Holiday Brandy Alexander Cheesecake

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 1 (10 ounce) box chocolate-flavored bear-shaped graham crackers, crushed (about 2 1/4 cups)
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
• 4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 4 tablespoons brandy, divided
• 4 tablespoons creme de cacao, divided
• 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream, at room temperature
• blackberry, currants, raspberries, strawberries

Recipe

• 1 1. preheat oven to 325 degrees. stir together crushed graham crackers, butter, and 1 t. sugar. press mixture on bottom and halfway up sides of a 9-inch springform pan. freeze 10 minutes.
• 2 2. beat cream cheese, 1 1/4 cup sugar, and cornstarch at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth. add eggs 1 at a time, beating at low speed just until yellow disappears after each addition. add 3 t. brandy and 3 t creme de cacao, and beat just until blended. pour into prepared crust.
• 3 3. bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour or just until center is almost set.
• 4 4. duriing last 2 minutes of baking, stir together sour cream and remaing 1 t. sugar, 1 t. brandy and 1 t. creme de cacao.
• 5 5. spread sour cream mixture over cheesecake. bake at 325 degrees for 8 more minutes. remove cheesecake from oven; gently run a knife along outer edge of cheesecake, and cool completely in pan on a wire rack (about 1 1/2 hours). cover and chill 8 to 24 hours.
• 6 6. remove sides of springform pan, and place cheesecake on a serving plate. garnish, if desired.
• 7 *coffee liqueur may be substituted such as kahlua instead of creme de cacoa.