Category
Yummy Dessert
Author:
Le Creme de la Crumb (with some tweeks)
We have so many lemons on the lemon tree Big John is growing. It is getting so big and it produces so many delicious lemons. You haven't had a delicious lemon until you are able to go up to the tree and pick one right off. The juice for this lemon is so heady!! Enjoy!
Ingredients
12 graham cracker sheets (I used boxed graham crackers crumbs)
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
16 ouncescream cheese,softened (2 8-ounce bricks)
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg,at room temperature
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup chopped strawberries
1 1/2tablespoons sugar
1-2 tablespoonswater,as needed
Crust
Cheesecake Layer
Strawberry Swirl
Directions
Preheat oven to 350. Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with foil and lightly grease with cooking spray.
First prepare the crust. In a food processor (or good quality blender) pulse graham crackers and sugar until fine crumbs form. Add melted butter and pulse again until mixture comes together. Press into the bottom of prepared pan and bake 10 minutes.
Next prepare the cheesecake layer. In a medium-large bowl cream together cream cheese, sugar, egg, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth. Pour mixture over crust.
To make the strawberry swirl, add strawberries and sugar to a blender or food processor and pulse until finely pureed. (add 1-2 tablespoons as water until mixture is easily spreadable)
Drop spoonfuls of the strawberry mixture over the top of the cheesecake layer. Use the tip of a knife to swirl the strawberry mixture into the cheesecake mixture - a figure 8 pattern works great! (Careful not to insert the knife too far so that you don't disturb the crust at the bottom)
Bake for 25-35 minutes until cheesecake is set. Allow to cool for 20-30 minutes, then transfer to fridge to chill at least 30 minutes or until ready to serve. Store chilled in airtight container or covered with plastic wrap.
Recipe Note
For the lemon juice, use 1-2 tablespoons based on how strong you want the lemon flavor to be. I prefer a lighter lemon taste so 1 tablespoon works great but you could add up to 1 more tablespoon of lemon juice if you are a lemon lover