Strawberry Cheesecake

the world's most popular cheesecake flavor from the Cheesecake Factory

Out of all the 32 cheesecake factory flavors, strawberry has to be the most vanilla (next to the Original and low-licious). It’s definitely not a flavor I would personally order at the Cheesecake Factory when there are 30+ other options staring me down. But, I recently discovered it’s actually the most ordered cheesecake on their menu!

So I have to respect it.

This is episode two of my Cheesecake Factory series, and I chose to make this flavor next because the cheesecake itself has nothing to hide behind. No raspberry swirl, tuxedo mousse, or crazy Oreo overload to hide to carry the flavor. Just cheesecake and strawberries. So if you can nail this one, you can nail any of them. This is the test for making a perfectly executed Cheesecake Factory cheesecake.

And I think this one passes. And if you remove the strawberries and just add whipped cream, BOOM, you just made the Original Cheesecake flavor. So consider this recipe a 2-for-1 special.

---

Recipe Info

Yield: 1 (9”) cheesecake

Oven Temp: 320°F

Bake Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Chill Time: Minimum 6 hours, preferably overnight

---

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crust

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs

• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

• 2 tbsp granulated sugar

Cheesecake Batter

• 32 oz full-fat cream cheese, softened

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• ½ tsp salt

• ½ cup sour cream

• 4 large eggs, room temperature

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• ¼ tsp agar agar powder

• ¼ cup heavy cream

• ¼ cup sour cream (for the agar agar mixture)

Whipped Cream

• 1 cup heavy cream, cold

• ⅓ cup powdered sugar

Strawberry Glaze

• 2 cups strawberries, divided

• ¾ cup granulated sugar

• 1 lemon, juiced

• 3 tbsp water

• 3 tsp cornstarch