Margarita Cheesecake

Total Time: 10 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 10 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 1/2 cups pretzel crumbs
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled
• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup tequila
• 1/4 cup triple sec or 1/4 cup other orange-flavored liqueur
• lime slice, fresh strawberries

Recipe

• 1 combine pretzel crumbs and butter; firmly press on bottom and 1 1/2 inches up sides of a 9-inch springform pan. bake at 325 degrees for 8-10 minutes; set aside.
• 2 place strawberries in container of electric blender; process until smooth, stopping once to scrape down sides. reserve 1/2 c puree.
• 3 beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. gradually add sugar, beating well. add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. stir in lime juice, tequila and liqueur.
• 4 pour into prepared pan. pour reserved strawberry puree on top in a circle and gently swirl batter with a knife.
• 5 bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes (center will be soft). remove from oven and run knife around edge of pan to release sides.
• 6 return to oven; turn oven off and leave cheesecake in oven 30 minutes.
• 7 remove from oven and let cool completely on a wire rack. remove from pan; cover with plastic wrap and chill 8 hours. do not cover with foil! garnish, if desired.