Raspberry Cheesecake

I don't know what happens in April in this family but a third of them have birthdays in January. Grandpa, Grandma, 2 nieces, 2 nephews and my brother all celebrate their birth this month. To keep the festivities manageable, my husband's side of the family have one big party. Of course, I bring dessert. I took a poll at Christmas and the vote resulted in my Pecan Pie and Raspberry Cheesecake.

It wasn't clear whether they wanted raspberries in the cheesecake itself or regular cheesecake with raspberry sauce. So, I make a cheesecake with both. Here's the recipe:

Raspberry Cheesecake
Ingredients:
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tbls butter
4-8oz. pkgs cream cheese
1-8oz. pkg raspberry cream cheese*
1 cup sugar
3 tbsp flour
1 tbsp vanilla
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
6 oz. fresh raspberries
6 oz. raspberry preserves


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix crumbs and butter in a small bowl. Press firmly into a 9-inch springform pan. Chill.

2. Beat cream cheeses, sugar, flour and vanilla until well blended. Add eggs one at a time on low it is incorporated. Fold in sour cream.

3. Pour cream cheese mixture over crust. Wrap the bottom and the sides of the pan in aluminum foil. Place this in a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with boiling water until it is half-way up the springform pan.

4. Bake for 65 to 70 minutes or until center is almost set. Turn off the oven and let the cake sit inside with the door ajar for 30 minutes. Then, cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Wrap the top of the cake in aluminum foil and chill for at least 4 hours but overnight is best.

5. Melt the preserves in a small sauce pan. Arrange the raspberries around the edge of the cake. Spread the raspberry sauce in the middle of the arranged raspberries and chill.

*If you want a more robust raspberry flavor, substitute some of the regular cream cheese with more raspberry cream cheese. You can also make a Strawberry Cheesecake by using strawberry preserves and strawberries instead of raspberries. Both are perfect for Valentines Day.