CRANBERRY CELEBRATION CHEESECAKE RECIPE - (4.3/5)

Cranberry Celebration Cheesecake Recipe - (4.3/5) image

Provided by á-44262

Number Of Ingredients 20

FILLING:
1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 cups cake flour
1/2 cup ground almonds
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
3/4 cup plus 1-1/2 cups sugar, divided
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup cranberry juice
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
4 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 eggs, lightly beaten
TOPPING:
2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup ground almonds
1/4 cup Diamond of California Sliced Almonds, toasted

Steps:

In a food processor, finely chop dried cranberries. Add flour, almonds and confectioners' sugar; process until blended. Add butter; pulse just until crumbly. Press onto the bottom and 1-1/2 in. up sides of a greased 10-in. springform pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. In a small saucepan, combine 3/4 cup sugar and cornstarch; stir in cranberry juice until smooth. Add berries. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, vanilla and remaining sugar until smooth. Add eggs; beat just until combined. Pour half of batter into crust. Carefully spoon 3/4 cup berry mixture over batter; top with remaining batter. Bake for 45 minutes. Reduce heat to 250°. Bake 25-30 minutes longer or until center is almost set. Combine the sour cream, sugar and vanilla; spread over top. Bake 20-30 minutes or until set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Spread remaining berry mixture over the top. Refrigerate overnight. Beat cream until stiff peaks form; fold in ground almonds. Pipe around top edge of cheesecake; sprinkle with sliced almonds.