Description
A refreshing and elegant cheesecake featuring a nutty pistachio crust, a creamy citrus-infused filling, sweet fresh cherries, and a glossy cherry preserve topping with crunchy pistachios.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups pistachio nuts, finely ground
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of 1 lime
- Zest of 1 lime
- 1 cup fresh cherries, pitted and halved
- ½ cup cherry preserve
- ½ cup pistachios, roughly chopped
- Fresh cherries for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Mix ground pistachios, melted butter, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Press into a 9-inch springform pan and bake for 10–12 minutes. Cool completely.
- In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Mix in sour cream, flour, lemon juice and zest, lime juice and zest.
- Gently fold in pitted and halved cherries.
- Pour the filling over the cooled crust. Bake for 50–60 minutes until edges are set and center jiggles slightly. Turn off oven, crack door, and let it cool inside for 1 hour.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight until set.
- Warm cherry preserve in a saucepan until smooth. Spread over cheesecake. Sprinkle with chopped pistachios and garnish with fresh cherries if desired.
Notes
- Use dairy-free alternatives for cream cheese and sour cream for a lactose-free version.
- Use gluten-free flour for a gluten-free variation.
- Replace pistachios with graham crackers for a nut-free version.
- Avoid overmixing to prevent cracks.
- Allow gradual cooling in the oven to maintain a smooth top.
- Wrap and freeze slices for up to 2 months.
- Use a water bath for a creamier texture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 26g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: lemon lime cherry cheesecake, pistachio crust cheesecake, summer dessert, cherry preserve topping, citrus cheesecake