Strawberry Amaretto Cheesecake

Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 2 lbs cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 6 eggs
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon brandy extract
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, sifted
• 1 cup chopped fresh strawberries
• 1 quart strawberry, sliced
• 1 cup amaretto liqueur
• 1 tablespoon sugar

Recipe

• 1 you will also need: 9-inch springform pan.
• 2 to prepare crust place graham crackers, sugar and butter in a small mixing bowl. blend well with fingers or a pastry blender. press into the bottom of a well-buttered 9" springform pan. chill in the freezer or refrigerator for about 30 minutes while you prepare the batter and strawberries.
• 3 in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and heavy cream until smooth. add the eggs, one at a time, making sure that the mixture is smooth after beating in each egg.
• 4 add the lemon juice, brandy extract, sour cream, vanilla, and flour and continue beating until very smooth and creamy.
• 5 fold in the chopped strawberries. pour the mixture into the chilled springform pan that you have placed on a cookie sheet (the batter will come to the top of the pan so do not be alarmed).
• 6 bake in a preheated 425° oven for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 275° and continue to bake for 1 hour.
• 7 transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool for 3 hours. while the cake is cooling, marinate the sliced strawberries in the amaretto and sugar for about 3 to 4 hours.
• 8 arranges the slices decoratively on top of the cooled cheesecake and bake in a 350° oven for 7 minutes.
• 9 transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool completely for 2 hours. remove the sides of the springform pan and refrigerate overnight.
• 10 remove the cake from the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.