What will it be - cheesecake or ice cream? You can have both with this Strawberry Ice Cream Cheesecake! Rich and creamy, this delicious dessert recipe is perfect for the warmer days ahead.
Begin by lining the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
Place the pretzels in a food processor. Pulse until they resemble sand. (Alternatively, you can place the pretzels in a plastic sealable plastic bag and smash them repeatedly with a rolling pin.)
Add the finely crushed pretzels, brown sugar, and melted butter to a bowl. Stir to combine. Spoon this mixture into the prepared springform pan and press the mixture down with your fingers to form an even layer of crust. Freeze for 30 minutes.
Place the strawberries in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until the berries start to break down. You can speed up the process by crushing the berries with the back of a spoon. Remove the cooked strawberries from heat and strain them through a fine sieve into a bowl. Use a spatula or a spoon to push through as much of the liquid as possible. Discard the leftover pulp from the sieve. Set aside the strawberry liquid to cool.
Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl until well-blended. Add the ice cream and mix well. Fold in the strawberry puree.
Pour this mixture over the prepared crust and freeze the cheesecake for 4 hours or until firm.
Remove the cheesecake from the freezer about 30 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh berries and whipped cream.