For a special occasion or to brighten up the end of any meal, serve this strawberry laced cheesecake with strawberries and mint.

Strawberry Cheesecake with Minted Strawberries

Crust:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup melted light butter
1/4 cup SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

Filling:
16 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated
2 large eggs
1/4 cup light sour cream
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped strawberries

Topping:
1 1/2 cups chopped strawberries
8 mint leaves
1/4 cup SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1. For the Cheesecake: Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Wrap the bottom and sides of a 7-inch spring form pan with aluminum foil.
2. Combine crust ingredients in small bowl. Press into pan. Set aside.
3. Beat cream cheese and SPLENDA® Granulated Sweetener in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add eggs, one at a time, and continue to beat slowly until smooth. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add sour cream and vanilla and mix well. Gently fold in strawberries.
4. Pour filling into the crust lined spring form pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
5. Place cheesecake into a large roasting pan. Pour boiling water into the roasting pan until the water reaches halfway up the sides of the spring form pan.
6. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes (cheesecake will still jiggle in center). Allow to cool for 30 minutes and then place in refrigerator to cool completely.
7. For the Topping: Mix all ingredients together. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Stir and serve with cheesecake.

Makes 7 servings. Serving Size: 1 slice (1/7 of cheesecake), 1/4 cup strawberries
Preparation Time: 45 Minutes
Total Time: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/7 of recipe): Calories 350 | Calories from Fat 190 | Fat 21g (sat 11g) | Cholesterol 110mg | Sodium 360mg | Carbohydrates 30g | Fiber 2g | Sugars 13g | Protein 12g

Note: Contest submission by: Gian Flores Ruiz from Mayaguez, PR.

Recipe and photograph courtesy of Splenda, Inc. Splenda® is a no-calorie sweetener made from sugar that is suitable for diabetics. For more information regarding this product, please call 1-800-777-5363 or visit their website at www.splenda.com.