Our Best Cheesecake

photo by:kraft

Better than all the rest. What else can we say? How about this: It's a rich, creamy, cherry-topped showstopper that's so easy, even beginners can pull it off.

time

prep:

15 min

total:

5 hr 25 min

servings

total:

16 servings, one slice each

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What You Need

1-3/4

cups HONEY MAID Graham Cracker Crumbs

1/3

cup margarine or butter, melted

1-1/4

cups sugar, divided

pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream

tsp. vanilla

eggs

can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling

Make It

PREHEAT oven to 350°F if using a silver 8- or 9-inch springform pan (or to 325°F if using a dark nonstick 8- or 9-inch springform pan). Mix graham cracker crumbs, margarine and 1/4 cup of the sugar. Press firmly onto bottom and 2-1/2 inches up side of pan; set aside.

BEAT cream cheese and the remaining 1 cup sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour into crust.

BAKE 1 hour to 1 hour 10 min. or until center is almost set. Turn oven off. Open oven door slightly. Let cheesecake set in oven 1 hour. Remove cheesecake from oven; cool completely. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Loosen cheesecake from rim of pan; remove rim. Top cheesecake with pie filling just before serving. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

Kraft Kitchens Tips

Substitute

Prepare as directed, using PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese.

How to Easily Cut Creamy Desserts

When cutting creamy-textured desserts, such as cheesecake, carefully wipe off the knife blade between cuts with a clean damp towel. This prevents the creamy filling from building up on the blade, ensuring nice clean cuts that leave the filling intact.

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GreezMonky

posted:1/27/2004

Very easy to mix up.. cooked great... Tried a second one with a table spoon of Cinnamon in it and it was awesome also.. definitely worth trying to make once more..

jennybean578

posted:1/22/2004

Great recipe. The cheesecake is delicious and turns out perfectly every time!

tygrri

posted:1/21/2004

This was an awesome recipie! Didn't have a springform pan, so we had extra filling- made cupcake sized cheesecakes until we ran out!

mgalka

posted:1/19/2004

This cheesecake was the best i ever made, my son loved it.

veronica2101

posted:1/6/2004

THIS IS THE BEST CHEESCAKE IT WAS GREAT WITH CARMEL AND PECANS ON TOP

eabadu

posted:12/26/2003

This was one of the best cheesecakes that I have tasted. It was really simple to prepare. My mother and father don't like a lot of sweets and they thought it was great!!

ITTTom

posted:12/23/2003

It's not called "Our Best Cheesecake" for nothing :-)

annekolar

posted:12/22/2003

Simply awesome!!! I made it for a dinner party and got many wonderful reviews.

a cook

posted:12/21/2003

I have made this recipe several times. It is an easy desert to make and everyone I serve it to loves it.

cinnamony

posted:12/17/2003

Excellent, superb recipe!