This time of year makes me want to take the end of citrus season and the beginning of berry season and celebrate both properly! This Raspberry Lemonade Cheesecake is the perfect mashup of winter and spring, and it's pink lemonade vibes are perfect for summer, too!
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This Raspberry Lemonade Cheesecake is a dream of textures and flavors! The lemon cheesecake is swirled with a homemade raspberry sauce, all in a classic graham cracker crust!
If you enjoy this recipe, you should check out my recipes for Raspberry Tartlets with Pistachio Crust, Raspberry and White Chocolate Loaf Cake, and Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake!
Ingredients
Raspberry Sauce Ingredients:
- Raspberries - For lovely flavor. I used fresh berries. If you use frozen, the sauce may be a little thinner, which may require you to cook the sauce for a bit longer to get the appropriate consistency.
- Sugar - For sweetness.
- Lemon Juice - The acidity of the lemon juice helps to balance the sweetness, and enhances the taste of the berries.
- Lemon Zest - For flavor. You only want to include the yellow part of the rind, none of the bitter white pith!
Crust Ingredients:
- Graham Cracker Crumbs - For flavor and structure for the crust. You will need two cups of crumbs. If you're crushing whole graham crackers, you will need about 15 of them.
- Sugar - For sweetness, and to help the crust hold together.
- Unsalted Butter, Melted - To bind the graham cracker crumbs together. Also imparts buttery flavor to the crust.
Lemon Cheesecake Ingredients:
- Cream Cheese - For the dominant flavor and texture of the cheesecake! I use full-fat cream cheese.
- Sugar - For sweetness.
- Eggs - For thickening and structure for the cheesecake. The eggs also lend the cheesecake an extra smooth and rich texture.
- Sour Cream - Softens the texture of the cheesecake and adds moisture. I use full-fat sour cream.
- Heavy (Whipping) Cream - Softens the texture of the cheesecakes and adds moisture, and gives you the creamiest cheesecake!
- Lemon Zest - For flavor.
- Lemon Extract Paste - For a punch of lemon flavor without adding much liquid! If you'd like, you can substitute with an equal measure of lemon juice, it just may not be quite as lemony.
Whipped Cream Ingredients:
- Heavy (Whipping) Cream - Can't make whipped cream without it! 😀
- Powdered Sugar - For sweetness. I prefer using powdered sugar because it dissolves so well, and because the small amount of cornstarch in powdered sugar helps the whipped cream to hold its shape for longer.
- Vanilla Bean Paste - For amazing flavor! I also love the little black flecks that it leaves in the whipped cream. If you'd rather substitute, you can use an equal measure of vanilla extract.
Instructions
Making the Raspberry Sauce
The fresh raspberry sauce cooks low and slow for the best flavor! To make the raspberry sauce:
- Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan and cook until the raspberries start to fall apart and the mixture starts to thicken.
- You want the sauce to be thin enough to swirl into the cheesecake, but not runny. If it gets too thick, you can thin it out with a little water. Allow to cool slightly.
Making the Graham Cracker Crust
This recipe uses a standard 9" springform pan. I use a 9-inch "push pan" with silicone seal that I LOVE, but they're hard to find anymore! This pan's bottom is waterproof. This recipe requires a water bath, and you can just set the pan right down in the water with no leaking! I was able to find an 8" Push Pan, which will still work, you just may need to bake the cheesecake a few minutes longer. To make the crust:
- Grease a 9" springform pan (see note) and set aside.
- Combine graham crackers and sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Process until finely ground.
- Add melted butter and pulse to incorporate, making sure the mixture is completely coated in butter. Press the mixture into the bottom and 1-2 inches up the sides of the prepared pan.
Making the Lemon Cheesecake
This cheesecake bakes in a water bath to ensure gentle, even baking and to help to avoid cracks in the top of your cheesecake. Definitely check out the recipe notes for details on baking in a water bath! To make the cheesecake:
- Combine the sugar and lemon zest in a stand mixer and run the mixer to release the flavor from the zest.
- Add cream cheese and mix until smooth and creamy. Next, add eggs one at a time and mix to incorporate.
- Add sour cream, heavy cream, and lemon extract paste. Mix to incorporate.
- Pour half the filling into the crust and top with half the raspberry sauce. Pour in the remaining cheesecake filling, and dollop with the remaining raspberry sauce. Swirl the raspberry sauce throughout the cheesecake.
- Wrap the pan in foil and place in a water bath. Bake until cheesecake is just set, but still wobbly in the center. Turn off the oven. With the oven door slightly ajar, leave the cheesecake to slowly cool in the oven for 1 hour.
- Remove the pan from the oven and allow the cheesecake to cool on a rack to room temperature. Once at room temperature, chill the cheesecake for at least 4 hours.
Once the cheesecake is chilled, you can prepare the whipped cream and finish the cheesecake! I garnished mine with lemon slices, fresh raspberries, and mint leaves.
Variations
- If you'd like you can replace the sugar in the raspberry sauce with honey for a more floral flavor.
- A delicious option to vary this flavor, and totally in keeping with the pink lemonade vibe, would be to use strawberries instead of raspberries!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use raspberry jam instead of making the sauce?
Yes! If you'd rather not make the raspberry sauce yourself, you can use 1-1.5 cups of the raspberry jam of your choice. Depending on the consistency of the jam, you may need to thin it with a little water so that you can swirl it into the cheesecake.
What kind of lemons should I use?
You can use whatever lemons you prefer! This recipe was inspired by the "pink" lemons that you see in the photos, but it would still be delicious with regular lemons! For a sweeter lemon kick, try meyer lemons!
Do I have to do the water bath?
If you want the cheesecake to turn out like mine--super creamy with no cracks--then yes! The water bath method does take additional time, but the result is outstanding!
The flavors and textures of this cheesecake are to die for! I would have eaten the entire thing if left unattended. I hope that you'll try this recipe, and...there's no need to share if you don't want to. 😉
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Recipe
Raspberry Lemonade Cheesecake
This Raspberry Lemonade Cheesecake is a dream of textures and flavors! The lemon cheesecake is swirled with a homemade raspberry sauce, all in a classic graham cracker crust!
Ingredients
Rasbperry Sauce
- 8 oz raspberries (about 2 cups; see note)
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Graham Cracker Crust
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 15 whole crackers)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 7 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
Lemon Cheesecake
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 16 oz cream cheese, at room temperature (I used full fat)
- 2 eggs, at room temperature
- ½ cup sour cream, at room temperature (I used full fat)
- ¼ cup heavy (whipping) cream, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoon lemon extract paste (see note)
Whipped Cream
- 1 cup heavy (whipping) cream
- 3 Tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (see note)
Garnish (if desired)
- lemon slices
- raspberries
Instructions
For Raspberry Sauce:
- Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the raspberries start to fall apart and the mixture starts to thicken, 15-20 minutes. You want the sauce to be thin enough to swirl into the cheesecake, but not runny. If it gets too thick, you can thin it out with a little water. Allow to cool slightly.
For Crust:
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a 9" springform pan (see note) and set aside.
- Combine graham crackers and sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Process until finely ground.
- Add melted butter and pulse to incorporate, making sure the mixture is completely coated in butter. Press the mixture into the bottom and 1-2 inches up the sides of the prepared pan. Set aside.
For Cheesecake:
- Combine the sugar and lemon zest in the bowl of a stand mixer. Run the mixer on low for a few minutes to release the flavor from the zest into the sugar.
- Add the cream cheese and mix on low speed at first, then increase to medium until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add eggs, one at a time, allowing the first egg to incorporate before adding the second. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add sour cream, heavy cream, and lemon extract paste (see note). Mix to incorporate.
- Pour half the filling into the prepared crust and top with dollops of half the raspberry sauce. Pour in the remaining cheesecake filling, and dollop the top with the remaining raspberry sauce. With a thin knife, swirl the raspberry sauce throughout the cheesecake. Make sure that your knife is deep enough in the cheesecake to swirl throughout, but not so deep as to disturb the crust.
- Wrap the bottom and up the sides of the pan in at least two layers of heavy-duty foil to keep the water bath out of the cheesecake (see note on springform pan).
- Place the cheesecake in a water bath (see notes) in the preheated oven. Bake until cheesecake is just set, but still wobbly in the center, about 1 hour. Turn off the oven. With the oven door slightly ajar, leave the cheesecake to slowly cool in the oven for 1 hour.
- Remove the pan from the oven and run a thin knife around the edge of the cheesecake to be sure it is released from the pan. Allow the cheesecake to cool on a rack to room temperature. Once at room temperature, chill the cheesecake in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight).
For Whipped Cream:
- Place cold heavy cream and powdered sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Start the mixer on low speed, and gradually increase the speed to high. Whip until the cream thickens and forms peaks. Add vanilla bean paste (see note), and mix to incorporate.
- Pipe or dollop the whipped cream onto the chilled cheesecake. Garnish with lemon slices and raspberries, if desired.Enjoy!
Notes
Note on raspberries: I used fresh raspberries. If you choose to use frozen berries, the raspberry sauce may turn out a bit thinner and need to be cooked longer to be the appropriate consistency to swirl into the cheesecake.
If you choose, you may use a store-bought raspberry jam and add some lemon zest to it. Again, be mindful of the consistency. If too thick to swirl, you can thin it with a bit of water or lemon juice.
Note on lemon extract paste: For a punch of lemon flavor without adding much liquid! If you'd like, you can substitute with an equal measure of lemon juice, it just may not be quite as lemony.
Note on springform/"push" pan: This recipe uses a standard 9" springform pan. I use a 9" "push pan" with silicone seal that I LOVE, but they're hard to find anymore! This pan's bottom is waterproof. This recipe requires a water bath, and you can just set the pan right down in the water with no leaking! I was able to find an 8" Push Pan, which will still work, you just may need to bake the cheesecake a few minutes longer.
Note on vanilla bean paste: I love the kick of vanilla flavor and the beautiful vanilla bean flecks from vanilla bean paste! If you'd prefer, you can substitute with an equal measure of vanilla extract.
Recipe
Notes on water bath: Baking the cheesecake in a water bath helps to ensure gentle, even baking and helps to avoid cracks in the top of your cheesecake.
I place my pan into a larger roasting pan in the oven, then fill the roasting pan with hot water about halfway up the side of the cheesecake pan (be careful that you don't pour any water into the cheesecake!).
If you're using a conventional springform pan, you will need to wrap the bottom of the pan in at least two layers of heavy duty foil prior to placing it in the water bath. If you prefer not to wrap your pan and place it directly into the water, you could try putting a pan of water on the rack below the cheesecake. It won't provide the same insurance policy as baking it in the water bath, but it will help.
Safety notes: Always fill the pan while it's in the oven (I use a large pitcher) so you don't have to cross your kitchen with a large pan of hot water. Similarly, remove only the cheesecake from the oven once it's done baking, and not the whole roaster. Leave the larger pan with the hot water in the oven to cool before attempting to remove it.
Tried this recipe?I'd love to hear all about it! Leave a review below, then snap a pic and tag me on Instagram!
Sara
I made this for our family's Easter, and it was so smooth and creamy! Just loved the flavors.
Amee
Aw, I'm honored that you made one of my recipes for your Easter celebration! I'm so happy you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for your review, Sara!