Cheesecake:
12 oz. Philadelphia Original Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature (do not use light)
3/4 cup + 1 tbsp. sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream (full fat)
7.5 oz. ricotta cheese (full fat)
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 oz. Philadelphia Original Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature (do not use light)
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 lbs. confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
White chocolate shavings

DIRECTIONS:

1. For the cheesecake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Wrap inside/bottom of a 9″ springform pan with aluminum foil (this will make transport easier after baking). Butter the springform pan and foil. Wrap bottom and sides of the springform pan with aluminum foil, and place it onto a baking sheet with 1″ raised edges.
2. In Cuisinart food processor, beat softened cream cheese, sugar, and heavy cream until smooth (maybe :30 to 1:00 or less). Add vanilla and ricotta, and mix until incorporated. Add eggs one at a time and blend just enough to fully incorporate the eggs. Pour into prepared springform pan.
3. Pour cheesecake mixture into springform pan. Place on a rack in the middle of the oven, and pour boiling water onto the baking sheet approximately 0.5-1″ up sides of springform pan.
4. Bake for 60-90 minutes or until the top of the cheesecake begins to turn light brown. The sides will likely appear cooked, but the center of cheesecake will likely still be jiggly and will continue to cook/settle as the cheesecake cools out of the oven. Cool thoroughly.
5. Once cheesecake has cooled completely, cover and chill in refrigerator overnight.
6. Once chilled, run a metal knife/spatula along the side of the cheesecake to loosen.
7. For the cake: While cheesecake is in the oven prepare the cake. Butter and flour two 9″ cake pans.
8. Beat butter, oil, and sugar on medium-high speed for approximately three minutes, then add eggs and beat until just incorporated.
9. In a separate bowl, combine buttermilk, sour cream, vinegar, and vanilla, whisking to combine. Set aside.
10. In another bowl, sift all-purpose flour, cake flour, and cocoa powder. Whisk in salt and baking soda.
11. Add half of the dry mixture to the butter mixture in the stand mixer. Stir on low until incorporated, then add remaining dry mixture and repeat.
12. Add half of the wet mixture to the stand mixer, stir on low, then repeat with remaining wet mixture. Scrape sides of the bowl and add red food coloring. Mix for 30 seconds for smooth batter.
13. Split batter evenly between the two cake pans. Once the cheesecake is finished baking, bake the cakes at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool cakes for 10 minutes in the pans, then remove, wrap each layer in plastic wrap, and refrigerate with cheesecake overnight.
14. For the frosting: The following day, once the cakes and cheesecake are chilled, cream the butter in a stand mixer on medium speed. Add cream cheese and continue to mix. Slowly add the vanilla and confectioner’s sugar, pausing intermittently to allow the sugar to incorporate into butter/cream cheese.
15. For assembly: Level both red velvet cake layers, reserving the tops in a medium-sized bowl to create a crumb topping later (if desired…I used cake strips instead).
16. Run a knife along the side of the cheesecake to loosen, and remove the side of the springform pan. Apply a smooth layer of cream cheese frosting to a layer of red velvet cake. Place frosting side down onto the cheesecake layer, then flip the cake onto the other hand to remove the pan and aluminum foil for the bottom of the cheesecake. Apply a smooth layer of the frosting to the other cake, then place frosting side down on top of cheesecake.
17. Gently apply a thin layer around the entire cake, then chill in refrigerator for 15 minutes to harden. Frost the cake with the remaining icing and decorate the cake as desired (I shaved white chocolate on the top).