Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake (Printer-Friendly Version)

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Strawberry Sauce

01 - 1 ½ cups fresh or frozen strawberries, hulled
02 - ¼ cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
04 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water

→ For the Crust

05 - 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
06 - ⅓ cup granulated sugar
07 - ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

→ For the Cheesecake Filling

08 - 24 ounces (3 blocks) cream cheese, softened
09 - 1 cup granulated sugar
10 - 3 large eggs
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - 1 cup sour cream
13 - ¼ cup heavy cream

# Let's Cook!:

01 - Combine strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook 5-7 minutes until soft. Mash into puree. Add cornstarch slurry, cook 1-2 minutes until thickened. Cool completely.
02 - Preheat oven to 325°F. Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Press into 9-inch springform pan. Bake 8-10 minutes, then cool.
03 - Beat cream cheese and sugar until fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add eggs one at a time. Mix in vanilla, sour cream, and heavy cream until just combined.
04 - Pour filling over crust. Drop spoonfuls of cooled strawberry sauce on top. Swirl with knife or skewer for marbled effect.
05 - Place pan in water bath. Bake 55-65 minutes until edges set but center slightly jiggles. Cool in cracked oven 1 hour, then at room temperature.
06 - Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight. Run knife around edges before releasing springform. Serve with extra sauce or fresh strawberries.

# Cook's Notes:

01 - Use room temperature ingredients for smooth filling
02 - Water bath prevents cracks in cheesecake
03 - Can be made ahead and refrigerated up to 3 days