WHITE CHOCOLATE AND STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE

WHITE CHOCOLATE AND STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE
Thanks Kathy!

A spectacular cake that’s a superb way to say “Be my valentine.”

8 SERVINGS (Editors note: nice valentine!)

CRUST
18 vanilla wafer cookies (I usually use 24+)
1 cup almonds, toasted
4½ tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

FILLING
4 ounces imported white chocolate (such as Lindt), chopped
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
2/3 cup sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon grated lemon peel
2 large eggs

3/4 cup fresh strawberries (raspberries work too) or frozen unsweetened, thawed, drained

TOPPING (After Refrigerating Overnight)
1 8-ounce container sour cream
3 tablespoons sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ½ pint baskets raspberries or one 1-pint basket strawberries
½ cup seedless raspberry or strawberry jam

FOR CRUST: Preheat oven to 350° F. Place large piece of foil on heavy large baking sheet. Set 8x2-inch bottomless heart- shaped pan * atop foil. (* If unavailable, use a 8-inch spring form pan; omit foil.) Wrap foil around outside and 1 inch up side of pan. Butter foil and pan. Finely grind cookies and almonds in processor. Add butter and blend until mixture forms very moist crumbs. Using plastic wrap as aid, press crumbs firmly onto bottom and 2 inches up sides of pan. Bake until golden, about 10 minutes. Cool. Maintain oven temperature.

FOR FILLING: Melt white chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water until smooth, stirring often. Remove from over water. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and peel in large bowl until smooth. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating just until combined. Beat in white chocolate.

Spoon half of batter into crust, lop with 3/4 cup berries. Spoon remaining batter over. Bake until edges of cake are set but center 3 inches still moves when cake is shaken, about 45 minutes (time can be less based on oven and type i.e.: convection start watching after 30 minutes). Cool 20 minutes. Maintain oven temperature. Using fingertips, press down gently on edges of cheesecake to flatten slightly.

FOR TOPPING: Whisk sour cream, sugar and vanilla in bowl. Spoon over cake, spreading to edge of pan Bake 5 minutes. Transfer cake in pan to rack. Run small knife around sides of cake. Cool completely. Chill cake overnight. Fold down foil along sides of pan. Lift cake pan off cheesecake. Transfer cheesecake to platter, discarding foil. Cover cake with berries. Bring jam to simmer in small saucepan, stirring often. Gently brush jam over berries. (Can be prepared 3 hours ahead; chill.)