Passover Lemon Cheesecake |
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Prep Time: 30 Minutes Cook Time: 270 Minutes |
Ready In: 300 Minutes Servings: 8 |
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Almonds and matzo cake meal make a wonderfully textured crust for this refreshing, citrusy cheesecake. After Passover, instead of pulling out the graham crackers again, experiment with other cookie crusts such as one made with shortbread. Ingredients:
3/4 cup sliced blanched almonds, toasted and cooled |
2/3 cup sugar |
2/3 cup matzo cake meal |
1/4 teaspoon salt |
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly |
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened |
3/4 cup sugar |
3 large eggs |
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest |
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract |
garnish: julienned lemon zest |
Directions:
1. Make crust: Preheat oven to 350F with rack in middle.
2. Pulse almonds, sugar, matzo cake meal, and salt in a food processor until finely ground. Transfer to a bowl and stir in butter until combined well. Press onto bottom and 1 inch up side of springform pan. Bake until crust is firm and a shade darker, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool crust completely in pan on a rack.
3. Make filling and bake cheesecake: Reduce oven temperature to 300°F.
4. Beat together cream cheese and sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low and add eggs 1 at a time, mixing until incorporated. Mix in zest and vanilla.
5. Put springform pan in a shallow baking pan and pour filling into cooled crust. Bake until filling is set 1 1/2 inches from edge but center is wobbly, 45 to 50 minutes (filling will continue to set as it cools). Transfer cake in pan to a rack and immediately run a knife around edge, then remove side of pan. Cool completely, 2 to 3 hours.
6. Cooks' note: Cheesecake can be made 2 days ahead and chilled, loosely covered.
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