Preheat the oven to 320 degrees. If you have an oven with a fan, preheat it to 295 degrees. First place a layer of parchment paper on top, then grease the bottom and the side of a round cake pan (springform works great) with melted butter or oil.
To turn your graham crackers into fine crumbs, place them in a Ziploc bag and use a rolling pin to crush them. You can also use a food processor or blender if you have one.
Combine crumbs and melted butter into a bowl to form “sand”. Transfer that to the bottom of the cake pan and press it down using the bottom of a glass cup or measuring cup. This will help to compact it and level it out so that there is a distinct crust line. Set that aside.
Add vanilla, sour cream, and sugar and mix until everything is incorporated. Crack one egg at a time, beating in between each added egg until just mixed in. Be careful not to over mix.
Pour filling into the prepared crust and bake for 55 minutes. Once the time is up, turn off the oven and crack open the oven door just slightly. This will avoid a sudden change in temperature. Once cooled, refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 3 hours or overnight.
First, you’ll bring the strawberries, lemon juice, sugar, and vanilla to a gentle boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and let them cook down for about 8-10 minutes. Slowly add in the cornstarch slurry to thicken it up and let it cook for another couple of minutes. Remove it from the heat and allow it to cool.