Red Velvet Cheesecake

Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine, melted
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup whole buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon distilled vinegar
• 2 (1 ounce) bottles red food coloring
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Recipe

• 1 stir together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar; press mixture into bottom of a 9 inch springform pan.
• 2 beat 3 packages of cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar at medium-low speed for 1 minute.
• 3 add eggs and next 6 ingredients, mixing on low speed just until fully combined.
• 4 pour batter into prepared crust.
• 5 bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes; reduce heat to 300 degrees and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until center is firm.
• 6 run a knife along outer edge of cheesecake.
• 7 turn oven off.
• 8 let the cheesecake stand in oven for 30 minutes.
• 9 remove cheesecake from oven; cool in pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes.
• 10 cover and chill 8 hours.
• 11 beat 3 oz cream cheese and 1/2 cup butter at medium speed until smooth; gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla beating until smooth.
• 12 spread evenly over top of chilled cheesecake.
• 13 remove sides of springform pan.