Add a little sunshine to your day in the form of this sweet tart meyer lemon cheesecake topped with meyer lemon curd!
Meyer Lemon Cheesecake

You know, in some ways I kind of feel like I’m failing at this pregnancy thing.

Okay, in one particular way, to be precise: CRAVINGS. And the fact that I have had barely any!!!!!

WHO AM I. I don’t even know.

Meyer Lemon Cheesecake

Sure, I spent my first trimester really liking cheese, and I ate a few pickles along the way but there hasn’t really been a moment where I felt like I had to have something or else someone would be in danger of losing a limb.

Until the day the.boy came home from his cousin’s wedding that I couldn’t attend because I had to work all day and told me all about the cheesecake he had for dessert.

If looks could kill.

To say that I immediately dragged him to the nearest grocery store on a cheesecake run – UNDERSTATEMENT.

If I could have convinced him that it was reasonable to take a helicopter across the street so we could get there faster…I would have.

Meyer Lemon Cheesecake

Aaaannnnndddd I’ve pretty much been craving cheesecake ever since.

But we’re not here to today to talk about my pregnancy cravings, we’re here to talk about those of my good friend Audra (aka The Baker Chick) who is also pregnant and due just a few weeks before me! She is expecting her second child (a girl!!) in March and I am so excited for her on so many levels, one of which is my (slightly selfish) excitement that our little girls will be so close in age and will obviously be best friends.

In addition to our eerily close-in-proximity due dates, Audra and I also share a love of all things brunch! She has all sorts of fabulous brunchy treats on her blog, like this Braided Lemon Cheesecake Bread and these Brown Butter Cinnamon Rolls, so a few of her blog friends and I decided to get together and throw a Virtual Baby Shower that centered around this universally loved meal!

I’m not sure that cheesecake is officially a brunch food, but I certainly wouldn’t turn down a slice no matter when it was served. Especially not when it’s velvety smooth with a sweet-tart twist from lemon-sugar and lemon juice in the filling and a luscious lemon curd on top.

It’s the stuff that pregnancy cravings are made of – I can attest to that.

Meyer Lemon Cheesecake

Meyer Lemon Cheesecake
 
Add a little sunshine to your day in the form of this sweet tart meyer lemon cheesecake topped with meyer lemon curd!
Yield: 1 9-inch cheesecake
Ingredients
For the crust
  • 5 oz honey graham bear cookies
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 4 tbsp melted butter, warm
For the cheesecake
  • 1¼ cups granulated sugar, divided
  • 1 tablespoon grated meyer lemon zest
  • ¼ cup meyer lemon juice
  • 1½ pounds cream cheese, room temperature
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon table salt
  • ½ cup heavy cream
For the lemon curd
  • ⅓ cup meyer lemon juice
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch cubes and chilled
  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream
  • pinch table salt
Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 325F.
  2. For the crust, in a food processor, pulse the cookies until finely ground, about 30 seconds. Add the sugar and pulse a few times to incorporate. With the motor still running, slowly pour in the melted butter. Pulse until the mixture is damp and resembles wet sand. Transfer to a 9-inch springform pan and use a ramekin or small cup to press it evenly into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until fragrant and golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool. When cool, line the bottom of the pan with aluminum foil. Set on top of a baking sheet.
  3. While the crust is cooling, making the filling. In a food processor, process ¼ cup of the sugar with the lemon zest until the sugar is yellow, about 15 seconds. Pour into a bowl and stir together with the remaining sugar.
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on low to break up slightly, about 5 seconds. Add in the lemon sugar mixture with the mixer running on low. Increase the speed to medium and beat until creamy and smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add in the eggs, two at a time, mixing well and scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add in the lemon juice, vanilla, and salt, mixing until combined. Add in the heavy cream and mix until just incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and give the batter a final stir to combine.
  5. Pour the filling into the prepared springform pan. Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until the edges are puffed out and the center jiggles only slightly. Turn off the oven and stick a wooden spoon in the door to prop it open, leaving the cheesecake inside. Allow to cool like this for at least an hour. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely to room temperature.
  6. While the cheesecake bakes and cools, make the meyer lemon curd. Heat the lemon juice in a small, nonreactive saucepan until hot but not boiling. Remove from the heat. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and the sugar. Whisking constantly, slowly pour the hot lemon juice into the egg-sugar mixture. Return to the saucepan and cook mixture over medium heat, whisking constantly, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes. Remove pan from the heat and stir in the cold butter, heavy cream, and salt. Pour onto the top of the cheesecake and spread evenly.
  7. Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours before serving.
Notes
Adapted very slightly from America's Test Kitchen
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 slice

Audras Shower Image

Don’t forget to check out the rest of our Audra’s Shower menu!

Eggs Benedict Poutine from Warm Vanilla Sugar

Breakfast Quinoa Burrito Bowls from The Spiffy Cookie

Blood Orange Pancakes from Keep It Sweet Desserts

Naked Salted Caramel Layer Cake from Girl Versus Dough

Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf Cake from Steph’s Bite by Bite

Berry Cream Cheese Pastry Swirls from Bake or Break

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34 Responses to Meyer Lemon Cheesecake

  1. First of all, you are WINNING at being fabulously pregnant! And second, cheesecake is totally brunch food. I think it is an actual law. So you have all the lemon and cheesecake deliciousness you have coming to you, mama! xo

  2. Winner winner cheesecake dinner! 🙂

  3. Sues says:

    These cheesecake is GORG!! I have been loving meyer lemon season <3 Hope you're feeling well!

  4. Katrina says:

    You totally just brightened up my morning with this cake! It’s such a stunner and it sounds AMAZING!

  5. Erica says:

    It looks so creamy and that slice is beautiful!!! Lemon curd gives the perfect kick to dessert 🙂

  6. Audra says:

    This looks absolutely fabulous! You know I didn’t even really realize how close our babies will be!!!! That is so exciting! I will leave Hugo at home and we can take the babies to the Cry Baby Matinee on the UES. It’s so fun! I am excited for you to be on maternity leave 🙂

    Anyway- thank you for this beautiful cheesecake which I want right now and for being such a sweet friend. Love you!

  7. CakePants says:

    Cheesecake can *definitely* be a brunch food…in fact, I think it’s any anytime food! This meyer lemon version looks fantastic! I love cheesecake and I love lemon curd, so I’m really not sure why I’ve never had the two together…

  8. This looks totally amazing! I would love a small slice as the dessert :-))

  9. Heather says:

    I can never find Meyer lemons it seems, but now I absolutely have to. Cheesecake is my favorite food, hands down.

  10. Saw this on your instagram this morning… can’t wait to try it!

  11. I vote cheesecake be a brunch food from now on! This one is way better than any store bought one Joanne!

  12. Marci says:

    I just got a whole bunch of meyer lemons from Door to Door Organics so this solves the question of what to do with them. Thanks!

  13. This cheesecake looks insane! Love how the meyer lemon is in both the cheesecake filling and the curd on top 🙂 Pinning!

  14. Kate says:

    It is fantastic to have babies close in age with friends. It makes the whole thing more enjoyable.

  15. I need this cheesecake and I’m not even pregnant!

  16. Pam says:

    I craved pasta, milk, and seafood. Weird, huh? I also gained way too much weight. Maybe it’s a blessing you aren’t having major cravings!

    The cheesecake looks amazing.

  17. I’m definitely on board with cheesecake for brunch! Especially this one!

  18. Christine says:

    Oh yes…this wonderful cheesecake for brunch (and breakfast, lunch and dinner too)! I really miss not having a Meyer lemon tree 🙁 that was such a treat!

  19. Beth says:

    Gorgeous cheesecake! I think I’m craving it now, too.

  20. First of all, cream cheese = brunch food, therefore cheesecake = brunch food. Simple math!

    Second, what is it about cheesecake cravings? I never really get excited about cheesecake until all the sudden I need it that minute (and nothing to do with pregnancy over here).

  21. Well, if this doesn’t have my number all over it, I don’t know what does. I would totally kill for a slice. And also? My meyer lemon tree is such an under-achiever this year…I am so upset!

  22. P says:

    I can see how anyone can have a craving for this….pregnant or not!

  23. Krista says:

    This cheesecake is gorgeous!! What a lovely way to use Meyer Lemons. 🙂

  24. What a gorgeous cheesecake! I wish I had a slice in front of me right now!

  25. cheri says:

    Beautiful cheesecake Joanne, I can see why you are craving this.

  26. I definitely don’t object to a bit of cheesecake every day! This one is gorgeous, Joanne!

  27. i have not explored citrusy fruit this year..#failing

  28. Jessie says:

    You are totally winning, Joanne! I didn’t have any cravings, either, and I consider myself winning in all respects 😉 This cheesecake rocks, and I definitely consider it brunch food!

  29. This cheesecake is beyond. I am obsessed with lemon cheesecake. It’s my favorite cheesecake ever! I used to get one for lunch every day when I worked near a Pret a Manger. But then my doctor told me I couldn’t have cheesecake cause they don’t bake theirs in the UK and I was devastated! I’m so glad you get to enjoy this cheesecake and and Audra’s little baby girl!!! (and yes, cheesecake is totally brunch food! )

  30. Zainab says:

    Of course those babies will be best friends!! Foodies and classy girls they will be. This meyer lemon cheesecake is amazing and I am not pregnant but craving it!

  31. I’d be all for having cheesecake for brunch. This looks amazing! Even though I am not pregnant, I think I will be craving this all day today!

  32. Sarah says:

    Oh man, citrus has been exploding like crazy here in SoCal. I definitely need to make this! Pinning 🙂

  33. That looks incredible! I can understand craving a treat like this 🙂 Love the use of Meyer lemons, those are so good!

  34. That bright lemon flavor in a cheesecake sounds wonderful! Problem is, I have no will power and would devour the whole thing.

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