Love and Olive Oil

Strawberry Almond Goat Cheese Cheesecake

Strawberry Almond Goat Cheese Cheesecake

Goat cheese cheesecake. I mean, why not, really? Cream cheese and goat cheese aren’t all that different. I think, when I first envisioned a goat cheesecake I really intended something like this, not the savory tastes-like-a-cheese-dip version I actually made. Lesson learned. Because this version is as tangy and sweet as it is rustic and beautiful.

I was originally going to do a strawberry basil flavor combination (yes, yes, months later I’ve still got basil on the brain), but after tasting the heavenly almond biscotti (from Trader Joe’s) that I chose to use for the crust, I decided that the basil flavor would be lost in the midst. And that strawberry almond was equally as enticing.

Strawberry Almond Goat Cheese Cheesecake

The filling itself is a swirl of plain almond and strawberry. Just a word of warning that baked strawberry does not stay delightfully pink, rather, turns more of an off shade of mauve. If you want pink (and next time, I think the pink would be much prettier), add a few drops of red food coloring to the strawberry batter.

The strawberry flavor, however, comes through loud and clear, tasting like a grown up strawberry milkshake with hints of almond and a slight tang from the goat cheese; however goat cheese skeptics just know that it is very mild and I doubt anyone would guess there was goat cheese in it if they didn’t know. Try it. I think you’ll like it and it might just convert you to the light side.

Strawberry Almond Goat Cheese Cheesecake

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Ingredients:

For Crust:

  • 2 cups finely ground almond biscotti (from about 8 ounces whole cookies), or substitute 1 3/4 cup vanilla wafer crumbs and 1/4 cup almond meal
  • 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted

For Filling:

  • 12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 11 ounces (1 log) goat cheese, room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • pinch salt
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 10 ounces whole fresh or frozen strawberries, thawed and drained if frozen

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
  2. To prepare crust, mix together cookie crumbs and melted butter in a small bowl until evenly moistened. Butter and line the bottom of a 9-by-2-inch deep cake pan with parchment paper; butter parchment (alternatively, you can use a 9-inch-round springform pan if you like). Press crumb mixture into the bottom and 1-inch up the sides of prepared pan and set aside.
  3. To prepare filling, combine cream cheese, goat cheese, sugar, and sour cream, flour, and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until completely smooth and creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, pulsing once or twice after each addition until just incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure there are no large chunks and that all ingredients are incorporated. Stir in vanilla and almond extract.
  4. Pour half of the filling into prepared crust.
  5. Purée strawberries until smooth. Add to remaining filling in food processor and pulse to combine. Pour on top of plain filling in a decorative swirly pattern. Use a butter knife or skewer to create additional swirls in the top of the cheesecake.
  6. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes or until the top is just barely jiggly. Remove from oven and run a thin knife or spatula around the edge to release the cake from the sides of the pan. Turn off the heat and return cake to the oven for another 15 minutes to finish baking. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack; let cool completely to room temperature, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
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480 Comments

  1. I’m a fan on Facebook!

  2. I love making a really simple dip for crackers with goat cheese, chopped dried cranberries, chopped walnuts and a drizzle of honey. It’s so unbelievably delicious, and couldn’t be easier. Plus it feels festive to me!

  3. This looks amazing! Love the flavors. I would love to use goat cheese to make this dish for the holidays, it looks amazing! I also think it’s great tossed with roasted sweet potatoes. Yum!

  4. We’re having a small party for our friends Christmas Eve, and I’m planning on serving thin slices of baguette with goat cheese.

  5. Like Love&Olive OIl on FB!

  6. I love goat cheese stuffed baby bell peppers..drizzled with balsamic glaze!

  7. I’ve all ready got two goat cheese recipes picked out: a goat cheese and herb tart and a roasted beet and goat cheese salad. Goat cheese really goes with anything. I also liked you on facebook. Happy Thanksgiving.

  8. I love goat cheese paired up with some crackers and fruit!

  9. i’d use it to make some homemade ravioli hors d’ouves- yum!

  10. This looks fabulous! I might use goat cheese to make this cheesecake this weekend. However, goat cheese is always good crumbled over salads, on a pizza (especially with pesto and sun-dried tomatoes), and of course, on a delightful cheese tray!

  11. And I’m a fan on Facebook

  12. I love goat cheese with a fig spread on bread or crackers!

  13. I would definitely make this cheesecake with goat cheese!

  14. i would use it on pizza

  15. I like you on Facebook. :)

  16. I follow you on Twitter and Tweeted!

  17. I’m thinking on a pizza. My husband has been requesting pizza for weeks, but I’ve been uninspired. Goat cheese might do the trick!

  18. I love goat cheese very simply served with good bread. I’m also on a cheesecake kick and would try this recipe.

  19. Either a light lunch before festivities, with toasted hearty bread, goat cheese, and some honey. Or as a side dish- roasted butternut squash semi-circles with thyme goat cheese.

  20. I also like you on Facebook!

  21. Call me lame, but my favorite way to have goat cheese is on a cracker, drizzled with honey and sprinkled with toasted slivered almonds. So simple, yet delicious. And an easy hor’douves to prepare for a holiday party.

  22. Wow, this looks amazing! I’ll probably be using goat cheese this season the old fashioned way: as a lovely spread on some good crackers for an appetizer :-)

  23. I also like you on Facebook.

  24. I love goat cheese! On pizzas, in sushi rolls, any way I can get it!

    My current favorite breakfast: whole wheat sesame bagel, toasted, with goat cheese and bacon!

  25. Also, I follow you on Facebook

  26. I’ve never really tried goat cheese, but I know I would make this recipe because I love strawberries!

  27. Mmm goat cheese. It would be perfect in my broccoli casserole or in my butternut squash soup.

  28. I am falling more and more in love with goat cheese. I had the most amazing salad while out to dinner last night. Thinking it would be wonderful as a Christmas dinner side. The salad was fresh spinach and arugula, herbed goat cheese, sliced roma tomatoes, toasted pine nuts, sweet golden raisins and a creamy lemon dressing. So declious!

  29. mmmm I absolutely LOVE goat cheese. This holiday season I will probably be using the most goat cheese in my appitizers. I like pairing it with something fruity and sweet like jam or strawberries on top of crostini.

  30. Goat Cheese Pizza!

  31. We love to stuff jalapenos with goat cheese but my husband is a big cheesecake fan so we were surely try this too.

  32. I will be using it for this cheesecake, definitely! Just got me a new springform pan, so I’m just about ready to try every cheesecake possible :)

  33. I’ve tried to like goat cheese, but the flavor is just too strong for me. I would probably use it to make this cheesecake and give it to a friend of mine who loves goat cheese!

  34. I like your page on fb
    littlegray88 at yahoo dot com

  35. I follow on Facebook.

  36. haha, i use goat cheese in everything :) but i was thinking of stuffing it in some medjool dates (wrapped in proscuitto for a party appetizer!

  37. I have a great recipe for an egg bake that calls for soft goat cheese. It’s delish!

  38. i would use it to spread ontop of some nice crunchy french toast as a snack, with various nuts and herbs mixed in.

  39. I love goat cheese mixed with various items (nuts,cranberries, herbs etc.) to make logs to go with crackers. Add some apple slices or grapes and I’m ready to go!

  40. this recipe looks amazing! i can’t wait to try it out! — on another note, i love goat cheese in salads and slapped on a toasted baguette and smothered with fig jam… kristinmik at gmail

  41. i already “like” you on fb! kristinmik at gmail

  42. I would make goat cheese stuffed dates as an appetizer!

  43. What an awesome idea…. thanks for sharing it!

  44. I’d love to make a delicious salad w/ goat cheese, cranberries and pecans!
    littlegray88 at yahoo dot com

  45. Tweet Tweeted!

  46. Tweeted from @jenmarcus

  47. I’m a fan on FB!

  48. I would want to use goat cheese in a breakfast frittata for Christmas morning! Any combination of cheese and eggs for breakfast is okay by me!

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