Directions

Topping:

1. Warm honey with dried culinary lavender in a small saucepan. 
2. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes then strain out the lavender buds.
3. Cool this mixture completely (you make this part ahead of time)

Crust:

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan. Cover the sides with foil to protect against the water bath used to cook the cheesecake.
2. In a medium bowl, combine crushed graham crackers, sugar, butter, and cinnamon together until thoroughly mixed.
3. Using a flat-bottomed surface, press the graham cracker mixture onto the bottom of the pan (use Anolon measuring cup to do the pressing).
4. Place the pan on a middle rack in the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool. Lower the heat to 325˚F.

Filling:

1. Using the paddle attachment of a stand mixer or a hand mixer and a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese and mascarpone cheese. Mix on a medium speed until smooth.
2. Add the sugar slowly and mix until smooth.
3. Add the vanilla extract, lavender extract, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt and mix until smooth.
4. On a slow speed, add the eggs one at a time, mixing until just combined.
5. Slowly pour the filling mixture on top of the cooled crust.
6. Place the foil covered spring form pan in a roasting pan and put on the middle rack in the oven. Fill with water half way up the pan.
7. Bake for 60 to 75 minutes, until edges are set and the center of the cheesecake is still slightly jiggly.
8. Leaving the cheesecake in the oven, turn off the heat and pop the oven door open an inch for another 60 minutes, to let the cheesecake cool down slowly and reduce the chance of cracking.
9. Take the cheesecake out of the roasting pan and chill in the fridge overnight.
10. To remove the cheesecake from the pan, run a paring knife around the sides. Open the pan and remove the ring.
11. Drizzle with honey lavender topping. Enjoy!