Red, White and Blue Cheesecake

One of the most wonderful gifts from above is cheesecake. Any flavor, any style, dessert just doesn’t get better than cheesecake. This recipe came from Taste of Home and is not only so delishious, but makes such a striking presentation. It is so worth the time it takes. Do not be afraid of making cheesecakes, they are not hard, just follow the steps and you will be so rewarded when you set this on your table at all the “wow’s, youu made that?”
1 1/2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp grated lemon peel
1/4 cup cold butter
2 egg yolks
1/2 vanilla
In large bowl, combine flour, sugar and lemon peel. Cut in cold butter until crumbly. Whisk egg yolks and vanilla, add to flour mixture, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball.
Press onto the bottom and 3 in up the sides of a greased 9 in springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 400 for 5-8 min or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
FILLING
5 packages softened cream cheese (8 oz size) Yes, it has that much cream cheese, why do you think this is so good?
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup half and half cream
3 tables flour
1/2 tsp grated lemon peel
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 egg yolk
1 cup creshed strawberries
1 cup creshed blueberries
Assorted berries, to top the cheesecake
For filling, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the cream, flour, lemon peel, salt and vanilla. Add eggs and yolk; beat on low speed just until combined.
Divide batter in half. Fold crushed strawberries and crushed blueberries into half of the batter. Pour into crust. Top with remaining batter. Return pan to baking sheet.
Bake at 400 for 10 min. Reduce heat to 300 and bake 60-70 min longer or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire raack for 10 min. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan to serve. Garnish with assorted berries. I also bought the Maria’s strawberry glaze to drizzle over the top.
*Even if your cheesecake cracks a little on top, no one will know because of all the fresh berries that top it.