Cheese Cake with Strawberry Sauce

Ingredients for the Cheese Cake

Cheese Filling

Eggs ………………………………4 large

Sugar……………………………..3/4 cup

Heavy Whipping Cream ..200 ml (room temperature)

Cream Cheese ……………..3/4 cup (room temperature)

Mascarpone Cheese ……1 cup (room temperature)

Vanilla Essence ……………1 teaspoon

Cake Crust

Graham Cracker/ Digestive Biscuit ……11/2 cup crushed

Butter ………………………….70 grams melted

Sugar …………………………….1/2 cup

Strawberry Sauce

Sugar ………………………………3/4 cup

Water ……………………………..1 cup

Fresh Strawberries ………….12 – 15 sliced

Method

1. Make the cake crust by crushing the biscuits/crackers in a food processor. Add the melted butter and sugar (granulated/icing; either works) and mix it well with your hands.
2. Take a spring foam pan and put in the crust mix. Press down on the mix tightly until it forms an even layer on the bottom of the pan.
3. Place it in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.
4. For the cheese filling mix make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature.
5. Using an electric beater whip the heavy whipping cream till it forms peaks. Do not over whip the cream or else it starts to curdle.
6. In another small bowl whip the cream cheese well.
7. Add in the mascarpone cheese and give it a good whip.
8. Add the ¾ cup of sugar and mix it well into the cheese mix.
9. Now use a large bowl and beat the eggs in it. Add the cheese and sugar mix in and whip.
10. Make sure you whip the mixture only till all the ingredients are incorporated together. Do not over this as it starts to form air bubbles which we do not want.
11. Pour this liquid into the spring foam pan slowly over the crust.
12. Gently tap the pan a few times to get rid of air bubbles. The bubbles tend to rise and come on top of the mixture. Bake in the oven at 325°F for 11/2 hours.
13. Once it is done, let it cool at room temperature and then put it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.
14. Meanwhile, you can make the strawberry sauce.
15. For this, on a low flame heat the water and sugar till it dissolves and the syrup reduces by a few tablespoons.
16. Add the sliced strawberries and let it cook in the syrup. It gives out its rich red color and the sweet and sour taste in the sugar syrup. Let it cook for 5-7 minutes. Let it cool.
17. Before serving the cheese cake, cut a slice of the cake and drizzle some of the strawberry sauce on it. It makes for a beautiful contrasting garnish. The sourness of the fruit, the sweetness of the syrup all compliment the rich cream cheese cake.