Description
Creamy New York-style cheesecake brings classic dessert elegance to your table. Rich cream cheese and graham cracker crust combine for an irresistible sweet experience you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
- 32 oz (910g) full-fat cream cheese
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup (240g) full-fat sour cream
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups (180g) graham cracker crumbs
- 5 tbsps (70g) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 tsps fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Crust Preparation: Pulverize graham crackers and meld with melted butter, pressing firmly into a springform pan to create a compact, golden foundation.
- Crust Transformation: Bake the crust at 350°F for 10 minutes until achieving a rich, toasted amber color, establishing a robust base for the creamy filling.
- Cream Cheese Conditioning: Whip cream cheese until impossibly smooth, eliminating any potential lumps and creating a silken texture that promises luxurious results.
- Flavor Infusion: Gently incorporate sugar, vanilla, sour cream, and lemon zest into the cream cheese mixture, stirring with deliberate, sweeping motions to maintain the delicate structure.
- Egg Integration: Introduce eggs individually, folding with precision to prevent air incorporation while ensuring a uniformly velvety filling that promises exceptional texture.
- Filling Assembly: Pour the luminous mixture over the pre-baked crust, using a spatula to distribute evenly and eliminate potential air pockets.
- Baking Precision: Place the cheesecake in a preheated 325°F oven, positioning a water bath underneath to create a gentle, humid environment that prevents cracking and promotes even cooking.
- Cooling Strategy: Once baking completes, crack the oven door and allow the cheesecake to rest for one hour, facilitating a gradual temperature reduction that maintains its pristine surface.
- Flavor Maturation: Refrigerate for minimum 4 hours or overnight, allowing the cheesecake to set completely and develop a rich, complex flavor profile.
- Presentation Finale: Carefully release from springform pan, garnish with fresh berries or whipped cream, and slice with a knife warmed under hot water to ensure clean, beautiful portions.
Notes
Prevent Cracking Technique: Use a water bath during baking to create humid environment and regulate temperature, preventing surface fractures.
Butter Temperature Matters: Allow cream cheese and eggs to reach room temperature for smoother, lump-free mixture that integrates seamlessly.
Gentle Mixing Strategy: Blend ingredients at low speed, avoiding overmixing which introduces excess air and leads to potential structural collapse.
Storage Smart Tip: Cover cheesecake loosely with plastic wrap and store in refrigerator for maximum 5 days, keeping its pristine texture and preventing moisture absorption.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 487
- Sugar: 31g
- Sodium: 266mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 21g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 104mg