Our Favorite Cheesecake with Blueberry Sauce

In celebration of my 300th post, I am sharing my family's favorite cheesecake.  I made this for my Mom's birthday last week.  This is not a New York Style cheesecake that towers above the cheesecake pan.  It only uses 2 blocks of cream cheese, and I usually use Philadelphia 1/3 less fat cream cheese.  It also uses a pint of sour cream, and I usually use Dannon Lite sour cream.

We like to cover it in a simple fresh blueberry sauce that can be made anytime of the year using frozen blueberries also.  This cheesecake recipe is from Tyler's Ultimate.  The blueberry sauce is my own.

Crust Ingredients:

2 cups finely ground cinnamon graham crackers (about 30 squares)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 stick unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Stir together crust ingredients in a small bowl.  Lightly spray 8-inch spring form pan with non-stick cooking spray.  Pour the crumbs into the pan and press into the bottom and one inch up the sides using a metal measuring cup.  Wrap the bottom of the pan with foil (this will keep the water out since you will bake using a water bath).

Filling Ingredients:

2 8-ounce blocks cream cheese (1 pound), softened
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 pint sour cream
1 lemon, zested (save lemon for blueberry sauce)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

In a large stand mixer, beat the cream cheese for 1 minute until free of lumps.  Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides as needed.  Add the sugar and beat for 2 minutes until smooth.  Add the sour cream, lemon zest, and vanilla.  Mix just until combined.  Do not over beat air into the batter.

Pour the filling into prepared crust.  Place into the bottom of a roaster pan and fill with hot water halfway up the sides of the spring form pan to create a water bath.  This will prevent the cheesecake from cracking on top during the baking process.

Bake for 45-55 minutes.  The cheesecake should still be slightly jiggly in the middle (It will set up in the refrigerator).  Remove from the oven, carefully lift pan out of roaster, and remove foil.  Let cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes.  Cover with foil and refrigerate for at least 4 hours to overnight.  When ready to serve, run a knife or thin spatula around the edges before releasing the spring form pan from the sides.

Blueberry Sauce:

2 pints blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1/4 cup water
1 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

In a medium sauce pan, add all ingredients.  Simmer on medium low heat for 5 minutes.  Make a corn starch slurry to thicken by stirring together 2 T corn starch and a little cold water in a cup.  Add to the blueberry sauce and stir until thickened.  Let cool, then refrigerate until ready to serve.  Enjoy!