Strawberry Basil Cheesecake
If you want to squeeze in just one more strawberry dessert before the summer ends, this is the one to make! Or if you want to save a bit of summer for when the winter blues hit, then this one will be your creamy, sweet sunshine as cheesecakes freeze and defrost easily without harm to taste or texture. Even the strawberry basil sauce will freeze perfectly.
Pretty much everything I make starts with an inspiration, a desire, a dream (yes, I dream about food, don’t you?) or, as in this case, someone dropping by with 2 quarts of strawberries. I’ve already made strawberry biscotti and starting thinking about all of you canners out there, but I’m just not there yet, except for small batches that I can use up during the week.
So with that thought in mind and a big basil plant outside my front door, making a strawberry basil sauce to top a fresh strawberry cheesecake seemed like a good idea! Thinking of a way to incorporate basil into the cheesecake without flecks of green running through it, I decided to add some fresh basil into the graham cracker crust. Honestly, the basil swirling away in the food processor released the most amazing fragrance.
This cheesecake had a very light, creamy texture, perfect for the brunch I served it at. I used 24 oz of cream cheese, while some of the heavier cheesecakes I’ve made used 2 lbs of cream cheese. The basil adds a subtle flavor complimenting the sweet strawberries and refreshing taste from the lime juice.
To freeze a cheesecake, it is best done without a topping. After the cheesecake is completely cooled, removed the sides, leaving the bottom of the pan. Freeze the cheesecake for about an hour. Take it out of the freezer and remove the bottom of the cheesecake pan. Wrap the cheesecake first in plastic wrap and then tightly in foil. If you’re like me that makes several ahead of time, remember to label the cheesecake! Cheesecakes can be frozen up to 2 months (I’ve had them frozen up to 3 without a problem). Sliced cheesecake can be frozen and removed for individual servings. To defrost, remove the wrapping, place on a cake plate and allow to thaw in the refrigerate about 10 hours.
Strawberry Basil Cheesecake
For the crust:
1 1/2 sleeves of graham crackers
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup lightly packed fresh basil
1/4 cup butter, melted
For the filling:
24 ounces cream cheese, room temperature (I use full fat or will mix it up between low fat and full, never fat free!)
3/4 cup sugar
5 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 egg yolk
1/4 cup Bacardi Razz raspberry rum or white
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place a pan of water on the lower rack (this will produce a moist environment to prevent cracking).
For the crust: In a food processor, combine the graham crackers, sugar and basil. Process into a fine crumb. Add in the melted butter until combined. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and sides of a 9 inch springform pan. Set aside.
For the filling: In a large stand up mixer, combine the cream cheese, sugar and cornstarch. Beat until smooth. Add in the eggs and yolk, one at a time, beating well. Beat in the rum and lime juice. Gently stir in the sliced strawberries. Pour the filling into the crust.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Lower to 225 degrees and continue to bake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes or until the center is no longer looks wet but will still have a slight jiggly. (Cheesecakes will firm up as it cools.) Remove from the oven to a cooling rack and immediately run a knife around the sides. This will loosen the cake so that as it cools and shrinks it will not crack. Though it is normal for cheesecakes to crack, mine did not and I do believe it’s due to the pan of water on the bottom rack.
Release the sides of the pan and chill uncovered overnight. Serve with strawberry basil sauce, recipe below.
For the strawberry basil sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups of hulled strawberries, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice and 2 tablespoons Bacardi Razz raspberry rum. Bring to a boil stirring and gently crushing the strawberries. Continue to cook over medium heat until desired consistency, about 15-20 minutes, stirring often. Turn off the heat and stir in about 2-3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil. Cool and refrigerate or freeze.
spicegirlfla
I love being in the kitchen. Early mornings, soft music, a hot espresso. Easing into the preparation of delicious meals. Glancing through cookbooks, gathering inspiration and planning my day. I look forward to the cycles of the seasons, the pleasures of tasting and savoring and sharing this with those dear to me. Weekends are special to me as my week days are often rushed, but still I create the ambiance, light the candles, set the table and uncork the wine.
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40 Comments
Juliana
I love the flavors that you incorporated in this cheesecake…strawberry and basil and rum…I so wish I could have a slice of this cheesecake, maybe two since it is a light cheesecake 🙂
Thanks for the recipe and hope you are having a wonderful week Linda!
spicegirlfla
I noticed that no matter how full my guests are after a dinner, when cheesecake is pulled out, they are happy to be offered a slice! Thanks for your kind comments, Juliana!
Mandy - The Complete Cook Book
I absolutely love the idea of strawberry and basil together – what a clever idea!
🙂 Mandy
spicegirlfla
Thanks Mandy, I could have licked the spoon over and over again, I just loved the strawberry and basil taste!
Choc Chip Uru
What a beautifully textured and flavoured cheesecake my friend 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
spicegirlfla
Thank you my friend!
cecilia g
How fantastic that i can freeze this, what an excellent idea.. I have not made a cheese cake in ages, best i start getting everything together, first I have to make the cream cheese! c
spicegirlfla
oh my….making your own cream cheese! you go girl!!!
Jed Gray (sportsglutton)
Totally digging adding basil to the crust. Brilliant!
spicegirlfla
Si, I was digging it too 🙂 thanks Jed!
ChgoJohn
So much to like about this cheesecake, Linda. Adding the basil to the graham cracker crust is a completely new idea for me. (By the way, thanks for saying how many “sleeves” of graham crackers and not cups. I never crumble enough or have too many.) And your strawberry sauce would be just as good served atop pancakes, ice cream, and just about any dessert that needs topping. Your freezer tipes are certainly welcome. As much as I love cheesecakes, I rarely make them unless I’m having company — and then I give most of it away. Not anymore! That’s right. I’ll make a cheesecake and keep it all for myself. Yay!
spicegirlfla
Oh, I so agree, it drives me crazy when recipes only refer to how many cups of crumbs! I guess you can buy graham cracker crumbs already in crumb form…but they cost more and I always doubt thats the freshest way to go! I’ve had alot of extra crumbs trying to figure it out too!! You’re right about the sauce and if I was a canner…like you :), I ‘d love to make several jars! It truly tastes amazing especially if you’re a basil lover!
Geni
Oh this cheesecake makes me dance and sing. I just wish I had a slice. I think adding fresh herbs to baked goods is such a great way to add complexity. And LIME?…RUM? Heck yes! You area a genius!
spicegirlfla
You’re so kind Geni!! You know I’ve got add a bit of alcohol in my baking somewhere!!
yummychunklet
What a great idea to add basil to this sweet cheesecake! Very creative!
Kristy
What an inspiring dish Linda! It sounds so delicious. I never would have thought about basil in a cheesecake before – I love it! I will definitely have to make this. Mr. N and I would be in heaven. 🙂
spicegirlfla
Honestly, I’ve not put any herbs into a sweet cheesecake before, but I’ve seen and added in herbs to other sweet desserts, so I thought I’d give it a try and it worked out really good. Now that I’m thinking about it, how did I not think of herbs in a biscotti?? 🙂
Greg
Great cheesecake. I’ve been horrible about commenting, but we’ve seen your last few recipes on our phone. Yum!
spicegirlfla
Thanks Greg for stopping by. Heck, sometimes there are just not enough hours in the day to comment on all the amazing blogs out there!!
Hotly Spiced
Meanwhile…we are just coming in to strawberry season. The priced has dropped just this week from $5.00/punnet to $2.00/punnet. What a great looking cheesecake and yes, strawberries and cheesecake go so very well xx
spicegirlfla
Oh good for you!!! I forget about all the different growing seasons! That’s a terrific drop in price too. I could pretty much get year round great tasting strawberries in Florida. I have to keep more seasonally where I living now.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
We are in the middle of strawberry season up here and there’s never an end to cheesecake season 🙂
I love your cake!
spicegirlfla
I was afraid to post a strawberry dessert thinking we had all moved on and away from the season, but I’m so glad to hear this! thanks Maureen!
The Café Sucré Farine
This sounds wonderfully delicious and so unique. I’m like you, I get inspired to bake/cook by the craziest things!
spicegirlfla
I’m forever jotting down ideas! I have a pad by my bed, tiny notebooks in my purse, with my phone I’ll snap a photo of inspiration! I think all food lovers can relate at least a little bit with my obsessiveness!
David
Love the idea of the basil in the crust. I imagine this is deliciously cool!
spicegirlfla
Even tho cheesecakes are long baking with a hot oven on during the summer, they also are such a great dessert being chilled…and “cool” as I’m assuming you meant by that word 🙂 On the other hand, cheesecakes are a “cool” dessert no matter what the current trends are!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
I have never had a cheesecake with the combo of strawberry and basil. It’s unique and spectacular, if you asked me.
Sawsan @chef in disguise
I actually have 3 pots of basil on my window! I love their smell and their flowers. Having made pestp and dried a huge amount this sounds like a great way to use up some basil
I love the fact that it freezes so well.
spicegirlfla
wow… three pots of basil! And I thought I used alot of basil!
Amy @ ElephantEats
Oooh, love the addition of basil to this! I bet mint would be great too. Mmmm, I never think to add herbs to desserts….yum 🙂
spicegirlfla
Mint would be good too! I used mint in my Mojito Cheesecake http://savoringeverybite.com/2010/08/20/mojito-cheesecake/
which obviously seemed very fitting to do!
Ambrosiana
What a creative combination of flavors: strawberry and basil must be soooo delicious on cheesecake!
My Inner Chick
—Love the idea of Basil in this cheesecake.
How Unique & Refreshing! Mmmmm
France @ Beyond The Peel
I think it’s brilliant that the basil is in the crust. The rum in the cheesecake sounds delish too.
Charles
Loving the addition of basil Linda – bet it made for a fantastic flavour. Cheesecake is my all time favourite dessert so I’d be in heaven with this. You sure do a better job with your cheesecakes than me – mine always end up looking a bit crumpled on top! 🙂
Linda
Oooh! Yum – I’ve been playing with basil and strawberry preserves…love the blend of those two flavors. Also liked your tips on freezing cheesecakes.
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Zirkie
I would have never thought of adding basil to a cheesecake? What a brilliant idea! I also dream about food!! 🙂
petit4chocolatier
Excellent cheesecake! I have never eaten cheesecake with basil. This sounds delicious. I love the rum addition!!