Strawberry Cheesecake with Granola Crust Recipe

Ingredients:

For the Crust:

• 1 cup granola (preferably with nuts and seeds)
• 1/4 cup melted butter

For the Cheesecake:

• 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, thawed and pureed

For the Topping:

• 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1/4 cup granola, crushed

Instructions:

Make the Crust:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, combine the granola and melted butter. Mix well until the granola is evenly coated.
3. Press the granola mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool completely.

Make the Cheesecake Filling:

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

Bake the Cheesecake:

1. Place the springform pan in a water bath. To do this, wrap the bottom of the pan in foil and place it in a larger baking pan. Pour hot water into the larger pan until it reaches about halfway up the sides of the springform pan.
2. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the center is set but still slightly jiggly.
3. Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake cool in the water bath for an additional hour.
4. Remove the cheesecake from the water bath and let it cool completely on a wire rack.
5. Once cooled, refrigerate overnight.

Assemble and Serve:

1. Before serving, top the cheesecake with sliced strawberries and crushed granola.
2. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Enjoy your delicious homemade strawberry cheesecake!