Very Berry Cheesecake

A rich reward for picking your way through the thorny brambles. Use your choice of fresh raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, boysenberries and/or chopped pitted cherries. If you don't want to use alcohol, you may substitute orange juice.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 490 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• ¾ cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup cottage cheese, creamed
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 large eggs
• 40 vanilla wafers, crushed
• ¼ cup cherry brandy
• 3 ½ cups fresh blackberries, divided
• 1 tablespoon cherry brandy

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Step 2

Stir wafer crumbs and melted butter together in a medium bowl. Press mixture into an 8-inch springform pan, so it covers the bottom and 1 3/4 inches up the sides.

Step 3

Combine cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar, flour, and vanilla in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer on low speed until smooth.

Step 4

Blend cottage cheese in a food processor until smooth. Stir into the cream cheese mixture along with 1/4 cup cherry brandy. Add eggs and beat on low speed just until combined. You don't want to incorporated too much air into the batter, so don't overbeat.

Step 5

Pour 1/2 of the cheese mixture into the crumb-lined pan. Spread 1 cup of blackberries on top. Top with remaining cheese mixture and another 1/2 cup blackberries.

Step 6

Place the springform pan in a shallow baking pan in the preheated oven. Bake until the center appears nearly set when shaken, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cook on a wire rack for 15 minutes.

Step 7

Loosen the sides of the springform pan, and let cool completely, about 45 more minutes. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or until ready to serve.

Step 8

Combine remaining 2 cups fruit, 1 tablespoon cherry brandy, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a bowl. Cover and chill for up to 2 hours.

Step 9

To serve, cut cheesecake into wedges. Top each serving with fruit topping.