Goat Cheesecake

Photo: flickr user william.neuheisel

Ingredients

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

4 tablespoons butter, melted

2 pounds cream cheese, at room temperature

1 1/2 cups sour cream (12 oz)

1 1/2 cups creamy goat cheese (12 oz), at room temperature

2 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons freshly-squeezed lime juice

2 tablespoons Grand Marnier

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix graham cracker crumbs with butter in a small bowl until thoroughly blended; press crumbs firmly on bottom of a greased 9-inch springform pan with your fingers.

Beat cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer until thick, smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes. Beat in 1 cup of the sour cream, the goat cheese, eggs and sugar, and continue beating until mixture is very smooth and creamy, 4 to 5 minutes. Beat in vanilla and lime juice until thoroughly incorporated, 2 minutes more.

Pour filling over crust and smooth top. Bake until filling is brown and springy-firm, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.

Combine Grand Marnier with the remaining 1/2 cup sour cream in a small bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Spread on top of cooled cake.

Remove cheesecake from refrigerator about 2 hours before serving. To serve, cut cake in wedges with a warm knife.