The Cherry Cheesecake is a moreish journey so worth taking - lusciously creamy, with juicy mouthfuls of cherry bits mingling with the cream cheese tang, just perfectly sweetened!
3/4cupCherries, pitted and halvedPlus extra for topping
2tspAll-purpose flour
Cherry Sauce
1/2cupCherries, pitted and halved
2tspSugar
2tspBalsamic vinegar
4tbspWater
1tspCornstarch + 2 tsp water
Instructions
Cheesecake Base
Preheat your oven to 180C. Cover the bottom and sides of your 8" springform pan with aluminium foil.
Combine the melted butter and crushed cookies in a small bowl. This mixture should have the consistency of wet sand.
Press it down evenly at the bottom of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 160C while you're preparing for the filling.
Cheesecake Filling
Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer.
Add the eggs and vanilla extract. Beat until well incorporated.
Mix in cream, flour, and vanilla extract. Whisk well until smooth.
Toss the cherries withv2 tsp of flour and fold into the batter.
Pour into the prepared crust. Place some extra chopped cherries on top if you wish.
Carefully place in the oven and bake at 160C for 55-60 minutes. The top of the cake should look cooked and the center should be a bit wobbly. My cake took almost 55 minutes.
Turn off the heat and slightly crack the door open and allow it to cool for 30 minutes.
Let the cake cool on the countertop for another hour and then refrigerate for at least 10 hours for it to set completely. Remove carefully from the pan, place it on your serving plate.
Spoon over the cherry sauce and top with a couple of mint leaves.
Slice and enjoy!
Cherry Sauce
Combine pitted and chopped cherries, sugar, balsamic vinegar, and water in a small saucepan.
Cook on medium heat until the cherries are soft and cooked through.
Make a slurry with cornstarch and water, add to the simmering sauce. Let it come to a boil and thicken. If the sauce seems too thick, you can add more water.
Take it off the heat. Taste and adjust for sweetness. Cool completely.