There’s just something truly exceptional about the texture of creme fraîche, it’s silky smooth and adds a very subtle tang and tartness to the mix, which complements the fresh strawberries perfectly. I simmered the strawberries with some balsamic and sugar, then pureed the mixture to make a strawberry concentrate, some of which I mixed into the cheesecake mixture and some I saved to smear on top of the cheesecake once it was finished baking. For the cheesecake crust, I made a simple graham cracker one with butter, sugar, and graham cracker crumbs. You could fancy it up with some cinnamon or nutmeg if you want, but it’s plain old delicious as-is. I also tossed some black peppercorns into the mix for a little kick, it came out really subtle in the end so you could increase it if you want the flavor to be super punchy (I liked the little hint of it though, really let the flavor of the strawberries shine through). This little cheesecake is the perfect use for the season’s first strawberries, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did 🙂

Strawberry Balsamic Creme Fraîche Cheesecake
Ingredients
Cheesecake
- 8 ounces fresh strawberries (thinly sliced with caps removed plus more whole for garnish)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon quality balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 16 ounces cream cheese
- 16 ounces Vermont Creamery creme fraîche
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 eggs
Graham Cracker Crust
- 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 3 ounces unsalted butter (melted)
Instructions
Cheesecake
For the cheesecake, mix the sliced strawberries, sugar, balsamic vinegar, and peppercorns together in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, until the strawberries have softened and released some of their juices. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool for 10 minutes before pureeing in a blender or food processor until smooth and the peppercorns are crushed. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the cream cheese, creme fraîche, and sugar at medium speed until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to medium low and add the eggs, one at a time, making sure each egg is completely incorporated and scraping down the sides of the bowl before adding the next egg. Add all but 1/3 cup of the strawberry puree to the cheesecake mixture and stir to incorporate. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9-inch wide and at least 2 and 1/2-inch deep springform cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper. Cut the parchment paper into strips as wide as the depth of your springform pan and line the sides with them, as well.
Crust
For the crust, mix together the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter in a medium bowl until sand-like in texture. Empty the bowl into the bottom of the springform pan and press it into an even layer at the bottom. Place a sheet of tin foil on the bottom of a large casserole pan, then place the the springform pan onto the sheet and push the foil up around the bottom of it (this will help keep water from leaking into the springform pan). Pour water into the casserole pan so that it measures about 1-inch deep, taking care not to splash any into the springform pan. Pour the cheesecake mixture into the springform pan and place the whole casserole dish in the oven. Bake until the top of the cheesecake is golden brown and the cheesecake is still slightly jiggly but set, about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Assembly
Turn the oven off and leave the door ajar to allow it to gradually cool to room temperature, then remove the springform pan from the casserole pan and place the springform pan in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Remove it from the refrigerator and remove the sides of the springform pan and the side pieces of parchment paper. Spread the reserved 1/3 cup of the strawberry puree over the cheesecake and top with the desired amount of fresh strawberries. Serve immediately.
This looks INSANELY DELICIOUS. Can't wait for you to reveal! And I can't wait for all your home renovations to be done. It's going to look amazing. It's so exciting that Carey is coming to town!
Looks delicious! I love your photography 🙂
This is so beautiful – my strawberries are almost ready in the garden and I will have to make this. I love the combination of strawberry and balsamic vinegar.
This looks perfect and I love the photos so much. Well done.
ooooooh this one looks so good!! I'm not a huge fan of NY style cheesecakes, so this would be a better option for me, for sure!!
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What a beautiful homage to those first strawberries – and Vermont creamery's amazing creme fraiche! Now I'm desperately craving a dose of spring in my breakfast.
Great article. I read this article properly. This is one of the best posts. Thanks sharing this article
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Those strawberries are just stunning!!!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Perfect summer desert!
Macey
This cheesecake looks more than great! I'm not sure if I could make it, but I'd try. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Eva, those look absolutely delicious!! OMG thanks so much for sharing
OMG, I want to have a piece of this deliciousness!
Wow, great photography (as always) and the recipe looks so incredibly delicious! My strawberry patch is finally producing this year so I've been hunting down strawberry recipes to use them in and can't wait to try this one. I really hope you reveal that you're doing a workshop in Portland sometimes soon! I'm a fellow Portlander and absolutely LOVE your photography. I'm dying to go to one of your workshops someday! Fingers crossed over here. 🙂
Paris grins ~We have a lot of wild strawberries by our house. We also get blackberries and a lot of other wild berries…
This looks so delicious. Thanks for sharing! We really like your recipes and pictures!
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This beauty is in the oven right now,
and the room is filled with aromas of vanilla and strawberries.. Can’t wait to actually taste it and indulge myself 😘 You’re so talented, and I hope to meet you on a workshop sometime 💕
This is a really super post. Must admit that you are amid the best writer I have read. I appreciate your making the effort to discuss this class of article.
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I am not a huge fan of cheesecake (mainly the store brought kind that’s at parties, so plain, boring and the not so great consistency…) but this looked like a flavorful and interesting option. And it came out amazing!! The only thing I’d do differently next time is bake the crust by itself for a few minutes before adding the batter. Another alteration (not on purpose as the first time making a recipe, I follow it to the letter) was that the only crème fraîche the grocery store had was Madagascar vanilla flavor. But I think it was a happy accident! I’d definitely make this again as it was a big hit 🍓
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