Kurant Cheesecake - Absolut

---------- Recipe via UNREGISTERED Meal-Master (tm) v8.02

Title: KURANT CHEESECAKE - ABSOLUT
Categories: Cheesecakes
Yield: 12 servings

-----------------------------------CRUST-----------------------------------
1 3/4 c GRAHAM CRACKER CRUMBS 1/4 c GRANULATED SUGAR
1/2 c WHOLE BLANCHED ALMONDS, 9 T SWEET BUTTER, MELTED
FINELY CHOPPED

----------------------------------FILLING----------------------------------
3 pk 8OZ CREAM CHEESE 3/4 c HEAVY CREAM
1/2 c GRANULATED SUGAR 1/4 c ABSOLUT KURANT VODKA
3 lg EGGS 2 t PURE VANILLA EXTRACT

----------------------------------TOPPING----------------------------------
1/2 c STRAWBERRY JELLY 1 1/2 pt FRESH STRAWBERRIES,
CLEANED & HULLED
1 T ABSOLUT KURANT VODKA

MAKE THE CRUST:

1. POSITION A RACK IN THE CENTER OF THE OVEN & PREHEAT TO 325~. CUT
OUT TWO 15x12" PIECES OF HEAVY-DUTY FOIL AND WRAP THEM AROUND THE BOTTOM
AND SIDES OF A 9" SPRINGFORM PAN.
2. IN A MEDIUM BOWL, COMBINE THE GRAHAM CRACKER CRUMBS, ALMONDS, SUGAR
& MELTED BUTTER. PAT THE MIXTURE EVENLY ONTO THE BOTTOM & SIDES OF THE
PREPARED PAN. REFRIGERATE THE CRUST WHILE YOU PREPARE THE FILLING.

MAKE THE FILLING:

3. IN THE 4 1/2 QT BOWL OF A HEAVY-DUTY ELECTRIC MIXER USING THE
PADDLE ATTACHMENT, BEAT THE CREAM CHEESE AT LOW SPEED FOR 30 TO 45
SECONDS, UNTIL CREAMY. INCREASE THE SPEED TO MEDIUM AND GRADUALLY ADD
THE SUGAR, ONE TABLESPOON AT A TIME. BEAT UNTIL BLENDED, ABOUT 1 MINUTE
MORE. BEAT IN THE EGGS, ONE AT A TIME, SCRAPING DOWN THE BOWL AS
NECESSARY. AT LOW SPEED, BEAT IN THE CREAM, ABSOLUTE KURANT VODKA AND
VANILLA AND MIX UNTIL THOROUGHLY BLENDED, ABOUT 1 MINUTE. SCRAPE DOWN
THE SIDE OF THE BOWL AND BEAT UNTIL SMOOTH. SCRAPE THE BATTER INTO THE
CHILLED CRUST.
4. PLACE THE CHEESECAKE IN A ROASTING PAN AND PLACE THE PAN IN THE
OVEN. POUR HOT WATER INTO THE ROASTING PAN SO THAT THE WATER COMES
HALFWAY UP THE SIDE OF THE SPRINGFORM PAN. BAKE THE CHEESECAKE FOR 65 TO
75 MINUTES OR UNTIL FIRM. REMOVE THE SPRINGFORM PAN FROM THE ROASTING
PAN AND PLACE IT ON A WIRE RACK TO COOK FOR ONE HOUR. REFRIGERATE THE
CHEESECAKE FOR AT LEAST 3 HOURS BEFORE PREPARING THE TOPPING.

MAKE THE TOPPING:

5. IN A MICROWAVEABLE GLASS MEASURING CUP, PLACE THE STRAWBERRY JELLY.
HEAT IN MICROWAVE ON HIGH FOR 1 MINUTE, STIRRING ONCE UNTIL THE JELLY
HAS MELTED. STIR IN THE ABSOLUT KURANT VODKA.
6. REMOVE THE CHEESECAKE FROM THE REFRIGERATOR AND REMOVE THE SIDE OF
THE SPRINGFORM PAN. ARRANGE THE STRAWBERRIES OVER THE TOP OF THE CAKE,
COVERING IT COMPLETELY. USING A PASTRY BRUSH, BRUSH THE STRAWBERRIES
GENEROUSLY WITH THE STRAWBERRY/KURANT GLAZE. SPRINKLE THE TOP OF THE
CAKE WITH TOASTED ALMONDS, IF DESIRED.

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