CHEESECAKE FROM THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY RECIPES

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.
• Brush a 10 inch springform pan with some of the butter;stir remaining butter into graham cracker crumbs with 1/4 cup sugar and pinch salt.
• Press mixture into bottom and up sides of pan , packing it tightly and evenly.
• Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Cool on rack, then wrap outside of springform pan with heavy duty foil and place in a roasting pan.
• Bring a medium pot of water to boil.
• Meanwhile beat cream cheese with a mixer until smooth; add remaining 2 1/2 cups sugar and beat until just light, scraping down sides of bowl and beaters as needed.
• Beat in the sour cream, then add pumpkin, eggs, vanilla, 1 teaspoon salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves and beat until just combined; pour into cooled crust.
• Without pulling rack out, gently place roasting pan in oven and pour boiling water into roasting pan until it comes about halfway up side of springform pan.
• Bake until outside of cheesecake sets but center is still loose, about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
• Turn off oven and open door briefly to let out some heat.
• Leave cheesecake in oven for 1 more hour, then carefully remove from roasting pan and cool on a rack.
• Run a knife around edges of springform pan, cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Bring cheesecake to room temperature 30 minutes before serving.
• Unlock and remove springform ring.
• To finish, place a dollop of whipped cream on each slice and sprinkile with toasted pecans.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°, and grease an 8" or 9" springform pan with cooking spray. Make the crust: In a large bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar until the mixture resembles wet sand. Press evenly into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared pan. Set aside. Make the filling: In a large bowl using a hand mixer (or in the bowl of a stand mixer), beat cream cheese and sugar at medium speed until smooth and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla and sour cream. Add flour and salt and beat until just combined. Pour the filling over the crust. Cover the bottom of the springform pan with aluminum foil, then place in a large roasting pan. Pour in enough boiling water to come up halfway in the baking pan. Carefully transfer the pan to the oven. Bake cake until just slightly jiggly, or center registers 145°F on a digital thermometer inserted to a depth of 2-inches, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Turn the oven off, prop oven door open, and let cool for 1 hour. Finally, transfer to the fridge and chill until the cake is completely cool, 5 hours and up to overnight. While the cake cools, make the glazed strawberries: Whisk cornstarch and warm water in a small bowl until totally combined. In a medium saucepan, add strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch slurry. Over medium heat, bring mixture to a simmer. Cook until the liquid has thickened to a syrupy texture and it coats the strawberries. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and chill until ready to serve. To serve: top each slice with a few glazed strawberries and a swirl of whip cream