Strawberry Cheesecake with Granola Crust Recipe

Ingredients:

For the crust:

• 1 cup granola
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• Pinch of salt

For the filling:

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs ¹
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, thawed and drained

For the topping:

• Fresh strawberries, sliced

Instructions:

Make the crust:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Combine granola, melted butter, and salt in a bowl. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
3. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool completely.

Make the filling:

1. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in sugar, then vanilla extract.
2. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in sour cream.
3. Gently fold in strawberries.
4. Pour filling over cooled crust.

Bake the cheesecake:

1. Place springform pan in a water bath: Wrap the bottom of the springform pan in foil to prevent water from seeping in. Place the pan in a larger baking pan and fill the larger pan with hot water halfway up the sides of the springform pan.
2. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until center is set but still slightly jiggly.
3. Turn off oven and let cheesecake cool in the oven for an additional hour.
4. Remove from water bath and let cool completely on a wire rack before refrigerating for at least 4 hours, or overnight.

Serve:

1. Top with fresh strawberry slices and serve chilled.