Anise Cheesecake challenge - Birthday Request

My sister's birthday is this weekend and she put in a request for an anise flavored cheesecake. After a little research, I have put together my game plan and completed my shopping list.

I decided to call this cheesecake "Black Eyed Suzy". It is going to be an anise flavored shortbread crust with a lemon filling. The top will be sprinkled with shredded black licorice.

Shortbread crust:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tbsp cornstarch

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/3 cup sugar

2 large egg yolks

2 teaspoons of anise extract

1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

Filling:

1 1/2 pounds, 3 (125 ml) pkg (each 8 oz/250 g) cream cheese, softened

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

4 large eggs, room temperature

4 tbsp cornstarch

2/3 cup heavy cream

1 tbsp vanilla

1/2 cup lemon juice (Meyer lemon if you can find them)

Lemon zest from 5 lemons

Topping:

Black licorice shredded

Special notes:

Processed the lemon zest with 1/2 cup of sugar in a food processor until the sugar was yellow and the zest was broken down. Stirred the lemon sugar in with the rest of the sugar.