Secrets from Latil's Landing

 Red Velvet Cheesecake

Ingredients

    1 1/2  cups  chocolate graham cracker crumbs

    1/4  cup  butter, melted

    1  tablespoon  granulated sugar

    3  (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

    1 1/2  cups  granulated sugar

    4  large eggs, lightly beaten

    3  tablespoons  unsweetened cocoa

    1  cup  sour cream

    1/2  cup  whole buttermilk

    2  teaspoons  vanilla extract

    1  teaspoon  distilled white vinegar

    2  (1-ounce) bottles red food coloring

    1  (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

    1/4  cup  butter, softened

    2  cups  powdered sugar

   1  teaspoon  vanilla extract

Preparation

Stir together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar; press mixture into bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.

Beat 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar at medium-low speed with an electric mixer 1 minute. Add eggs and next 6 ingredients, mixing on low speed just until fully combined. Pour batter into prepared crust.

Bake at 325� for 10 minutes; reduce heat to 300�, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until center is firm. Run knife along outer edge of cheesecake. Turn oven off. Let cheesecake stand in oven 30 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven; cool in pan on a wire rack 30 minutes. Cover and chill 8 hours.

Beat 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth; gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until smooth. Spread evenly over top of cheesecake. Remove sides of springform pan.