Gran’s Gifted Cheesecake

Ingredients

For the crust and cream cheese filling

• 1 1/4
  
  cups graham cracker crumbs
  
• 1/4
  
  cup butter, melted
  
• 1/4
  
  cup granulated sugar
  
• 1/4
  
  teaspoon cinnamon
  
• 1
  
  pound softened cream cheese
  
• 1/8
  
  teaspoon almond extract
  
• 1/2
  
  cup granulated sugar
  
• 3
  
  large eggs
  

For the sour cream layer and topping

• 1
  
  pint sour cream
  
• 1/2
  
  cup granulated sugar
  
• 1
  
  teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 1/2
  
  pint heavy whipping cream
  
• 1/4
  
  teaspoon unflavored gelatin
  
• 2
  
  tablespoons granulated sugar
  
• 1
  
  teaspoon vanilla extract
  

Directions

For the crust and cream cheese filling

1. Blend the graham crumbs, melted butter, 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon together and press into the bottom of a 9-inch spring form pan.
2. With an electric mixer beat the cream cheese, almond extract, 1/2 cup sugar, and eggs together, adding the eggs one at a time.
3. Pour the cream cheese filling over the graham crust and bake at 375° F for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.

For the sour cream layer and topping

1. After baking the cream cheese layer, crank up the oven temperature to 475° F. Blend the sour cream, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract together and spread over the cooled cream cheese layer. Return the cake to the 475° F oven for 10 minutes. Remove and cool completely.
2. Once cooled, whip the heavy whipping cream, gelatin, two tablespoons sugar, and one teaspoon vanilla extract. Spread over the top of the cake and chill before serving.