Description
Luscious strawberry lemon cheesecake brings summer’s sweetest symphony to your dessert table, dancing with tangy brightness and creamy indulgence. Silky layers of zesty citrus and ripe berries promise a delightful escape that will make you swoon with pure culinary pleasure.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 16 ounces (453 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups (300 grams) sliced strawberries
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) sour cream
Crust Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups (180 grams) graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup (57 grams) melted butter
Flavor and Garnish Ingredients:
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- Whipped cream
- Fresh strawberries
- Lemon slices
Instructions
- Craft a buttery graham cracker foundation by thoroughly blending crumbs with melted butter, pressing firmly into a springform pan to create a solid base.
- Artfully arrange vibrant strawberry slices across the crust, creating a colorful underlayer for the creamy filling.
- Whip cream cheese and sugar until achieving a silky, luxurious texture, ensuring no lumps remain.
- Incorporate eggs individually, gently folding each one to maintain the mixture’s smooth consistency.
- Infuse the batter with tangy sour cream, aromatic vanilla, bright lemon zest, and freshly squeezed lemon juice, mixing until harmoniously combined.
- Delicately pour the velvety cream cheese mixture over the strawberry-adorned crust, ensuring even distribution.
- Bake in a preheated oven, allowing the cheesecake to set with a slight wobble in the center, approximately 50-60 minutes.
- After baking, create a gradual cooling environment by turning off the oven and leaving the door slightly ajar, allowing the cheesecake to rest for one hour.
- Transfer to the refrigerator and chill thoroughly for a minimum of three hours or ideally overnight to achieve perfect texture.
- Before serving, adorn with billowy whipped cream, succulent fresh strawberries, and zesty lemon slices for an elegant presentation.
Notes
- Opt for room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth, lump-free batter and even mixing of cream cheese and eggs.
- Prevent cracks by avoiding overmixing and using a water bath during baking, which creates a gentle, consistent heat environment.
- Swap graham cracker crust with gluten-free alternatives like almond flour or crushed gluten-free cookies for dietary restrictions.
- Enhance flavor complexity by using fresh, in-season strawberries and adding a hint of fresh mint or basil to complement the citrusy lemon notes.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-60 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg