Fine Fixin’s: Top Shelf Margarita Cheesecake

As you’re probably aware, Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner. Let’s not kid ourselves here, Cinco de Mayo is really just an excuse for margaritas. If you are a bit tired of the ordinary margarita, or if you are looking to take your margarita enthusiasm even further, we have just the recipe for you. A cheesecake that tastes like a margarita. Yes, it tastes like a margarita, and yes, it’s really good.

Top-Shelf Margarita Cheesecake

Cornmeal Crust

• 1/2 C unsalted butter
• 1/4 C sugar
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/4 tsp coarse salt

Margarita Cheesecake

• 3 (8oz) packages cream cheese
• 1 C sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 C lime juice
• 2 Tbsp tequila
• 2Tbsp Cointreau
• Zest of Half a lime

Margarita Whipped Cream

• 1 C heavy cream
• 1/2 C confectioners’ sugar
• 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
• 2 Tbsp tequila
• 2 Tbsp Cointreau

Garnish

• 3 limes, sliced soaked in 1 c simple syrup

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350F. Grease bottom and sides of a 9″ spring-form pan.
• In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar 3 to 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour, cornmeal, and salt and mix to combine. Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan and bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool.
• For the cheesecake: IN a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar and beat 4 to 5 minutes, or until smotth, Beat in eggs one at a time. Stir in lime juice, tequila, Cointreau, and lime zest.
• Spread mixture into the cooled crust and bake 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 1 hour. Transfer to refrigerator and chill at least 6 hours or overnight.
• For whipped cream: In a mixing bowl, combine cream, confectioners’ sugar, lime juice, tequila, and Cointreau; starting on low speed and gradually increasing to high, beat unti soft peaks form.
• Let the cheesecake sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Spread the margarita cream on top. Drain the lie slices from the syrup. Sprinkle a pinch of coarse salt around the edge of the crust and top the cheesecake with limes.

Source: The excellent and fun Booze Cakes