Very Berry Cheesecake

Ingredients

• Crust * Note - you can also use a premade graham cracker crust to save time.
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter cut into cubes
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup of finely ground almonds
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour

Cheesecake

• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon marmalade jam
• 4 cups blackberries
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin

Topping

• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1 cup blueberries

Directions

Prepare the crust

1. Cream the butter and sugar until smooth.
2. Add the nuts and flour - mix well. Add amaretto and mix until the dough forms a ball. Divide and press the dough evenly into a springform 8 inch pan.
3. Make the crust just a little over 1/4" thick.
4. Allow the dough to rest in the freezer for 30 minutes, or in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
5. Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Put the tart shell on a cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden.
6. Cool for about 5 minutes then carefully remove the tin and cool the shells completely on the rack.

Prepare cheesecake filling

1. Beat together cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Add sour cream, vanilla and jam beat until blended.
2. Combine blackberries and water in blender or food processor. Cover; blend until smooth. Pour into small saucepan.
3. Sprinkle gelatin over blackberry puree in small pan. Mix until dissolved. Cook over low heat, stirring until bubbles around pan edge; cool slightly.
4. Pour gelatin mixture into cream cheese mixture, beating to blend.
5. Pour into crust. Chill for 2 hours.
6. In the meanwhile prepare crunchy streusel for topping.
7. For the topping: Microwave nuts, sugar and butter in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 to 1-1/2 minute or until hot and bubbly, stirring after 1 minute Cool.
8. Sprinkle nut mixture over cheesecake.
9. Just before you are ready to serve - In a small sauce pan, bring blueberries to a simmer with s sprinkle of water. Let soften and thicken before pouring warm over cheesecake.