White Chocolate and Strawberry Cheesecake
- 1 9-ounce package chocolate wafer cookies, broken into pieces
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 pound good-quality white chocolate (such as Lindt or Bakers), finely chopped
- 4 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 3 1-pint baskets strawberries, hulled, halved
- 1/2 cup apricot preserves
- 2 tablespoons brandy
- Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 325F.
- Butter 10-inch-diameter springform pan.
- Wrap outside of pan with foil.
- Finely grind cookies in processor.
- Add melted butter; process until crumbs are moist.
- Press crumbs onto bottom and 2 inches up sides of pan.
- Bake until set, about 15 minutes.
- Cool on rack.
- Maintain oven temperature.
- Stir white chocolate in top of double boiler set over barely simmering water until melted and smooth.
- Remove from over water.
- Cool to lukewarm, stirring occasionally.
- Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese in large bowl until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Gradually add sugar, then salt; beat until smooth.
- Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add sour cream, whipping cream and vanilla; beat until well blended.
- Bake cake until top begins to brown but center still moves slightly when pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour 20 minutes.
- Open oven door slightly; turn off oven.
- Leave cake in oven 30 minutes.
- Chill cake uncovered overnight.
- (Can be made 2 days ahead.
- Cover; keep refrigerated.)
- Run small knife between pan sides and cake.
- Release pan sides.
- Starting at outer edge of top of cake, arrange strawberry halves in slightly overlapping concentric circles, covering top completely.
- Stir preserves and brandy in heavy small saucepan over medium heat until mixture boils.
- Strain preserves.
- Brush glaze generously over strawberries, allowing some glaze to drip between berries.
- (Can be made 4 hours ahead.
- Chill.)
chocolate wafer cookies, unsalted butter, white chocolate, cream cheese, sugar, salt, eggs, sour cream, whipping cream, vanilla, baskets strawberries, apricot preserves, brandy
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/white-chocolate-and-strawberry-cheesecake-103290 (may not work)