Gingerbread Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 2 cups finely ground ginger snap crumbs
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 + 3/4 cups granulated sugar
• 2 pounds (32 ounces) cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 eggs, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 + 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon zest, finely grated
• 5-6 gingerbread men, for decorating the top, optional
• fresh whipped cream, for serving