Lemon Cheesecake

adapted from Betty Crocker. served for Easter. we LOVED this dessert. it was pretty dang good, let me tell you! I added in some lemon zest to some whipping cream and decorated the top, and it was delicious! we had just a piece leftover, and it was gone the next day.

Crust
1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 Tablespoon lemon zest

Filling
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
3/4 sugar
1 small box lemon pudding, prepared as directed on box
1/2 cup sour cream
3 eggs
2 cups whipped topping

Heat oven to 350F. Spray bottom and side of 10-inch springform pan with Pam. Wrap foil around outside of pan to catch drips. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cake mix; set aside. In large bowl, beat remaining cake mix, butter and lemon zest with electric mixer on low speed until crumbly. Press in bottom and 1-1/2 inches up side of pan.

In same large bowl, beat reserved cake mix, the cream cheese, sugar, pudding and sour cream on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until mixed. Pour over crust.

Bake 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes or until edges are set but center of cheesecake jiggles slightly when moved. Turn oven off; open oven door at least 4 inches. Leave cheesecake in oven 30 minutes longer.

Remove cheesecake from oven; place on cooling rack. Without releasing side of pan, run knife around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake. Cool in pan on cooling rack 30 minutes. Cover loosely; refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Remove side of pan before serving. Pipe or spoon whipped topping around edge of cheesecake. Store in refrigerator.