Amaretto Cheesecake

• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 cup chopped almonds
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 12 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons Amaretto
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 cup frozen unsweetened raspberries, thawed
• 2 teaspoons Amaretto
• Sugar

Method

In 9-inch microwavable quiche dish, shallow round baking dish or deep pie plate, melt butter at high (100 per cent power) 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Stir in almonds and sugar until evenly coated with butter.

Press into bottom and sides of dish. Microwave at high 2 to 3 minutes or until firm. If necessary, rotate dish during cooking.

Beat cream cheese and sugar until light. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add sour cream, 2 tablespoons Amaretto or almond liqueur, vanilla and almond extract. Beat until smooth. Pour into baked crust.

Microwave uncovered at medium (50 per cent power) 14 to 18 minutes or until cheesecake is almost set in center. Rotate dish partway through cooking, if necessary. Cool on countertop to room temperature, then  cover and refrigerate until serving time.

Reserve some whole raspberries for garnish. Puree remaining  raspberries. Push through sieve to remove seeds. Stir 2 tablespoons  Amaretto or almond liqueur into puree. Add sugar to taste.  To serve, spoon some sauce on to dessert plates. Place slice of  cheesecake on sauce. Garnish with reserved berries.

If you prefer, use 1 cup graham cracker crumbs with 1/2 cup finely chopped almonds for the crust. Use a food processor and pulse to chop nuts to an even consistency, rather than a fine powder. Also, you could substitute strawberries for the raspberries. To omit liqueur, increase almond extract in the filling to 1 teaspoon and use just a drop in the raspberry puree.

Contributor: Pat Ciesla

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