Almond-Amaretto Cheesecake (McCall's)

This was posted in McCall's April 1995. It is a McCall's Cooking School recipe. A classic New York-style dessert updated with a triple hit of nutty flavor. It was pictured topped with sliced strawberries and brushed with a melted-jelly glaze.

• Ready In: 3 hrs
• Serves: 16

Ingredients

• 1⁄4 cup sugar (Crust Recipe begins)
• 1⁄4 cup  almonds, toasted
• 1  cup all-purpose flour
• 1  pinch salt
• 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter
• 1  large  egg yolk
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  almond extract
• 5 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened (Filling Recipe starts)
• 1 2⁄3 cups sugar
• 2  teaspoons  grated lemon zest
• 5  large  eggs plus 2  egg yolks
• 1⁄4 cup heavy cream
• 3  tablespoons amaretto liqueur
• 1  tablespoon all-purpose flour

Directions

1. To make crust: Lightly grease 9-inch springform pan. In food processor, process sugar and almonds until nuts are finely ground. Add flour and salt; pulse to blend. Cut up butter into bits; add to flour mixture. Pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add egg yolk and almond extract; pulse just until dough holds together. Press dough into prepared pan to line bottom and 2 inches up sides. Refrigerate 1 hour.
2. Preheat oven to 400*F. Bake crust 8 minutes or just until golden. Place on wire rack; let stand until cool.
3. Make filling: In large bowl, with electric mixer at medium-high speed, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar; beat 3 minutes or until mixture is blended and smooth.
4. Beat in lemon zest. At medium speed, beat in eggs and yolks, one at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
5. At low speed, beat in heavy cream and liqueur. Beat in flour just until blended. Increase oven temperature to 500*F. Pour filling into cooled crust in pan. Bake 12 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 200*F.
6. Bake cheesecake 1 hour longer, covering loosely with foil if top browns too quickly. Turn off oven; let cheesecake remain on rack for 30 minutes with oven door propped ajar with wooden spoon.
7. Place cake on cooling rack. Let stand until room temperature. Cover; chill 6 hours or overnight. To serve, run a knife around edges of pan to loosen cake. Remove pan side. Place cake on serving dish. Garnish with berries. Before cutting each slice, dip knife in cold water.