Cherry Cheesecake

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Crust:
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine -- melted

Cheesecake:
24 ounces cream cheese -- softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs
16 ounces cherry pie filling -- chilled

Combine crumbs, sugar, and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 350 F, 10 minutes. Combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Bake at 450 F, 10 minutes.

Reduce oven temperature to 250 F; continue baking for 30-40 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan. Chill. Spread cherry pie filling over cheesecake before serving.