Lemon Cheese Cake with Graham Cracker Crust

Ingredients:

Graham Cracker Crust

1 ½ cups Graham Cracker Crumbs (1 sleeve)

3 Tablespoons sugar

6 Tablespoons melted butter

2 teaspoons lemon zest (optional)

 

Combine all ingredients together. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9” springform pan. Bake for 7 minutes @ 375 F. Remove and let cool for 10 minutes before adding cheese cake filling.

 

Lemon Cheese Cake filling

All of the filling ingredients need to be room temperature.

2 8oz packages of cream cheese

2 large eggs

¾ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup fresh lemon juice

¼ cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream together cheese, eggs, and sugar in a large bowl. Once the mixture is smooth. Add all the other ingredients.Wrap the bottom of the pan with foil.

Bake at 350 F for 1 hour in a Bain-Marie*. Remove from oven and let cool on counter top for 1 hour. Place in refrigerator for 2 hours. Before serving: Top with fresh fruit, whipped cream or just eat it plain. Enjoy!

*Bain-Marie:  Place your cheese cake on rimmed baking sheet in center rack in oven. Fill the baking sheet with boiling hot water covering the bottom 1/4^th of the springform pan. This will prevent the water from seeping into the pan and making the crust soggy. Bain Marie helps keep the cheese cake moist while baking.