Ingredients
- 6 eggs (separated)
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 1/4 cups strawberries hulled (fresh)
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1/2 cup key lime juice
- 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 3 teaspoons lime rind (grated)
- 3 packages cream cheese
Combine first 3 ingredients, and firmly press mixture onto bottom and 1" up sides of a buttered 9" springform pan.
Bake at 350F degrees for 8 minutes; cool.
Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add 1 1/4 cups sugar, beating well. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in sour cream, rind, and juice.
Beat egg whites at high speed until stiff peaks form; fold into cream cheese mixture. Pour batter into crust.
Bake at 350F degrees for 1 hour and 5 minutes; turn oven off. Partially open oven door; let cheesecake cool in oven 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and immediately run a knife around sides of cheesecake to loosen. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack; cover and refrigerate 8 hours. Serve with Strawberry-Butter Sauce.
Strawberry-Butter Sauce: Position knife blade in food processor bowl; add strawberries. Process until smooth, stopping once to scrape down sides.