How to Top Cheesecake--With the Season’s Freshest Fruits

This cake, which is easy to assemble, can be made two days ahead (but add the fresh fruit just before serving). It is large enough to feed 12 people, and fancy enough for the most upscale occasion.

BANANA CHEESECAKE WITH FRESH FRUIT

1 pound cream cheese, softened

1 1/4 cups sugar

2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

3 eggs

1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla

Dash salt

1 cup sour cream

2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 cup pureed banana (about 2)

Crust

Topping

2 cups fresh sliced fruit (such as strawberries, peaches, blueberries, raspberries)

Mint sprigs

Place cream cheese in bowl of electric mixer and beat on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add sugar in thin stream. Beat in cornstarch. Add eggs 1 at time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla, salt, sour cream, lemon juice and banana puree. Beat until well incorporated.

Pour filling into Crust. Wrap bottom and sides of pan tightly with large sheet foil. Place pan in larger baking dish and fill baking dish with hot water to depth of 1 inch up sides of springform pan. Bake at 350 degrees on center shelf 45 minutes. Remove cake from oven but retain oven temperature.

Spread Topping over top of baked cheesecake. Bake cheesecake 10 minutes more. Turn off oven and leave cheesecake in oven with door shut 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let cake cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate 6 hours or overnight.

To serve, loosen cake from edges of pan with small knife. Remove sides of pan but not bottom. Place cake on serving plate. Garnish with fresh fruit and mint sprigs. Makes 12 to 14 servings.

Crust

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons light-brown sugar

3/4 cup flour

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

3/4 cup finely chopped pecans

Combine sugars, flour, melted butter, vanilla and pecans. Mix well, then evenly pat onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.

Topping

1 cup sour cream

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Whisk together sour cream, sugar and vanilla.