Cheesecake
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This foolproof cheesecake recipe delivers a rich, creamy New York-style cheesecake that’s surprisingly easy to make at home.
Cheesecake has always been my husband Michael’s favorite dessert. I remember when I first met my future mother-in-law over 20 years ago, she told me the key to her son’s heart was through his stomach—and he could be persuaded to do just about anything for a slice of New York cheesecake. Fortunately, I had just graduated from culinary school, so I had a little advantage in both winning his heart and perfecting my cheesecake recipe!
Rich, creamy, and dense with a buttery graham cracker crust, this classic New York-style cheesecake is everything a great cheesecake should be. I know making cheesecake can seem intimidating. It’s a custard dessert that requires gentle baking in a water bath to achieve its signature silky texture and help prevent cracks. But don’t let that scare you off. With a few pointers and this tried-and-true recipe, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful cheesecake every time.
“I made this cheesecake for my family at Christmas time and everyone LOVED it!”
What You’ll Need To Make Cheesecake
- Graham cracker crumbs: Forms the base of the graham cracker crust, providing a sweet, crumbly texture.
- Butter: Binds the graham cracker crumbs together and adds richness to the crust.
- Sugar: Sweetens the crust and filling.
- Cream cheese: The key ingredient of the filling, it provides the rich, creamy texture and tangy flavor. I recommend using a good brand, like Philadelphia, and be sure it’s completely softened before mixing. Cold cream cheese won’t blend smoothly and can leave lumps in the batter.
- All-purpose flour: While it may seem unusual in a cheesecake, the flour is the secret to success. A little starch helps prevent cracking and makes the filling lighter and fluffier.
- Vanilla extract & lemon zest/juice: Flavorings that add warmth, brightness, and just enough tang to cut through the richness.
- Eggs: Provide structure and stability, helping the cheesecake set.
- Sour cream: Adds tang, moisture, and a silky, creamy texture.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Key Equipment
You’ll need a 9- or 10-inch springform pan and heavy-duty aluminum foil. The removable sides make it easy to release the cheesecake, but they often leak. Wrapping the pan in foil prevents water from seeping in during the water bath. Alternatively, place the springform in a larger cake pan to avoid using foil (see how it’s done here) or purchase a silicone wrap for your pan. You will also need an electric mixer for whipping up the batter and a large roasting pan for the water bath.
Video Tutorial
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prep the pan. Wrap the springform pan with two layers of heavy-duty foil, covering the bottom and sides. This helps keep water from seeping into the pan during the water bath. Spray the inside with nonstick cooking spray to prevent the cheesecake from sticking.
Step 2: Make the graham cracker crust. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and salt until evenly moistened. Press the mixture firmly into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan—I like to use the bottom of a measuring cup to really pack it in. Bake until the crust is lightly golden and set.
Step 3: Make the cheesecake batter. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and flour on medium speed until completely smooth and free of lumps, about 1 minute. Mix in the vanilla, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing just until incorporated and scraping down the bowl as needed. Finally, mix in the sour cream until the batter is smooth and uniform.
Pro Tip: Be careful not to overmix the batter once the eggs are added. Overmixing can incorporate excess air, increasing the chance of cracks as the cheesecake bakes.
Step 5: Assemble and bake. Pour the batter on top of the baked crust. Place the unbaked cheesecake in a large roasting pan and add boiling water to the pan, about an inch up the sides of the springform. This water bath, or bain marie, ensures even, gentle baking and helps prevent cracking or drying.
Bake until the edges are set but the center still has a slight wobble when gently nudged. It will continue to set as it cools.
Pro Tip: Along with the water bath, baking the cheesecake at 325°F helps the filling cook slowly and evenly, resulting in a creamier texture. If the cheesecake starts to brown more than you’d like before it’s fully baked, loosely tent it with foil for the remainder of the baking time.
Step 7: Cool, chill, and serve. Let the cheesecake cool in the water bath for 45 minutes. Gradual cooling helps minimize the risk of cracks. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight so the cheesecake has time to fully set and the flavors can meld.
For the cleanest slices, dip a sharp knife in hot water and wipe it dry between cuts before slicing. Cheesecake is an ideal make-ahead dessert—it can be prepared up to 2 days in advance or frozen for up to 3 months.
How To Serve Cheesecake
This cheesecake is wonderful served plain, but it’s easy to dress up for special occasions. Top it with fresh berries, my easy berry sauce for a bright, tangy contrast, or caramel sauce and whipped cream if you’re in the mood for something a little more indulgent.
More Cheesecake Recipes You’ll Love
Classic New York Cheesecake
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs, from 12 whole crackers
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
For the Filling
- 32 oz (four 8-oz blocks) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 cups sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon packed lemon zest, from 1 lemon
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, from 1 lemon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 6 large eggs
- ½ cup sour cream
- Special equipment: 9 or 10-in (23 to 25-cm) springform pan; 18-in (46-cm) heavy-duty aluminum foil (see Pro Tip)
- Berry sauce, for serving (optional)
Instructions
For the Crust
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and set an oven rack in the lower middle position. Wrap a 9 or 10-in (23 or 25-cm) springform pan with one large piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil, covering the underside and extending all the way to the top so there are no seams on the bottom or sides of the pan. Repeat with another sheet of foil for insurance. Spray the inside of the pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Make the crust: In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and salt. Stir until well combined. Press the crumbs into an even layer on the the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, until set. Remove the pan from the oven and set aside.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F (165°C). Set a kettle of water to boil.
- Make the batter: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or beaters, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and flour together on medium speed until just smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl to be sure the mixture is evenly combined. Add the vanilla, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt; beat on low speed until just combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed until incorporated, scraping the bowl as necessary. Mix in the sour cream. Make sure the batter is uniform but do not over-mix.
- Check to make sure your oven has cooled to 325°F (165°C), then set the cheesecake pan in a large roasting pan. Pour the batter on top of the crust. Pour the boiling water into the large roasting pan to come about 1 inch up the side of the cake pan. Bake until the cake is just set, 1 hour and 30 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes. (If the cheesecake starts to look too golden on top towards the end, cover it loosely with foil.) The cake should not look liquidy at all, but will wobble just a bit when the pan is nudged; it will continue to cook as it cools. Carefully remove the roasting pan from the oven and set it on a wire rack. Cool the cheesecake in the water bath until the water is just warm, about 45 minutes. Remove the springform pan from the water bath and discard the foil. If necessary, run a thin-bladed knife around the edge of the cake to make sure it's not sticking to the sides (which can cause cracks as it cools), then cover with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator to cool for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- For serving: Remove the sides of the springform pan. Serve the cheesecake right from the base of the pan; or, to transfer it to a serving platter, run a long, thin spatula between the crust and the pan bottom, and then use two large spatulas to carefully transfer the cheesecake to a serving dish. Slice with a sharp knife, wiping the knife clean between slices. Serve with berry sauce, if you like.
Notes
- Make-Ahead/Freezing Instructions: The cheesecake can be stored in the springform pan in the fridge, tightly covered with plastic wrap, for up to two days. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze, place the cake in the freezer briefly, unwrapped, to firm it up. Then double-wrap it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place it in a heavy-duty freezer bag. Thaw in the refrigerator the night before you plan to eat it.
- Pro Tip: Springform pans are notorious for leaking. Since a cheesecake bakes in a water bath, the foil prevents the water from seeping in during baking. Please do not attempt to use standard 12-inch (30cm) aluminum foil – you can’t have any foil seams on the bottom or sides of the pan. No matter how well (or how many times) you wrap the pan, if there are seams exposed to the water, the water will find a way in. Even when wrapped properly, you can occasionally get some condensation inside the foil. If this happens, don’t worry – the crust is likely just a bit moist around the edges. Simply remove the sides of the springform pan before refrigerating and let it dry out in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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This cheesecake was fantastic! I’ve made cheesecake a few times now but it was always just missing something. I tried your recipe and I was a bit skeptical about the lemon but I’m so glad I tried it! It was by far the best cheesecake I’ve ever made. My husband always has to drench his cheesecake with topping but with this he loved it plain. Thank you so much for the delicious recipe. I will most definitely be making this again and again!
Hi Jen
I’d like to present this cheesecake while at a dessert buffet…would you pour the berry sauce over the whole cheesecake or should I rather do a different topping?
Hi Chaya, I’d probably offer the sauce on the side so that people have the option to put it on if they’d like (or not). 🙂 Hope everyone enjoys!
I made this for a friend’s birthday and this is hands down The.Best.Cheesecake.Ever! This will be the only NY cheesecake I ever make. Thank you!!!
So delightful ! Always a little nervous to try a cheesecake recipe out of fear of disaster & trying new things. Amazing. Turned out so good, no cracks, very decadent. Only addition was a splash of cinnamon to the crust recipe. We ended up adding a fresh strawberry compote on top. Already sharing the recipe to friends & family. A must try, no fail cheesecake !
I made this cheesecake today for my birthday. It was absolutely awesome. I don’t know how to add the picture.
Happy Birthday (and so glad you like the cheesecake)! Unfortunately, the blog isn’t set up to receive pictures but if you’re on Instagram, you can share it there; be sure to tag me @onceuponachef!
Hi Jen!
Happy New Year! Can I make this in a baking dish instead? And if so, what changes should I make?
Thank you!
Sandra
Hi Sandra, If you want to do that, I’d actually recommend these cheesecake bars. The recipe is essentially the same but intended for a baking dish. Hope you enjoy if you try them!
Have you ever been to New York and eaten the authentic stuff. Yours is NOTHING like it and besides the base should be sponge cake. Too many eggs, too much sugar.
Yours is too sweet and tastes absolutely disgusting …nothing like the New York cheesecake. Please don’t call this a New York style cheesecake because it isn’t!
Change the name as it is an insult to the real thing! BTW, it was so bad that I had to bin the whole thing. What a waste of money!
Any recipe is adjustable. As it seems that you know so much about the actual New York cheesecake, why don’t you make suggestions instead of blaming someone else because it didn’t work for you? I do not like sweets and both my husband and my son would be the first to say it was too sweet if that was the case. If it was then I would adjust the next time. The recipe calls for only 2 cups of sugar. Cream cheese is not sweet but cheesecake is but again, adjust it to your liking. BTW the recipe said “New York “STYLE” Cheesecake. I love New York cheesecake and this is close enough. We are not professional bakers so this recipe is good enough.
Hey Jen:
I also have had New York Cheesecake IN New York.
Once was enough.
1st time I made your recipe, was for my husband’s birthday yesterday! Also made the sauce but doubled the strawberries and added a little vanilla to cooled sauce. Both cake and sauce are perfect in every way.
8 people from 3 households all thought it was by far the very best cheesecake they had ever had!
Thank you Jen for sharing this simple but wonderful, nicely textures and flavourful recipe!
Go to cheesecake recipe!
My husband is still going on about it today! Neighbours raved about it last night. Wonderful!
It is really nice for me as well, to have a new-to-me recipe, turn out to be so amazing!
Regards,
kin
Hey, Is there any way I can use 3 blocks of cream cheese instead of 4? I’m missing one and my mom can’t drive me to the store anymore lol
Hi Vee, If you want to do that, I’d cut all the other ingredients by 1/4 as well so the ratios are correct.
Wow, Malou, that is quite a lecture, and so personal! I will make sure to watch the sugar and eggs, the only useful tidbit in your review.
I made this recipe gluten free by using gluten free graham crackers and gluten free flour, and it tasted amazing! The recipe was perfect and easy to follow.
I would recommend including a tip about the bain marie, I attempted the recipe a couple times, using the correct length foil AND a slow cooker liner on the spring form pan, and still water got into the crust somehow. I think the easiest way to avoid this issue is having the water bath directly below the cheesecake in the oven versus placing the pan in the bath.
Made this amazing recipe twice and it was a huge hit both times!!!
If I’m using a 12 in pan how long should I bake ?
Courtney, Cheesecake is pretty finicky so I’m not sure I’d use a different size pan. If you do want to give it a try, it will definitely take less time in the oven, but I’m not sure by how much so keep a close eye on it.