Classic Cheesecake Recipe

A slice of cheesecake on a plate, with the remaining cake on a cake stand.

5 from 7 votes

Classic Cheesecake Recipe

This cheesecake recipe is rich, creamy, and velvety smooth. It's made with full-fat cream cheese, sour cream, and eggs over a buttery graham cracker crust. This classic is baked in a water bath.

Course Desserts

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword ceram cheese, cheese, cheesecake

Prep Time 45 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Chilling time 6 hours

Servings servings

Calories 611kcal

Author Veena Azmanov

Cost $30

Equipment

Ingredients

Crust

2 cups Graham crackers
4 oz Butter (½ stick) unsalted, melted
4 tbsp Sugar

Cheesecake filling

24 oz Cream cheese room temperature
1 cups Sour cream room temperature
1 cups Sugar
4 tbsp Cornstarch cornflour
4 Eggs large, beaten
2 tbsp Lemon juice
½ tsp Salt
1 tsp Vanilla extract

Metric - US customary

Instructions

I am using an 8-inch round springform pan because I like a little height for my cheesecakes. This will also work with a 9-inch springform pan.
Preheat the oven at 160 C / 320 F.
Ensure all the ingredients are at room temperature, especially the cream cheese.

Crust

Pulse Graham crackers in a food processor.
Add sugar - combine well.
Then, add the melted butter - combine well.
Pour the crumbs in an 8-inch springform pan.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes
Wrap the outside of the springform pan with aluminum foil.
Cool to room temperature before pouring cheesecake batter.

Batter

Place the cream cheese in an electric mixer.
Add the sour cream - combine well.
Next, add the sugar - combine well.
Then, add the cornflour, lemon juice, salt, and vanilla - combine well.
Finally, add the beaten eggs - combine well.
Pour the cream cheese filling over the cooled crust in the springform pan. Tap the pan to help the batter settle.

Bake - water bath

Place the springform pan in a baking pan or roasting rack.
Pour 2 cups of hot water in the roasting rack outside the springform pan.
Bake for 70 to 80 minutes until set.

Chill

Remove from the oven - let cool at room temperature.
Use an offset spatula to loosen the sides of the pan.
Chill the cheesecake for at least 4 hours - preferably overnight.
Dust with powdered sugar just before serving (optional).

Video

Notes

Six tips when making cheesecakes

Temperature - Always have your ingredients at room temperature. If necessary delay it by a few minutes just so they thaw. You can thaw cream cheese in the microwave at 50% power for 10 secs at a time. Do not melt it as it does alter the taste. Place eggs in warm water to thaw – room temperature eggs mix well in the cheese batter and works best for consistency.
Quality - Use good quality high-fat cream cheese, like mascarpone Philadelphia as they are thicker in consistency as compared to low-fat cream cheese, which can affect the consistency of your baked batter.
Pans - Prepare your baking pans properly. Use a springform pan when baking a cheesecake. When baking in a water bath foil the outside of the pan to prevent water from getting into the cheesecake.
Mixing - Never over-mix a cheesecake batter as this will incorporate air and lead to cracking.
Crust - bake the cheesecake crust for 10 to 12 minutes before you add the cheesecake crust. This will prevent a soggy crust later.
Baking - Since cream cheese batter is similar to a custard, baking in a water bath helps keep the custard batter soft and supple rather than dry and spongy. This also prevents cracking.
Cooling - Run a knife around the edges of the cheesecake before you cool it. This will prevent the cake from cracking as it shrinks while cooling. Make sure to let the cake cool properly. This also helps the custard set and you will be able to make pretty, neat slices. Of course, a chilled cheesecake is also more delicious than a warm one.

Notes -

Make-ahead - it is always best to make the cheesecake a day ahead of serving. This cheesecake can be made up to 3 days ahead. It will keep well in the fridge for 5 days. Alternatively, you can freeze this cheesecake for up to 3 months.
Water bath - A water bath is simply placing the cake pan in a large roasting pan. Then pour hot water in the roasting pan (outside the cake pan). The steam created by the water helps the custard-based cheesecake bake without cracking. Alternatively, you can place another large baking pan with water on the bottom of the oven if you don't have a large roasting pan or are afraid that springform pan may leak.
Toppings - I am a huge fan of classic cheesecake without anything on it. But, this is a basic cheesecake and can be topped with an endless list of toppings such as fruit fillings, caramel sauce, butterscotch sauce, chocolate syrup. Try my blueberry cheesecake, cherry cheesecake, strawberry cheesecake, mango cheesecake

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