Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

I've made quite a few of them. My kids and exes are fanatical cheesecake freaks. The best ones I've made have come from Southern Living mag.

You mentioned lemon and fairly light, so I found this one we've enjoyed once or twice. It's a little different than the standard cheesecake, but everyone loves it.

Quote:

Lemon-Topped Cheesecake

2 cups sugar, divided
1 cup matzo meal
1 cup chopped slivered almonds
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Preparation
Stir together 1⁄4 cup sugar, matzo meal, chopped slivered almonds, and melted butter; press mixture into bottom of a lightly greased 10-inch springform pan.

Bake at 350° for 13 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool crust on a wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 325?.

Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add remaining 13⁄4 cups sugar, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Stir in 1 tablespoon grated lemon rind and 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice. Pour mixture into prepared crust.

Bake at 325° for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until cheesecake is almost set. Turn off oven; leave cheesecake in oven 15 minutes. Remove cheesecake to a wire rack; run a sharp knife around edges of pan to loosen. Cool completely. Cover and chill at least 8 hours.Place cheesecake on a serving platter or cake stand; release sides of springform pan, and remove. Spread Lemon Curd evenly over top of cheesecake. Garnish, if desired.

*Substitute 1 1⁄3 cups prepared lemon curd, if desired.
Yield

Makes 10 to 12 servings
Southern Living, MARCH 2002