Creamy Lemon Cherry Cheesecake

Everybody loves cheesecake. And why not? Rich, creamy, delicious, with so many different possibilities for flavor, crust and toppings. A perfect cheesecake is easy if you follow a few steps:

Bring all the ingredients to room temperature before mixing. This usually takes about thirty minutes.
In a rush? You can soften cream cheese in the microwave. Just place an 8 ounce brick of cheese in a microwavable bowl and microwave on high for 15 seconds. Add 15 seconds for each additional bar of cheese.
Bake your cheesecake in a springform pan so you can easily remove the cake.
Set a shallow pan of water on the lower rack of your oven, then place your cheesecake on a rack above. That keeps the air in the oven moist- and very cheesecake friendly!
Don’t open oven door while baking.
A perfectly baked cheesecake will be puffed around the edges and jiggle slightly in the center when shaken.
Cool your cake completely on a wire rack, then wrap it and store it in the fridge. All cheesecakes taste best made a day ahead –and they freeze like a dream, too. Slice to cold, but let the slices come to room temperature for the very best flavor.
Do you feel inspired to make a cheesecake?  You can find this recipe and more at Crisco.com