HEYHI it's cheesecake time!!! You know how excited I get when I make cheesecake. It's definitely a pat myself on the back moment. My newest addition: the lemon lavender mascarpone cheesecake 😍.
Now what on Earth possessed me to make a cheesecake in August? WHO is using the oven for that long in the heat of summer? First off, it was my mom's birthday so s new, delicious baked good was in order. Secondly, Seattle is fabulously mild and misty and the weather cooled down just in time for this beauteous dessert.
I'm absolutely in love with this cheesecake and am honestly shocked at it's level of deliciousness. It's wonderfully creamy with just the right amount of lemon zing and a subtle hint of lavender in both the filling and the whipped cream topping. Oh and of course, the graham cracker crust.
To my surprise, this lemon lavender mascarpone cheesecake is the first one I've done with a straight graham cracker crust. My dark chocolate raspberry cheesecake and triple chocolate cheesecake both have chocolate crusts!
My secret to the perfect crust? A liiiittle more butter than most other recipes call for. I use almost a ½ cup and I'm not even remotely sorry. It helps the crust stick together better and honestly makes it one of the best parts of the cake.
As always, I've included a topping in case the top of the cheesecake cracks. A little tip? Err on the side of under cooked to keep it from cracking! If it does crack, I've got some handy dandy lavender whipped cream you can "whip" up and spread on top. Also it's delicious in it's own right so you might as well add it 😎.
Lemon lavender mascarpone cheesecake recipe below!
Lemon Lavender Mascarpone Cheesecake
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 1 cheesecake 1x
Description
The perfect warm weather, light, airy, yet decadent cheesecake with tons of lemon flavor and a hint of lavender.
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 1 ½ cups finely crushed graham crackers
- ⅓ cup white sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the Filling
- 16 ounces cream cheese
- 16 ounces mascarpone cheese
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lavender extract
- 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs
- Lemon slices, lavender buds for garnish
For the Lavender Whipped Cream
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon lavender extract
Get Recipe Ingredients
Instructions
Make the Crust
- Preheat oven to 350˚F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan. Cover the sides with foil to protect against the water bath used to cook the cheesecake.
- In a medium bowl, combine crushed graham crackers, sugar, butter, and cinnamon together until thoroughly mixed.
- Using a flat-bottomed surface, press the graham cracker mixture onto the bottom of the pan.
- Place the pan on a middle rack in the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool. Lower the heat to 325˚F.
Make the Filling
- Using the paddle attachment of a stand mixer or a hand mixer and a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese and mascarpone cheese. Mix on a medium speed until smooth.
- Add the sugar slowly and mix until smooth.
- Add the vanilla extract, lavender extract, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt and mix until smooth.
- On a slow speed, add the eggs one at a time, mixing until just combined.
- Slowly pour the filling mixture on top of the cooled crust.
- Place the foil covered spring form pan in a roasting pan and put on the middle rack in the oven. Fill with water half way up the pan.
- Bake for 60 to 75 minutes, until edges are set and the center of the cheesecake is still slightly jiggly.
- Leaving the cheesecake in the oven, turn off the heat and pop the oven door open an inch for another 60 minutes, to let the cheesecake cool down slowly and reduce the chance of cracking.
- Take the cheesecake out of the roasting pan and chill in the fridge overnight.
- To remove the cheesecake from the pan, run a paring knife around the sides. Open the pan and remove the ring.*
Make the Topping
- Make the lavender whipped cream: In a large mixing bowl, whisk heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and lavender extract.
- Top with lavender whipped cream, lemon slices, and lavender buds. Chill until ready to serve.
Notes
If you want to remove the bottom of the pan, briefly heat up the underside above a stove burner or using a creme brûlée torch. Gently slide a knife or spatula underneath to release the bottom and slide off onto the serving plate.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
Heather says
Where do the raspberries come into the recipe...?
Aberdeen says
Whoops! They don't 😅, removed from the recipe. Thank you for pointing this out!
Kitty says
Where do you find lavender extract? Can you make your own?
Aberdeen says
I actually got mine at Lavender Wind, a lavender farm on Whidbey Island 🤣. It's also where I got my baking lavender buds. They have an online shop where you can order their products (https://shop.lavenderwind.com/food/extracts/). You can also lavender extract from Amazon!
Maddy says
I am making small cheesecakes for a party and wanted to use this recipe if they are going to be in 3.5 inch molds about how long to bake them ?
Bella Bontrager says
Made this for a friend's birthday. I'm not a fan of lemon or lavender but this cheesecake is AMAZING!!! It is also much easier than you would expect. I highly recommend making!
Bella says
Amazing!!
Denise says
I made this recipe and it's a 10/10 I love it!
Kelley Wilburn says
I don't have a lemon, but I do have limes. How do you think that would taste?
Sue says
I made it! It’s delicious!
Lee says
I don't have any lavender extract !! What would the substitution be for dried lavender ?
Beth Primeau says
Exceptionally good! Easy and it looks so pretty. Only suggestion is to double the whipped cream and use leftover to top fruit salad.
Audrey says
I've made this cheesecake probably 5+ times in the last year. It is a crowd pleaser at every party and my family's favorite. People always ask me for the recipe after they have a bite. You have to try it!!
Taylor Sylva says
Made this for Easter dinner with my in-laws! First "real" cheesecake I've ever made and it was super easy! The batter tasted AMAZING when I sampled it-- wish me luck for tonight's meal!
Aberdeen says
😊😊😊 so glad it worked out for you, hope your Easter dinner went well!
Kimberly says
This is the best cheesecake EVER! I made my own lavender extract since we have a lavender from in town. This is the cheesecake that I most often get requested to make. The lavender flavor is light but there and it is so light and fluffy. Highly recommend. Thank you.
K.H. says
I want to make this cake for my sisters birthday. But i‘m used to work with measures in g, dag, etc., so i‘m not quite sure how much „1 1/2 Cups“ are f.ex.?
What would that be in grams?
Thanks!