe is not baked on the cheesecake.

[@stpaley]

yes i definitely knew graham crackers but had never seen digestives, but what i have heard i had an inclination it might be similar to graham crackers and from what you said i think i am right

[@yvonnepeltier9815]

I've made white chocolate cheesecake using crushed vanilla wafers for the crust. Rum flavoring, or Irish cream flavoring, would be good in that cheesecake. Hmm, have to start next week's shopping list...

[@LindaM2005]

I sometimes like to use gingersnaps to make the crust for a cheesecake. Other times, I make a sweetcrust pastry.

[@lindalankowski474]

The very first cheesecake I ever made was quite similar to this. It had 3 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese and lemon juice instead of rum, but had 18 graham crackers and a sour cream topping. (Circa 1982 from a Pholadelphia cream cheese cookbook.) I translate 18 graham crackers to be 1 1/2 cups of crumbs. The sour cream topping hid the crack in the cheesecake...

[@notinmanitou]

A sour cream topping is really good topped with sliced almonds.

[@OhJodi69]

Cream cheese was available in 3oz packages. So 1.5 8oz packages for the recipe

[@richardspencer973]

Years ago I have switched to ginger snaps when I make a cheesecake.

[@ICoyote65]

Swap out vanilla for the rum, and that's how my family has been making cheese cake forever. We live in central California. I ramped it up. Using a cheesecake pan. Three lbs of cream cheese and 2 cups of sour cream. Sugar and eggs adjusted. 😋

[@gspot612]

My mother made this style of cheesecake pie for over 50 years using 12 oz cream cheese and 1 tsp lemon extract in lieu of rum. Add 1 tsp of lemon extract and fresh lemon zest to the sour cream layer. I purchase a graham cracker crust at the store to skip a few steps. It was, and still is, a family favorite.