Cheesecakes can be made of ricotta cheese, havarti, quark or, more usually, cream cheese. Other ingredients such as sugar, eggs, cream and fruit are often mixed in as well. Flavorings such as vanilla or chocolate may be added, and a fruit topping, like strawberries, is frequently added.

One of my readers has requested a good cheesecake recipe… Your wish is my command! Enjoy this recipe for Lemon Cheesecake.

Ingredients

1 cup finely crushed NILLA Wafers
3 Tbsp. sugar
Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted
3 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
3 Tbsp. flour
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. grated lemon peel
1/2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs, divided
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup lemon juice

Directions

1. Mix crumbs, 3 Tbsp. sugar and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 325°F for 10 minutes if using a silver springform pan. (Bake at 300°F for 10 minutes if using a dark nonstick springform pan.)

2. Mix cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, flour, 2 Tbsp. juice, peel and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add 3 eggs and egg white, mixing on low speed just until blended.

3. Separate 1 of the eggs. Add egg white to cream cheese mixture along with remaining 3 eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.

4. Bake at 325°F for 50 to 55 minutes or until center is almost set if using silver springform pan. (Bake at 300°F for 55 minutes or until center is almost set if using a dark nonstick springform pan.) Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

5. Mix 3/4 cup sugar and cornstarch in medium saucepan; gradually stir in water and 1/4 cup juice until well blended. Bring just to boil on medium heat, stirring constantly; cook and stir until clear and thickened. Stir 2 Tbsp. of the hot mixture into egg yolk; return to hot mixture. Cook 1 minute or until thickened, stirring constantly. Cool slightly. Spoon topping over cheesecake; refrigerate until set.