Description
Creamy strawberry crunch cheesecake delights dessert enthusiasts with its irresistible layers of texture and flavor. Rich cream cheese filling meets graham cracker crust, crowned with fresh strawberries and crunchy streusel topping for a memorable sweet experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheesecake Base:
- 2 cups cream cheese, softened
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Crust Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups crushed vanilla wafers or graham crackers
- 1/3 cup melted butter
Strawberry Crunch Topping:
- 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries, crushed
- 1 cup crushed vanilla cookies
- 1/4 cup melted butter
Instructions
- Prepare a 9-inch springform pan by lightly greasing the surface, then set the oven to warm at 325F (165C).
- Create a sturdy foundation by combining crushed cookies with melted butter, pressing the mixture firmly across the bottom of the pan to form an even crust.
- Craft the creamy filling by whipping cream cheese and sugar until velvety smooth, incorporating eggs individually to maintain a silky texture, then gently fold in vanilla and sour cream.
- Nestle the springform pan into a larger water bath, ensuring liquid surrounds the sides without overflowing, and bake for 60-70 minutes until the center sets with a gentle wobble.
- Remove from oven and allow the cheesecake to cool naturally at room temperature, then transfer to the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours or preferably overnight to achieve optimal firmness.
- Prepare the vibrant strawberry crunch topping by combining crushed strawberries and cookies with melted butter, creating a textured layer that will be generously spread across the chilled cheesecake just before serving.
Notes
- Customize the crust by using gluten-free cookies for a celiac-friendly version, ensuring everyone can enjoy this delightful dessert.
- Create a lower-fat alternative by substituting Greek yogurt for sour cream and using reduced-fat cream cheese without compromising the creamy texture.
- Prevent cheesecake cracks by slowly cooling the cake in the oven with the door slightly open, allowing gradual temperature reduction and minimizing surface stress.
- Enhance the strawberry flavor by adding a tablespoon of freeze-dried strawberry powder to the cheesecake filling, intensifying the fruity profile without extra moisture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 367 kcal
- Sugar: 31 g
- Sodium: 175 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg