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LEMON GINGER CHEESECAKE
2 cups finely ground gingersnap cookies (about 9 ounces)
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
4 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger
2 tablespoons finely grated peeled fresh ginger
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
4 teaspoons grated lemon peel
Lemon slices (for garnish)
Preheat oven to 325°F. Generously butter 10-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides, double-wrap the outside heavy-duty foil. Blend ground cookies, sugar, and ginger in processor, add melted butter and process until moist crumbs form, then press mixture onto bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of prepared pan. Bake until crust sets (about 10 minutes, cool.
Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese in large bowl until fluffy, beat in sugar, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally, add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. beat in sour cream and whipping cream, then crystallized ginger, fresh ginger, lemon juice, and lemon peel.
Pour filling into crust. Place springform pan in large roasting pan. Pour enough boiling water into roasting pan to come 1 inch up sides of springform pan. Bake cheesecake until filling is set and golden brown on top (donīt worry if cake gets above edge of pan). Turn off oven and prop open oven door, let cake rest in oven 1 hour (now cake will fall).
Remove springform pan from water bath, remove foil and cool cheesecake completely on rack, cover and refrigerate overnight. (Can be prepared ahead and refrigerated 4 days or frozen up to 2 months and defrosted overnight in refrigerator.) Release pan sides from cheesecake, transfer cheesecake to platter. Arrange lemon slices decoratively around cake and serve. Makes 12 to 14 servings |
