Strawberry & Basil Goat Cheese Cake

By shauna

"This is the sexiest cheesecake you'll ever eat" -Tyler Florence

Ingredients

• 10 oz. Graham Crackers
• 1/2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
• 1 Stick (4 oz.) Unsalted Butter, melted
• 4 oz. Cream Cheese, at room temp.
• 1 Pint Sour Cream, at room temp.
• 3 Eggs, at room temp.
• 1 C. Sugar
• Zest & Juice Of 1 Lemon
• 1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
• For The Topping;
• 6 oz. Fresh Strawberries, stems removed & cut in half lengthwise
• 1/4 C. Sugar
• Juice Of 2 Lemons
• 2 oz. Grand Marnier
• 1/2 C. Fresh Basil Leaves
• 2 Tbsp. Crumbled Goat Cheese, frozem

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 325. In a lg. pan or kettle, heat 6 C. of water just to boiling & set aside. In a food processor, combine the graham crackers, cinnamon & melted butter & process till the graham crackers are finely ground & the mixture holds together slightly & is evenly moistened. Wrap the outside of a 9-in. springform pan tightly in heavy-duty aluminum foil. Press the graham cracker mixture into the bottom of the pan to a 1/4-in. thickness. Smooth the crust, using the base of a juice glass. Chill, uncovered till ready to use. In a food processor, mix the cream cheese, goat cheese, sour cream, eggs, vanilla & lemon zest & juice, scraping down the sides as needed till the mixture is smooth. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Place the pan in the center of a lg. roasting pan. Place the roasting pan on the center rack of the oven. Carefully pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to a depth of 1 1/2-in. around the cheesecake. Bake for 45 min. The cheesecake should be firm on the edges but still jiggle in the center. Let the cake cool in the pan for at least 45 min. at room temp. Then chill uncovered till ready to serve. In a lg. saucepan, combine the strawberries, sugar, lemon juice & Grand Marnier & cook over med heat for 5-7 min, or till the sugar has melted & the mixture has thickened slightly. Remove the strawberries & continue to cook for another 3-5 min, or till the syrup has reduced by half. Remove the pan from the heat & let cool. Spoon the strawberries & syrup liberally over the cheesecake. Serve garnished with the basil leaves & crumbled goat cheese.