Because this is our favorite cheesecake recipe EVER, I made it to celebrate my brother's birthday. I am so lucky to have such a great brother. He has a lovely home, wonderful wife and two handsome sons! The only problem is I only see him a few days out of the year due to the miles between us.
Steve is the official Apple Dumpling maker and I rarely make them myself because he does such a good job, it's hard to do better than him! I really wish I could be closer. I would happily share some of my cheesecake with him in exchange for some of his apple dumplings!
For this recipe, I made my own lemon curd. I love this stuff! The sweet tang is so delicious that I can just eat it by the spoonful! Lemon Curd is very simple with only 4 ingredients - Lemon Juice (and zest), butter, sugar, and eggs!
I love the bright citrus scent of the lemon. It literally makes you feel sunshine! I believe this is the biggest reason citrus (lemons especially) is big in the spring. It invokes the feeling of sunshine, brightness, and life!
When the lemon curd is done I always top it with some plastic wrap to prevent a "skin" forming over top of the curd. Once it has cooled enough, I put it in the refrigerator to get cold. The curd thickens up more as it chills. It is perfect for swirling into this cheesecake!
The crust for this cake is a shortbread type crust and is very thin. I love this because I'm looking for cheesecake when I eat cheesecake, not the crust!
I feel bad my brother isn't here to share this with us....seriously. It makes a lot of cheesecake!
📖 Recipe
Lemon Curd Swirled Cheesecake
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Ingredients
For the crust
- ⅔ cup flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter , chilled, cut into small pieces
- 1 tablespoon ice water
- Cooking spray
For the filling
- 24 ounces fat-free cream cheese (3- 8 oz blocks), softened
- 16 ounces ⅓ less fat cream cheese (2-8 oz blocks), softened
- 1¾ cups sugar
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2½ teaspoons lemon rind , grated
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoons salt
- 5 large eggs
- 1 cup Lemon Curd
For the lemon curd
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
- 2 large eggs
- ⅔ cup fresh lemon juice about 3 large lemons
- 2 tablespoon butter
Instructions
For the lemon curd
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, egg yolks, and lemon rind using a hand whisk.
- Cook for 3 minutes, until sugar dissolves and mixture is pale yellow. Stir in lemon juice and butter. Cook for 5 minutes or until mixture thinly coats the back of a spoon, stirring constantly with a whisk.
- Transfer lemon curd to a large bowl and cover the top of the curd with plastic wrap. Cool completely. Chill lemon curd until ready to use.
To prepare the crust
- Preheat oven to 400°. Place ⅔ cup flour and 2 tablespoons sugar in a food processor; pulse 2 times or until combined. Add chilled butter; pulse 6 times or until mixture resembles coarse meal.
- With food processor on, slowly pour ice water through food chute, processing just until blended (do not allow dough to form a ball). Transfer shortbread crumbs to 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray. Firmly press mixture into bottom of pan.
- Place in oven and bake 10 minutes, until lightly golden around the edges. Cool on a wire rack.
- Reduce oven temperature to 325.
To prepare the filling
- In a large bowl, using a electric mixer, beat cream cheese at high speed until smooth. Add sugar, flour, lemon zest, and salt to the cream cheese. Mix until well combined.
- Add eggs, 1 at a time to the cream cheese mixture, beating well after each addition.
- Pour the cheesecake batter into prepared pan. Spoon mounds of chilled lemon curd over top of cheesecake batter. Swirl curd and cheesecake batter using the tip of a knife.
- Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes or until cheesecake is almost set. Remove cheesecake from oven, and cool to room temperature. Cover and chill for at least 8 hours.
Ken says
I would rate the baking time lower but the overall recipe is awesome. The baking should be at least 1 hour 25
It seems that the lemon curd recipe is ok as well
The Hungry Mouse says
Whoa! That looks SO good!
+Jessie
Lynnylu says
Nice work on the lemon curd swirl. I'm sure your brother enjoyed this beautiful cheesecake.
Debi says
Wish I could have a piece right now!
Your brother is lucky to have a sister who takes time out to bake such a delicious treat.
TeaLady says
I lOVE cheese cake and that ones looks fantastic. I have wanted to use lemon curd in one, but couldn't think of a really good way to do it. Now I know how...
TheGourmetGirl says
Two of my all time favorites, lemon and cheese (cake)!
Great recipe thanks for sharing, will have to give it a try in the near future.
JMom says
That is one gorgeous looking cake! Happy birthday to your brother Steve 🙂
cindy says
I love lemon, I love cheesecake. It looks delish!
RecipeGirl says
Wow, does that look like a wonderful cheesecake! I love the lemony swirl 🙂 Happy bday to your little bro!
Tatieva says
Oh, ce que ça a l'air délicieux !
J'aime beaucoup la couleur du citron, c'est frais, léger et acidulé, délicieux !
Kisses from France,
Tatieva
Debbie says
Little brothers are great! But I feel EXACTLY as you do.... too bad we're so far apart.
Happy day!!
Elyse says
Awww, happy bday, Steve!! Steve is lucky to have such a wonderful sister! This cheesecake looks amazing. I'm just loving the swirl of lemon curd. How totally fantastic.
Design Tutorials says
Hey Steve Happy Birthday Nice cake peace
Megan says
I love lemon, I love cheesecake!
Nuf said? 😉
Katy ~ says
Steve, happy birthday! Many happy returns!
HoneyB, I LUV cheesecake! YUMMERS!
Chowhound says
That cheese cake looks phenomenal! Happy birthday to your brother.
Coleen's Recipes says
Happy Birthday to Honeybunches little brother!!
Katie says
What a beautiful cheesecake! I am a firm advocate of celebrating birthdays, even if the person whose birthday it is isn't present.
Anonymous says
That is a beautiful cheesecake Shelby!
Jam
Delectable Dining says
This looks wonderful!
I left an award for you on my blog... I love reading your wonderful recipes!
http://www.delectabledining09.blogspot.com
Angie says
That cheesecake looks great. It makes me wish I wasn't allergic to cheesecake.
Anj says
That is one seriously beautiful cheesecake. I love the lemon swirls. What a lucky brother.
Tangled Noodle says
What a lovely, sweet treat to celebrate your brother's birthday! I can empathize - all of my sisters live near each other on the West Coast while I'm the only one in the Midwest. We visit them once a year (if possible) but we always miss our birthdays with each other. It's the reason we cherish the times we do have together even more!
Pamela says
What a sweet sister you are! That cake looks fabulous! I just made this one over Easter and it was so good!! Nice job.
Laura says
That is simply gorgeous. I love lemon and cheesecake.
gail says
That cheesecake is GORGEOUS!!! It must be sooo good. Awesome combo! Lucky brother he is.
HoneyB says
Just so you all know...his FAVORITE sister is his ONLY sister. ;o) But that is ok, I'll take it.
Stephen says
Thanks for all the birthday wishes. It's been a good day. If my FAVORITE sister would freeze the cheesecake and send it to me, I would be ecstatic. I'm sure the pics have less calories though. Thanks Shelby!
Gaby says
this looks sooooo yummy! I love cheesecake!
Creative One says
What a wonderful sister you are. Birthday wishes to Steve. The cheesecake looks awesome!!
Anonymous says
Hi uncle Steve! Chris here, hope you have a great birthday! 😉 Look forward to seeing you this summer. Love ya lots.
Anonymous says
My Dear Steve, When I think about you as a baby, what I remember most is your "cheeks". You had cheeks, really kissable cheeks and we kissed on you LOL gotcha! Now you are in the over 40 club for sure:) Grandpa Whitton would have been 92 today and I remember how proud he was that you were born on his birthday. He had some fun with that! The Lord has been generous to us. I love you, Aunt Ann P.S. Eat your heart out on the cake!
Reeni♥ says
Happy Birthday Steve!! Look at that gorgeous cake your missing out on!
Gera @ SweetsFoods says
Happy Birthday, Steve! Heaven Heaven great cheesecake and lovely pics!
bakersbakery says
That looks fabulous!
Liesl says
Oh my does this cheesecake look good! This would be good on a nice warm summer afternoon, sitting on the porch in my rocking chairs with a glass of sun made iced tea! :o)
teresa says
This looks like heaven! What a nice thing to do for your brother!
Dan says
Happy birthday Steve. Bring some of that desert back for me next time you visit your sister.
Jessie says
I love the artsy design on the cheesecake and Happy Birthday to Steve!
Emily Justeatfood says
I wish there to share too! Happy Birthday Steve!
Gabi says
Work of art!!! Happy B-day Steve!!
Gabi @ Mamaliga
honeyb says
Happy B-day old man! 😉
P.S. - You should be guilting mom into sending you this cheesecake.
~Justin
Cristine says
What a sweet sister! Happy birthday to your brother. The cheesecake looks AMAZING!
Lisa says
Happy Birthday , Steve! Great cheesecake and I love the ,lemon dots on the plate.