Lavender Cheesecake

To prepare crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Combine butter, brown sugar and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat with the paddle attachment until smooth. Add honey and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla; mix until combined. Add flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt; mix until combined. Form the dough into quarter-size chunks, about 1/2-inch thick, on the prepared pan. Bake until golden brown and firm around the edges, about 20 minutes.

Transfer the crust pieces on the parchment to a wire rack and cool for 30 minutes. Pulse in a food processor until finely ground.

Coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Mix the crust crumbs with oil in a medium bowl; press into the bottom and about 1 1/2 inches up the sides of the prepared pan. Bake until set, about 8 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.

Meanwhile, to prepare filling: Put a kettle of water on to boil for the water bath. Combine cream cheese, sugar, lavender and salt in the stand mixer bowl. Beat with the paddle attachment until smooth and fluffy, scraping down the sides as needed. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing and scraping the bowl after each addition. Add lemon juice and vanilla; mix until combined.

Tightly wrap the outside of the pan, bottom and sides, with heavy-duty foil. Pour the filling into the crust. Place the springform pan in a roasting pan and pour in enough boiling water to come 1 inch up the side of the springform pan to create a hot water bath. Carefully transfer the roasting pan to the center of the oven. Bake until the cheesecake is set around the edges but the center still jiggles slightly, 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

Let the cheesecake cool in the water bath on a wire rack until the water is room temperature, about 1 hour. Remove the pan from the water and remove the foil. Refrigerate, uncovered, until very cold, at least 4 hours.