Faye's Fourth Of July Cheesecake

Faye  make this EVERY year on the Fourth of July. My family looks forward to it and the little ones love to help decorate the top. It's one of my favorite traditions. I hope you like it!

What a classic! Faye's cheesecake is both delicious AND fun. This would look great on any table... picnic or otherwise.

TIP: I prefer a fairly solid crust, so I chose to bake the crust for 10 minutes at 350. Turned out great.

 

Ingredients

3 c	vanilla wafers
4 Tbsp	butter, melted
3 Tbsp	sugar substitute
1 pkg	unflavored gelatin (1 envelope)
1 c	milk
16 oz	cream cheese, softened
2 Tbsp	lemon juice
1 Tbsp	grated lemon rind
2 tsp	vanilla extract
1/3 c	sugar
1 pt	blueberries
2 pt	raspberries

 

Directions

 

Mix vanilla wafer crumbs, butter and 3 tablespoons sugar (to taste) in medium bowl; pat evenly on bottom of jelly roll pan, 15 x 10 inches.

 

Sprinkle gelatin over milk in small saucepan; let stand 2 to 3 minutes. Heat over medium low heat, stirring constantly, until gelatin is dissolved. Cool to room temperature.

 

Beat cream cheese until fluffy in large bowl; gradually beat in milk mixture. Beat in lemon juice and rind, vanilla and remaining sugar. Pour mixture over crust; refrigerate until set, 3 to 4 hours.

 

Before serving, decorate to look like a flag, using the blueberries for the stars, the raspberries for the stripes.