FRESH RASPBERRY AND CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

A summer favourite, this cheesecake is simple, stunning and so moreish, you may have to make a couple just to keep everyone happy. Perfect as a BBQ or summer picnic pudding, it can also be made in individual sizes for more prim and proper entertaining occasions.

Ingredients:

Base

350g plain chocolate digestive biscuits

125g butter, melted

Filling

700g cream cheese

300ml carton soured cream

4 medium free range eggs

115g  caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 lemon, grated rind

Topping

275ml carton crème fraîche, full fat

Fresh raspberries

Icing sugar

1. Place the biscuits into a plastic freezer bag and crush to fine crumbs with a rolling pin.

2. Melt the butter in a saucepan on the simmering plate setting and mix with the biscuit crumbs. Line the base of a 23cm spring form tin and press the crumb mixture into the base.

3. Place in the refrigerator while you make the filling.

4. Beat together the cream cheese, soured cream, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and lemon rind until smooth. Pour onto the biscuit base.

5. Place onto the grid shelf placed on the floor of the baking oven (or oven on B3 setting) and cook for about 45 minutes or until just set in the centre.

6. Cool the cheesecake then place in the refrigerator – do not worry if a crack appears, it will be covered up by the topping.

7. Remove the spring form tin side and use a wide palette knife to place the cheesecake onto a serving plate. Spread over the crème fraîche and decorate with fresh raspberries.

8. Sprinkle with a little icing sugar and serve.