Don’t want to turn the oven on (or at least limit the time it is on)? This recipe is the perfect summer dessert. You could purchase a pre-made graham cracker crust and avoid turning the oven on all together. Or you could use the oven for just a short time to make the crust in the recipe. Either way, you will not add much heat to your home this summer with this recipe.

Cream cheese and blueberries are always a hit when together! Make this recipe ahead for your next party, potluck, or just to please the family. Who doesn’t love both great taste and something that is best served a day after you make it? Moms, grandmas, and event planners alike will love this recipe.

Ingredients

Crust:

• 9 whole graham crackers
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
• 3 tablespoons (packed) golden brown sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 5 tablespoons unsalted or salted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Filling:

• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin (measured from 2 envelopes)
• 12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 3 cups fresh blueberries

Topping:

• 1 cup chilled heavy whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 4 1/2 pints of blueberries
• 2/3 cup blueberry jam

Instructions

For Crust:

1. Heat oven to 350°F.
2. Blend first 4 ingredients in processor until graham crackers are finely ground.
3. Add butter and vanilla; process until moist crumbs form.
4. Press crumb mixture onto bottom and 1 inch up sides of 9-inch-diameter spring form pan.
5. Bake crust until deep golden brown, about 12 minutes.
6. Cool.

For filling:

1. Pour 1/4 cup water into small saucepan; sprinkle gelatin over.
2. Let stand 10 minutes.
3. Stir over very low heat just until gelatin dissolves.
4. Set aside.
5. Blend cream cheese, cream, sugar, and lemon juice in processor until smooth.
6. Add berries; puree until smooth (some blueberry bits will remain).
7. With machine running, add warm gelatin mixture through feed tube and blend well.
8. Pour filling into crust.
9. Cover; chill overnight. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.)
10. Run knife around pan sides to loosen cake.
11. Release pan sides.
12. Transfer to platter.

For topping:

1. Beat cream and sugar in medium bowl until firm peaks form.
2. Spread cream mixture thickly over top of cheesecake.
3. Place berries in bowl.
4. Heat jam in small saucepan over low heat until just melted.
5. Pour jam over berries; toss to coat.
6. Mound coated berries in center of cream, leaving 1-inch plain border.
7. Chill cake at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
   Number of servings (yield): 10

*Chill this overnight to develop the blueberry flavor and give the filling time to set.