Cheesecake With Blueberry Topping

Chef mariajane's Note:

With it's luxuriously rich filling and real-fruit topping, cheesecake commanded a relatively steep price at 20th century diners. One bite of this classic provided all the justification anyone needed!! This is another of Martha's -

• Total Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 0 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• vegetable oil cooking spray
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch salt
• 16 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 16 ounces sour cream
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

BLUEBERRY TOPPING

• 3 cups blueberries
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Directions:

1. MAKE THE CRUST: Preheat the oven to 325°F Coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking sprauy. Wrap exterior of pan (including base) with foil.
2. Stir together butter, graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Press mixture firmly into bottom and 3-inches up sides of pan. Refrigerate 15 minutes.
3. MAKE THE FILLING: Beat cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Reduce sped to low, and add sour cream, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, and vanilla. Beat until well combined (do not overmix). Pour into chilled crust.
4. Set springform pan in a large, shallow roasting pan. Place in oven. Carefully ladle enough boiling water into roasting pan to come halfway up side of springform pan. Bake until cheesecake is set but still slightly wobbly in center, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Transfer roasting pan to a wire rack. Let cake cool in roast pan 30 minutes. Remove cheesecake from roasting pan, and refrigerate, uncovered, at least 8 hours (or overnight).
5. BLUEBERRY TOPPING: Combine all ingedients in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until berries break down, about 4 minutes. Let cool, then refrigerate, covered until cold (or up to 3 days).
6. ASSEMBLY: Run a knife around edge of cake, and unmold. Spoon topping over cake.