Company Cheesecake
Teresa Ambra
This elegant cheesecake has a sour cream topping and a strawberry or cherry glaze. It's rich, decadent and wonderfully festive for holidays.
Prep Time 40 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Total Time 2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Course Cakes and Cheesecakes
Cuisine American
CHEESECAKE:
- 2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs about 32 crackers
- 4 tbsp. sugar
- 6 tbsp. unsalted butter melted
- 5 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 tsp. grated lemon peel
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups sour cream
STRAWBERRY GLAZE:
- 1-2 cups strawberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 tbsp. cornstarch
- 1/3 cup water
CHERRY GLAZE:
- 16 oz. can pitted tart cherries reserve liquid
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp. cornstarch
- enough water added to reserved cherry liquid to measure 1 cup total liquid
- 4 drops red food coloring
CHEESECAKE:
Heat oven to 350°.
Stir together graham cracker crumbs and 4 tbsp. sugar.
Mix in butter thoroughly.
Press mixture evenly in bottom of 10-inch springform pan.
Bake 10 minutes.
Cool.
Reduce oven temperature to 300°.
Beat cream cheese in large mixer bowl.
Gradually add sugar, beating until fluffy.
Add lemon peel and vanilla.
Beat in eggs, one at a time.
Pour over crumb mixture.
Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes until center is firm.
Cool to room temperature.
Spread with sour cream and Strawberry Glaze.
STRAWBERRY GLAZE:
Mash enough fresh strawberries to measure 1 cup.
Blend 1 cup sugar and 3 tbsp. cornstarch in small saucepan.
Stir in 1/3 cup water and the strawberries.
Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils.
Boil and stir in minute.
Cool thoroughly.
CHERRY GLAZE:
Drain 1 can (1 lb.) pitted red tart cherries, reserving liquid.
Add enough water to cherry liquid to measure 1 cup.
Mix ½ cup sugar and 2 tbsp. cornstarch in small saucepan.
Stir in the 1 cup liquid.
Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils.
Boil and stir 1 minute.
Remove from heat; stir in cherries and 4 drops red food coloring.
Cool thoroughly.
Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker cookbook, circa 1972.
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