Red,White and Blue Cheesecake

By Tjhadenough

Ingredients

• 11/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 tsp grated lemon peel
• 3/4 cup cold butter, cubed
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 5 pkg (8 oz each) cream cheese
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup half and half cream
• 3 Tblsp all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp grated lemon peel
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 cup crushed strawberries
• 1 cup crushed blueberries
• Fresh mixed berries to decorate on top

Preparation

Step 1

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and lemon peel. Cut in butter until crumbly.

Whisk egg yolks and vanilla, add to flour mixture tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball.

Press into the bottom and 3 inches up the sides of a greased 9 inch springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees F for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

For filling, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the cream, flour, lemon peel, salt, and vanilla. Add eggs and yolk; beat on low speed just until combined.

Divide batter in half. Fold crushed strawberries and crushed blueberries into half of the batter. Pour into crust. Top with remaining batter.

Return pan to baking sheet.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes. Return heat to 300 degrees F and bake 60 to 70 minutes longer or until center is almost set.

Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer.

Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. Garnish with fresh mixed berries and currants.