Limoncello Cheesecake

Cut this refreshing, light and decadent cheesecake into small squares or larger ones, and you have the best snack or dessert you can imagine. The limoncello pops in this dessert, and I especially love the light creamy texture. The biscotti makes a flavor enhancing crunchy crust You can make your own limoncello liqueur or use store bought.








Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. spray the bottom of a 9 by 9 by 2-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Break 8 ounces of store bought biscotti (flavor of your choice) into pieces and grind them into fine crumbs in a food processor. Add 6 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter and 1 tablespoon lemon zest. Process until the crumbs are moistened.







Press the crumb mixture over just the bottom of the prepared pan and bake until the crust is golden, about 15 minutes. Place pan on a cooling rack and cool the crust completed.











Clean the food processor bowl and blend 12 ounces of whole milk ricotta (drain if necessary first) until smooth. Add two 8-ounce packages of room temperature cream cheese and 1 1/4 cup sugar, and blend well, stopping if necessary occasionally to scrape down the sides.










Blend in 1/2 cup limoncello, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and 2 tablespoons lemon zest.













Add 4 large eggs and pulse until just blended.














Pour the cheese mixture over the cooled crust in the pan. Place the baking pan in a large roasting pan and pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the smaller pan.










Bake until the cheesecake for about 1 hour. the middle might wiggle slightly when the pan is gently shaken. This is fine. It will firm up more as it cools.









Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. refrigerate for about 8 hours or even over night so the cheesecake is really cold. Cut the cake into small squares as a snack, or in large squares for a plated dessert.