Cherry Cheesecake

By Addie

This week's Dessert of the Week features a luscious Cherry Cheesecake. This would make a wonderful holiday dessert and make a terrific special birthday cake!

Ingredients

• 2 cups of graham crackers
• 2 cups of sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 6 tablespoons of butter PLUS another stick, melted
• 4 packages ( 8 ounces each) of cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup of all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup of lemon juice
• 7 eggs slightly beaten
• 2 cups of heavy cream
• 1/2 cup of evaporated milk
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 1 can ( 21 ounces) of cherry pie filling

Preparation

Step 1

On bottom rack of your oven, place a 13x9-inch pan filled halfway with water. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine graham crackers , 1/2 cup of sugar, cinnamon, and 6 tablespoons of butter. In a ten inch springform pan, press crumb mixture on the bottom of the pan and halfway up the sides of the pan.

In a large bowl, with an electric beater, beat cream cheese and remaining sugar for 3 minutes or until smooth. Beat in remaining butter , flour, and lemon juice. Gradually beat in eggs, cream, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Pour into prepared pan and place on the middle rack.

Bake the cheesecake for 1 hour. Decrease the temperature to 300 degrees and bake an additional 30 minutes or until almost set in the center. Turn off oven without opening the door and let the cake stay in the oven for another hour. Cool on a wire rack. Cover and refrigerate overnight. To serve top with cherry pie filling.