The Ultimate Cheesecake
(from Lucianolinda’s recipe box)
Source: Creative Cook's Kitchen
Serves 16 peopleCategories: pie-cobbler-cheesecake-tarts
Ingredients
- Crust:
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 2 Tbsp. sugar
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
- Filling:
- 5 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tsp. finely grated lemon peel
- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- Topping:
- 1 egg white
- 1 Tbsp. sugar
- 1/2ncup sour cream
- 1/2 cup raspberry preserves
- 1/2 cup apricot preserves
- 1 cup assorted fresh fruit, chopped
Directions
- In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Add melted butter; stir to combine.
- Press crumb mixture into a 9-inch springform pan. Chill 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat cream cheese for 2 minutes; add sugar.
- Gradually add flour; mix until combined. On low speed, beat in eggs, one at a time, until just blended.
- Add sour cream, lemon peel and vanilla; beat until just blended. Pour into crust. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove cake from oven; cool for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, beat egg white until frothy; add sugar and beat until soft peaks form. Fold in sour cream until blended. Spread on top of cake.
- Return cake to oven; bake until topping is set, not browned, about 20 minutes. Turn off oven; let cheesecake sit for 1 hour with oven door ajar. Place cake on wire rack to cool completely.
- Using tip of a knife, score a “ying-yang” design on top of cheesecake.
- Place preserves in microwave-safe bowls. Microwave on HIGH until preserves are thin, about 45 seconds.
- Spoon preserves onto each half of design. With back of spoon, spread preserves to fill each section.
- Arrange fruit on top of cake. Chill until ready to serve.