GRANNY BARRA'S CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Begin any cheesecake recipe with all the ingredients at room temperature.
• This increases the volume.
• Crust: In a large bowl, combine graham crumbs, sugar, cinnamon and melted butter.
• Mix together until crumbs are moistened with butter; reserve 1/4 cup of this mixture for the topping later.
• Press crumbs into the bottom and sides of a spring pan.
• Wrap the spring pan with a sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil and set aside.
• Filling: Separate eggs; put yolks aside.
• Whip whites with 3 Tbsp.
• sugar until firm but not dry; set aside.
• In a food processor or with electric mixer, whip the cream cheese; add 1-1/2 cups sugar and 3 Tbsp. flour.
• Process until well combined about 2 minutes.
• Add egg yolks, one at a time, mixing continually between yolks.
• Add sour cream and flavoring.
• Process just another minute or two until all the ingredients are fully blended.
• Gently fold in egg whites; using a rubber spatular.
• Gently pour batter into spring pan and sprinkle the reserved 1/4 cup of gramham cracker crumbs on top.
• Place pan in a larger pan holding at least 1" of water.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Bake for 1 hour; then turn off the oven and continue to cook with door closed for another hour.
• Open oven door, leaving the cheesecake in the oven to cool down.