Cheesecake with Animal Cracker Crust and Strawberry Topping
Cheesecake with Animal Cracker Crust and Strawberry Topping
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 1 1/2 cups animal crackers, crushed into fine crumbs (approximately 1 bag)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 pound butter, melted
For the Filling
- 2 pounds cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
- tiny pinch salt
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
For the Strawberry Topping
- 1 pint strawberries, sliced
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Place the animal crackers in a large Ziploc bag. Use a heavy object, such as a sweet potato or rolling pin, to smash the animal crackers until they are finely crushed into crumbs. You should have approximately 1 1/2 to 2 cups of crumbs.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 400
- 2
Pour the crushed animal cracker crumbs into a mixing bowl. Add the 1/2 cup of brown sugar to the crumbs and mix well to combine.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
In a small pan, melt the 1/4 pound of butter over low heat. Once melted, pour the butter over the cracker and sugar mixture. Mix thoroughly until all the crumbs are moistened.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Transfer the crust mixture into a 9-inch springform pan. Press the mixture down very firmly and evenly across the bottom of the pan to form a compact crust.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack while you prepare the filling.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 400
- 6
In a separate large mixing bowl, add the 2 pounds of softened cream cheese, 1/2 tablespoon of vanilla extract, 1/2 tablespoon of cinnamon, a tiny pinch of salt, and 1 cup of powdered sugar.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Using a hand mixer, beat the ingredients for about 1 minute until well combined and smooth.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Add the 1 cup of heavy whipping cream to the cream cheese mixture. Continue mixing with the hand mixer until the filling is a little airy but still dense. Do not overmix.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Spoon the cream cheese filling over the cooled crust in the springform pan. Use a spatula to flatten out the top of the filling evenly.
⏱️ 5 min
- 10
Lightly tap the springform pan on the counter about 20 times to release any trapped air bubbles from the filling. If desired, sprinkle a little bit of leftover crushed animal cracker crumbs on top of the filling.
⏱️ 2 min
- 11
To prepare the strawberry topping, place the sliced strawberries in a frying pan. Add 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup of water to the pan.
⏱️ 3 min
- 12
Cook the strawberry mixture over low heat on the stove, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and reaches a jelly-like consistency. This will take about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
⏱️ 10 min
- 13
Squeeze the juice from 1/2 a lemon into the slightly cooled strawberry jelly and stir to combine.
⏱️ 1 min
- 14
Pour the strawberry jelly evenly over the cream cheese filling in the springform pan. If desired, arrange some fresh strawberry slices on top for decoration.
⏱️ 3 min
- 15
Place the cheesecake in the refrigerator and chill for at least 6 hours, or preferably for a full day, to allow it to set properly. This is crucial for the cheesecake to hold its shape.
⏱️ 360 min - 16
Once thoroughly chilled, carefully remove the sides of the springform pan. Slice and serve your cheesecake.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Cheesecake with Animal Cracker Crust and Strawberry Topping
For the Crust
- 1 1/2 cups animal crackers, crushed into fine crumbs (approximately 1 bag)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 pound butter, melted
For the Filling
- 2 pounds cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
- tiny pinch salt
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
For the Strawberry Topping
- 1 pint strawberries, sliced
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Place the animal crackers in a large Ziploc bag. Use a heavy object, such as a sweet potato or rolling pin, to smash the animal crackers until they are finely crushed into crumbs. You should have approximately 1 1/2 to 2 cups of crumbs.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 400 - 2
Pour the crushed animal cracker crumbs into a mixing bowl. Add the 1/2 cup of brown sugar to the crumbs and mix well to combine.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
In a small pan, melt the 1/4 pound of butter over low heat. Once melted, pour the butter over the cracker and sugar mixture. Mix thoroughly until all the crumbs are moistened.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Transfer the crust mixture into a 9-inch springform pan. Press the mixture down very firmly and evenly across the bottom of the pan to form a compact crust.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack while you prepare the filling.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 400 - 6
In a separate large mixing bowl, add the 2 pounds of softened cream cheese, 1/2 tablespoon of vanilla extract, 1/2 tablespoon of cinnamon, a tiny pinch of salt, and 1 cup of powdered sugar.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Using a hand mixer, beat the ingredients for about 1 minute until well combined and smooth.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Add the 1 cup of heavy whipping cream to the cream cheese mixture. Continue mixing with the hand mixer until the filling is a little airy but still dense. Do not overmix.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Spoon the cream cheese filling over the cooled crust in the springform pan. Use a spatula to flatten out the top of the filling evenly.
⏱️ 5 min - 10
Lightly tap the springform pan on the counter about 20 times to release any trapped air bubbles from the filling. If desired, sprinkle a little bit of leftover crushed animal cracker crumbs on top of the filling.
⏱️ 2 min - 11
To prepare the strawberry topping, place the sliced strawberries in a frying pan. Add 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup of water to the pan.
⏱️ 3 min - 12
Cook the strawberry mixture over low heat on the stove, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and reaches a jelly-like consistency. This will take about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
⏱️ 10 min - 13
Squeeze the juice from 1/2 a lemon into the slightly cooled strawberry jelly and stir to combine.
⏱️ 1 min - 14
Pour the strawberry jelly evenly over the cream cheese filling in the springform pan. If desired, arrange some fresh strawberry slices on top for decoration.
⏱️ 3 min - 15
Place the cheesecake in the refrigerator and chill for at least 6 hours, or preferably for a full day, to allow it to set properly. This is crucial for the cheesecake to hold its shape.
⏱️ 360 min - 16
Once thoroughly chilled, carefully remove the sides of the springform pan. Slice and serve your cheesecake.
⏱️ 1 min