What You Need:
- 24 ounces cream cheese
- 4 eggs
- 2 ¼ cups granulated sugar PLUS
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 5 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon peel, freshly grated (optional)
- 16 graham cracker squares
- ¼ cup confectioners' sugar
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 8 ounces sour cream
- 6 drops green food coloring
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 10 ounces strawberries, crushed
- 6 drops red food coloring
- Red silk flowers
How to Make It:
- Combine cream cheese, eggs, 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla, lemon peel and 4 teaspoons lemon juice. Mix for 20 minutes at medium speed with electric mixer.
- Crush crackers and combine with confectioners' sugar and melted butter. Press into bottom of 2-piece removable-bottom angel food cake pan to form crust. (Do not line sides of pan with crust.)
- Pour cheese mixture into pan on top of crust and bake 35-40 minutes in 350° F oven. Cool for 30 minutes. Frost with sour cream which has been mixed with ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and green food coloring.
- Return to 425° F oven for 7-10 minutes. Chill in refrigerator at least 6 hours.
- At least 8 hours before cake is to be served, remove from pan. Combine cornstarch, ⅔ cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, red food coloring and crushed strawberries in a saucepan. Cook until thick and glossy, stirring constantly. Cool, pour on cake and chill in refrigerator until cake is to be served. Garnish the hole in the center with silk flowers.