Wilton's Strawberry Cheesecake Squares

Total Time: 6 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 6 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 4 teaspoons grated lemon rind
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 5 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3/4 teaspoon lemon rind
• 2 cups coarsely chopped fresh strawberries or 10 ounces frozen strawberries, thawed and chopped
• strawberry (to garnish) (optional)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven 325°f.
• 2 for the crust:.
• 3 lightly spray 13x9 pan with vegetable spray.
• 4 stir graham cracker crumbs, lemon rind, and sugar together in a small bowl.
• 5 stir in butter.
• 6 press mixture into the bottom of prepared pan.
• 7 bake 8 - 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
• 8 remove from oven and cool.
• 9 for the filling:.
• 10 beat cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy.
• 11 add eggs one at a time; beat thoroughly after each addition.
• 12 add vanilla and lemon rind; blend until mixed.
• 13 stir in strawberries.
• 14 pour mixture into baked crust and bake for 45-50 minutes, just until the center is firm to the touch.
• 15 turn the oven off and leave the pan inside to cool for 30 minutes with the door closed.
• 16 remove from oven and cool on rack.
• 17 refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
• 18 to serve, cut into 3-inch squares and garnish with extra strawberries if desired.