Ingredients
Homemade Graham Crackers
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp Ballerina Farm coarse grey french salt
- 7 Tbsp butter softened
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 3 Tbsp milk
- 1/3 cup Ballerina Farm raw honey
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Homemade Crust
- 1 ½ cups homemade graham cracker crumbs
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 7 Tbsp melted butter
Lemon Cheesecake Filling
- 32 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup sugar
- ⅔ cups sour cream
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla
- ⅛ teaspoon Ballerina Farm coarse grey french salt
- 4 eggs
- Zest & juice from 1 large lemon
Directions
Homemade Graham Crackers
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
- In a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).
- Add the dry mixture and mix until incorporated.
- Mix in the milk, honey and vanilla extract.
- Once a dough forms, divide the dough in two and chill for at least one hour.
- Preheat oven to 350F/176C.
- Place one ball of dough on a sheet of parchment paper and flour your rolling pin.
- Working from the center out, roll the dough very thin.
- Flip onto another piece of parchment paper that is lining a cookie sheet. Peel away the top piece of parchment paper.
- Repeat with remaining dough.
- Score each sheet of dough into twelve rectangles and prick mini holes inside each rectangle with a fork.
- Bake for 12 minutes or until crackers and firm and darkened.
- Once out of the oven, cut along the pre-scored lines with a knife. Cool to room temperature on the baking sheets.
Homemade Crust
- Preheat oven to 325F/160C
- Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, brown sugar, butter and mix.
- Pour crumbs into a 9” Springform pan and press firmly on the bottom and the sides.
- Place in the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes. Take out and set aside for your cheesecake filling.
Lemon Cheesecake Filling
- In a large bowl (or a stand mixer) mix the cream cheese until whipped. Then add the sugar and stir until well combined.
- Add sour cream, vanilla, salt, and mix well.
- Add the eggs and stir until incorporated.
- Pour cheesecake batter into a springform pan with the prepared crust.
- Bake for about 1 hr and 15 minutes or until edges have slightly puffed and may have just begun to turn a light golden brown, but the center is not completely firm.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool and remove from pan.
- Enjoy with fresh berries or on its own!