Making a Fancy Strawberry Cheesecake. 1  1. Preheat your oven to 350 °F (177 °C). 2  2. Mix together the graham cracker crumbs, ground pecans, and melted butter in a large mixing bowl. 3  3. Spread the crust mixture across the bottom of a 10-inch (25.4 centimeters) springform pan.  4. Beat the cream cheese until it is light and fluffy.