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The Best Cheesecake Recipe
February 28, 2020
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This is literally the best cheesecake recipe ever. Seven simple ingredients. No water bath. No cracking ever. It is the only recipe you’ll ever need for classic, jaw-dropping, super creamy cheesecake. Follow my directions and it is simply fail-proof!
Not into the whole baking thing? Check out my No-Bake Cheesecake!
But Seriously, This Is The *BEST* Cheesecake Recipe
Friends, I have tested and re-tested this amazing Cheesecake Recipe to make sure it was the absolute best and we are there! I am thrilled to be sharing this recipe with you today. Not only did I test this recipe a bunch of times, but I also had 5 devoted readers test this recipe to double down my claim that this cheesecake doesn’t crack. Y’all, their cheesecakes looked just as good as mine did with no cracks! Every.single.one looked great. The cheesecake gods are smiling down on this recipe and I hope you love it as much as we all did.
Why Do Cheesecakes Crack?
There are several reasons why cheesecakes can get a grand canyon-sized crack down the center but through my recipe testing and research, I’ve found the main three reasons are: air bubbles, lumps in the batter and baking and cooling. Here’s how I’ve dealt with and adjusted my recipe to ensure these three things don’t cause any issues:
Air Bubbles
When you are using a hand or stand mixer, it has a tendency to incorporate air into any batter you make, not just cheesecake. Particularly after you add in eggs. When eggs get whipped, they hold that volume. So, we want to reduce the mixing time after we add in the eggs and remove any extra air bubbles. How do we do this? Crack all four eggs into a bowl and whisk with a fork before adding them into the cheesecake batter. Then, stir in the eggs last and mix until they are just incorporated. Then before pouring the batter into the graham cracker crust, tap the bowl on the counter for 30 to 45 seconds to remove as many air bubbles as possible.
Lumps in the Batter
Using room temperature cream cheese, eggs, and sour cream makes everything incorporate easier, thus more of a lump-free batter. Also, be diligent in scraping the sides of the bowl. You want to ensure the cheesecake batter is lump-free before adding in the eggs.
Baking and Cooling
Baking a cheesecake in a water bath helps moderate oven temperatures not only for baking but for cooling too. Since I hate water baths and think they should go die (see next section below), I had to MacGyver this whole cheesecake recipe to ensure it was baking at a lower oven temperature for a longer period and also cooling very slowly. Once baking is finished and the oven gets turned off, you’ll notice the cheesecake still spends over an hour in the hot oven, not only to help finish baking it (called carryover cooking) but also to cool it gently and slowly. This is what gets you that beautiful, crack-free top.
Looking for even more mouth-watering desserts? See here: Actually Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies, The Best Homemade Brownie Recipe, *AMAZING* Peach Cobbler, Easy Cannoli Recipe, The Best Homemade Cinnamon Rolls, and Ultimate Banana Pudding Recipe.
Why Water Baths SUCK
Cheesecake is a time-consuming, somewhat expensive dessert to make. I’d hate for you to wrap your springform pan in foil only to discover you didn’t wrap it well enough and now water is seeping into your cheesecake before it even hits the oven. That has happened to me a handful of times and I MAKE FOOD FOR A LIVING. It totally sucks. It not only wasted your time but it wasted that perfectly good food!
So, don’t give in to those other online recipes that call for water baths. Me and my five recipe-testing readers proved otherwise. You can do better.
Cheesecake Ingredients
Like I mentioned above, you only need SEVEN simple ingredients for this recipe. Only 7! This is a classic cheesecake recipe, so really it’s all about using the best ingredients and enjoying the simplicity of this thick, extra creamy cheesecake.
- Graham Cracker Crumbs: Honeymaid is my favorite, but any brand is fine. You can grind your own or buy them as crumbs.
- Granulated Sugar: to sweeten the crust and the filling.
- Melted Butter: to hold the graham cracker crust together.
- Cream Cheese: I like using the Philadelphia brand; I think it’s slightly tangier than other off-brands out there. Make sure you are using room temperature, soft cream cheese.
- Sour Cream: adds an extra tang. This also needs to be at room temperature.
- Vanilla Extract: for flavor since this is a classic cheesecake.
- Eggs: needed for structure. Absolutely have these at room temperature and beat together before adding in.
How to Make Easy Cheesecake | Directions
If you want to make sure your cheesecake doesn’t crack, please please please follow these directions as carefully as possible. Don’t be all Suzy-Homemaker thinking you can change this recipe however you like and still have it come out perfectly. I mean, maybe it will but I have tested this recipe as written so you can have success with this recipe as written. All the specific directions for this cheesecake recipe are in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Make the Graham Cracker Crust
Stir graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter together and press into a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 7 minutes in a 350-degree oven. Set aside to cool.
Step 2: Make the Cheesecake Filling
Stir very soft cream cheese together with the granulated sugar. Stir in the vanilla and sour cream. Scrape the sides really really well and stir again to ensure there are no lumps.
Whisk eggs together in a separate bowl and slowly add to the cheesecake filling with the mixer on. Once eggs are incorporated turn mixer off. Scrape the sides really well to ensure a very smooth batter. If there are lumps, stir them in by hand.
Step 3: Remove Air Bubbles
Tap bowl on the counter for 30-45 seconds to remove air bubbles. Air bubbles can contribute to why cheesecakes crack and we definitely want to prevent that. This is a small step, but makes a big difference.
Step 4: Bake the Cheesecake (without a water bath!)
Pour batter into graham cracker crust, smooth the top and bake. Bake at 325 degrees, reduce heat to 250 to finish cooking. Keep the oven door closed this entire time!
Let cheesecake sit in the hot oven with the oven closed for 30 minutes before cracking the door and letting it continue cooling for another hour. Remove from oven and bring cheesecake to room temperature.
Do I Have To Use a Springform Pan?
The best baking pan for this cheesecake recipe is a 9-inch springform pan and don’t have a suggestion for an optional pan to use instead. You can definitely put this into a 10-incher, but definitely won’t fit into an 8.
Also, I know you can buy larger 9″x 3″ cake pans without the springform option, but just don’t see any good way to remove the whole cheesecake without ruining it. Moral of the story? Splurge and get the springform pan. Or find a friend and borrow one.
I’ve had readers bake this recipe in a 9×13 pan and it has absolutely worked! So keep that in mind as well. If you’re ok with cheesecake bars, then this is a great option for you.
Step 5: Refrigerate & Serve
Once the cheesecake is at room temperature, you can cover and refrigerate until completely chilled. The beautiful thing about cheesecake is it’s a great dessert to make in advance because it stores so well in the fridge.
When you’re ready to serve, cut into slices, top with any desired toppings (see notes below) and enjoy!
Storing Your Cheesecake
Like I mentioned above, cheesecake is a fabulous make ahead dessert because it stores so so well in the fridge and freezer! Here’s how to do it.
In the Fridge
After your fully baked cheesecake has come to room temperature, refrigerate covered for up to one week.
In the Freezer
If you are a kitchen expert, you’ll know cream cheese by itself doesn’t freeze well but baked it does! Cheesecake is a perfect candidate for freezing! First, un-mold cheesecake from the springform pan. Place into the freezer uncovered for about 4 hours or until its mostly solid. Remove springform bottom and wrap the cheesecake well in two layers of plastic wrap or aluminum foil. It will stay good for up to 3 months in the freezer.
To defrost, simply unwrap and transfer to a plate. Cover gently with plastic wrap and transfer to the fridge to defrost. Once defrosted, cut into slices and serve.
Tasty Cheesecake Toppings
Since this is a very basic, beautiful, and delicious cheesecake recipe, try to find delicious toppings that will help enhance the flavor. Here are a few classic ideas:
- cherry pie filling
- fresh strawberries or raspberries
- strawberry or raspberry sauce
- chocolate shavings
- chocolate sauce
- whipped cream
- lemon curd
- chocolate ganache
- salted caramel sauce
For more ideas be sure to check out all of my other cheesecake recipes here!
Love Cheesecake? Try These Sweet Treats:
- Amazing Vanilla Cake Recipe
- The Best Chocolate Cake Recipe
- Homemade Ice Cream Cake Recipe
- Strawberry Cake
- Black Forest Cake Recipe
- Amazing Italian Cream Cake
- Molten Chocolate Lava Cake Recipe
*THE BEST* Cheesecake Recipe
This is literally the best cheesecake recipe ever. Seven simple ingredients. No water bath. No cracking ever. It is the only recipe you'll ever need for classic, jaw-dropping, super creamy cheesecake. Follow my directions and it is simply fail proof!
Ingredients
For the Graham Cracker Crust:
- 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 5 tablespoons melted butter
For the Cheesecake Filling:
- 40 ounces cream cheese at room temperature (five 8 oz. packages; 2 1/2 lbs total)
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup sour cream at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs at room temperature
- any desired cheesecake toppings
Equipment
- 9" Springform Pan
Instructions
- Place oven racks in the center of the oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium sized bowl, stir graham cracker crumbs together with sugar and melted butter until well incorporated and mixture looks like damp sand. Using the bottom of a measuring cup, press crust into the bottom and half way up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake 7 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
- Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
- In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, mix cream cheese 30 seconds 'til smooth. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and add in granulated sugar, sour cream and vanilla. Mix again until incorporated. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and mix again briefly.
- Crack eggs into a liquid measuring cup and using a fork, beat until well scrambled. With the mixer on low, slowly pour in the eggs into the cream cheese mixture and stop stirring once egg has been incorporated. Remove bowl from mixer and scrape the sides and bottom again, ensuring the entire mixture is smooth. If there are a few small lumps, try to fold in using the rubber scraper.
- Once the batter is completely smooth and ready, tap the bowl on the counter for 30-45 seconds to remove as many air bubbles as possible. You should see them popping on the surface as you tap the bowl. Pour filling into the center of the graham cracker crust and gently smooth the top. Will be very full!
- Bake for 30 minutes at 325 degrees. Reduce temperature to 250 degrees and continue cooking for 45 minutes more. Once this time has elapsed, turn oven off and keep cheesecake inside for another 30 minutes for some carryover cooking without opening the oven door. Crack oven door to let cheesecake cool slowly for one hour before removing. At this point, cheesecake should be slightly warm. Bring cheesecake to room temperature on the counter (3-4 hours) before covering with plastic wrap and transferring to the fridge.
- Refrigerate until chilled completely (6 hours to overnight). To serve, open springform pan and remove collar. Decorate as desired. Dip a sharp knife into hot water, wipe off any excess water and slice. I like to dip my knife in water between each slice to get really clean-looking pieces.
Video
Notes
If you would like a thicker graham cracker crust, use 1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs, 5 tablespoons granulated sugar and 6 tablespoons melted butter. Press into the pan and bake for 8 minutes.
Nutrition
Calories: 573kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Cholesterol: 194mg | Sodium: 469mg | Potassium: 192mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 1606IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 125mg | Iron: 1mg
Best cheese cake!
Made this and my bottom crust stuck to the bottom of the spring form pan, couldn’t even scrape it off. If you use this recipe, put some parchment paper down first. This was such a waste of time
Learn to adapt baby, or don’t probably.
Best cheese cake ever! Will make over and over again.
This was the very first cheese cake I have ever made. It was super easy to do and came out amazing! It was the envy of some seasoned bakers when I showed it off!
Best cheesecake ever!!! I’ve been using this recipe for several years now and everyone loves it. I’ve made different variations with Oreo crust and Oreo swirl or crumbles on top. I’ve made it with a nut crust, and also swirled fruit pie filling on top. All have come out amazing. I even made a keto friendly version. I will never use another cheesecake recipe again. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe.
If I cook this using a muffin sized portions, would the times for each Fahrenheit still apply? 30 min at 350 and 45 min at 325?
Girl, I have no idea. I never tested them in muffin tins! Your guess is as good as mine.
I tried using exact cook times and imo they tasted overdone. I would go 1/4 less then stated above.
Thank you for this EASY, UNINTIMMIDATING recipe! You mentioned using a 9×13 pan successfully. Could you (or someone) tell me if you used the same temps & times as for the springform?
Yes, the exact same cooking times for both pans!
In my experience muffin pans need less time in anything I’ve ever baked, try it for science!
Can I substitute labneh for cream cheese? And use a blender instead of a mixer? Thanks in advance!
I’ve never tested this recipe with anything but cream cheese so, I have no idea. You are welcome to try! And I’m not sure a blender would work as this mixture is very thick.
I’ll echo the others: this is really the best! Made it for my husband’s 42nd birthday last night, and he declared it the best he’s ever eaten!
I, too, have ruined good cheesecake with a water-bath gone wrong and always thought there had to be a good method for foregoing the whole thing. Thanks for a wonderful recipe that I plan to use many times!
Question: how do you keep the top of your cheese and so White and light in color? Mine is browned all across the top.
Lauren
This is the BEST EVER….thank you and thanks to all of you out there sharing your cheesecake experiences. Please be safe and stay well!!!
Amazing! First time ever making cheesecake and it turned out perfect!!
Hello, this recipe looks lovely and I’m planning to make it for my husband’s birthday. Do I need to line the springform pan with parchment paper or spray it with pam/butter? Thanks in advance!
Nope, none of those things are required or necessary for this recipe.
Can I make this recipe with a store bought pie crust? Don’t have graham crackers
Very late reply to Jess, but PLEASE do not use a store bought crust. Obviously you are going to go to the store to buy that crust – buy graham crackers instead, no substitute for making your own crust and it is so very easy. I use a slightly different recipe than this, but I’ve had so many compliments to my own ‘from scratch’ crust which was super easy to make. You will never get a compliment on a store bought crust – people know. It’s literally a 5 minute process and so easy to do.
WOWOWOWOWOW. I’ve made cheesecakes for years and none have ever turned out as perfect as this one. Followed the recipe EXACTLY with a little extra mixing to ensure a smooth batter. I used gluten free chocolate chip cookies for the crust and it is 100% the best cheesecake I’ve ever made.
The recipe is also really well written and super easy to follow!
Made this for the first time and got rave reviews from the family. Substituted vanilla greek yogurt for sour cream, added some lemon zest and dash of cinnamon to crust. Absolutely no cracks after backing and it was so so creamy. Thank you, definitely a recipe to keep.
Can’t wait to try this but I have a question: with my standard cheesecake recipe (which has a tendency to crack), I usually add a sour cream, a little sugar, a little vanilla topping. When the cheesecake is done, I add the topping then bake an additional 5 minutes. Can I do that with this recipe?
I have not tested this recipe with any topping because in my opinion its not needed. I think your cheesecake might crack because either you’re cooling it too quickly or pulling it out of the hot oven to add the topping and throw it back in the oven is messing with the temperature too much. I wouldn’t recommend adding a topping to my cheesecake for the reasons stated above.
The best! Super easy and came out perfect!
I just made this the other day and it really lives up to the hype! It might well have been the best cheesecake I’ve ever had. I tweaked it because I can’t leave well enough alone, but nothing that would mess with the ratios. Thank you so much!
My tweaks:
Added pecan bits to the crust (this was seriously awesome)
Subbed 8 oz ricotta for 1 brick of cream cheese (I had already bought the ricotta before hunting a recipe)
Added zest of lemon and 2 tbsp lemon juice (lemon flavor was not very perceptible but it was nice in the background, tanginess was excellent but I don’t know whether it was actually tangier than the original)
I can’t wait to experiment with more flavors on your awesome recipe. I ordered a non-springform style cheesecake pan because I have discovered that I hate springforms. I will have to have another go when it arrives. 😀
I’ve made cheesecake (a dozen at a time) for a high-end hotel in Scottsdale AZ for years, always using water baths and always getting mixed results. It’s too bad I had not stumbled upon these techniques then.
Put simply, this recipe kicks hind-end.
A few modifications made with spectacular results:
Used ginger snap crumbs instead of graham.
Added guava paste to the batter (between sugar and sour cream stage).
Piped lemon curd into, and swirled within the batter for a little eye catching design.
Going to be subscribing to Lauren’s latest. I’m very very very impressed.
love this idea!
I am going to be making this and wanted to know I only have 32 ounces of cream cheese (4 packs of 8oz) I don’t have the 40 ounces of cream cheese so I know I have to change the measurements of the rest of the ingredients…how much would all the other ingredients would measure up to?
If it were me… I’d zip to the store for more cream cheese which is exactly what I intend to do, as I am 8 ounces short myself.
Been doing a lot more baking at home since the quarantine was put into effect, and my husband and I made this recipe last night for my birthday “cake”. We were super pleased with the results. The filling was superb, but the crust to me was a little sweeter than I would have liked, so I think I’ll try less sugar next time. Totally book-marking this page though – thank you Lauren!
I followed your recipe exactly and it turned out perfect. I’ve made other cheesecake recipes and I love yours the most. My husband doesn’t like traditional cake for his birthday so I made this cheesecake and it was a hit. My children were very skeptical to eat cheesecake as they had never had it before. They gave it two thumbs up!
LOVED this cheesecake. I made it for my boyfriend’s birthday and he said it was one of the best he has ever eaten. Very rich and since it is just the two of us due to the pandemic, I will freeze half of it. Thank you Lauren for the most perfect cheesecake.
This Recipe turned out great instead of using sour cream I used plain yogurt. It taste awesome. hope to get more recipes from you thank you 😘👌
I love love loved this recipe! I halved the recipe since it was just for my husband and myself, and used Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, and it still tasted delicious! Used a 7” springform pan, which was perfect for halving the recipe. On the side I made a blueberry compote with grapefruit juice, and used this to top the cheesecake. Looking forward to making this again, but full portion next time.
I was wanting to try this in a 7in pan ,… did you just halve the recipe and follow the rest directions as is
How long did you cook it for using the 7 inch?
How long did you bake the cheesecake in the 7inch spring form pan?
There is no need to wrap the springform pan in aluminum foil at any point during this recipe, correct?
correct! Foil is meant to protect the cheesecake if you were baking in a water bath. Since this recipe does not call for a water bath, no foil is needed!
Loved this cheesecake, it was probably the best cheesecake I have ever made!
First cheesecake I have ever made that came out literally, PERFECT! Bonus points for this recipe not needed a water bath. I wish I could post a picture of how great it turned out as it really was the only one I’ve made that didn’t crack. I will however add more graham cracker/butter for a thicker crust, not because it necessarily needs it, but because I love a good thick crust.
Absolutely LOVE this recipe. I have not made cheese cake in a long time ( the last time it did not set all the way through). I followed the recipe exactly as written and it was PERFECT.
The only “issue” I had was with the crust. First of all, I will make it thicker next time. Secondly, it was very soft and soggy, almost like the butter was separating from the crumbs. I’m thinking I needed to bake it longer or let it cool longer. What do you think??
Did you use the thicker crust directions in the recipe card notes? I think that would fix your issues. I’m not sure what would cause the butter to separate from the crust.
I had my stepson assist with this, its my birthday cake. He didn’t mix the crust overly well and I noticed a few specks of butter separating after the crust came out if the oven. It is outstanding regardless! And I am a cheesecake snob lol.
Excellent recipe producing excellent cheesecake! I followed the recipe *except* I did cut it all in half since it’s just far too much cheesecake for us here at home – even considering my pregnancy cravings! That said, the only tricky part was ‘guesstimating’ the cook times for each temperature setting (I did not alter temps!), so I’d say for my half recipe I probably shaved off 1/4 – 1/3 of each of the cook times.
The cheesecake turned out great, yielding more than enough to share with my in-laws! None of us even added any toppings because we were well pleased with the flavour of the cheesecake all on its own.
Excellent recipe producing excellent cheesecake! I followed the recipe *except* I did cut it all in half since it’s just far too much cheesecake for us here at home – even considering my pregnancy cravings! That said, the only tricky part was ‘guesstimating’ the cook times for each temperature setting (I did not alter temps!), so I’d say for my half recipe I probably shaved off 1/4 – 1/3 of each of the cook times.
The cheesecake turned out great, yielding more than enough to share with my in-laws! None of us even added any toppings because we were well pleased with the flavour of the cheesecake all on its own.
Make the full recipe,cut in half,then freeze half,I can’t taste difference
I have made this cheesecake exactly as the recipe was written a couple if times and each time it turns out perfectly! It’s one of the best cheesecakes I’ve ever had! Thanks for the recipe! I was wondering, do you think adding a little PB2 (powdered peanutbutter) to the batter would turn out ok? I’m kind of craving peanutbutter cheesecake with chocolate ganache. Have you tried this before? Thanks!
Ok, I tried it. I added a heaping 1/3 c of PB2. It still tastes great and had a great consistency, didn’t crack. It didnt have much of a peanutbutter flavor though.
SO GOOD. And so worth the time!
You can do this! Follow the recipe exactly and it’ll be perfect!
Also the knife trick for cutting is a game changer!
Made this and it turned out perfectly! No need for another cheesecake recipe ever! Yum!
I have been making cheesecakes my whole life and this is the first one that did not crack. It’ turned out beautiful! I followed each of your steps and it was so easy. Thank you!
I followed this recipe exactly how it is written and it came out absolutely perfect!!! My mom is 83 years old and looooooves cheese cake, and has made many cheese cakes in her 83 years. She said this was the best cheese cake she’s ever tasted. She is now throwing out her recipe and putting this one in its place! Thank you so much for sharing it!
I just made this cheesecake and it turned out perfect. Love this place recipe
Your recipe was the first cheesecake one I’ve tried, precisely for the same reason you created this one. I didn’t want to mess with the water bath.
This was so delicious! It was a lot easier than I ever thought cheesecake could be. The hardest part is keeping track of the different timings while baking. It’s a perfect thing to bake while stuck inside during shelter-in-place, when you don’t have anywhere else to go and don’t mind hanging out near your oven.
We’re trying out lots of your recipes right now. Thanks for continuing to post them on Instagram. It’s a good way to get inspiration for meal planning.
Hello Lauren,
I have never made a cheesecake before. Just wondering how long would you say the cream cheese needs to sit out to come to room temp?
At least 6 hours to be sure.
Thank you. Quick question- when I first mix the cream cheese with the sour cream/sugar before the eggs go in, what hand mixer speed should I use?
A moderate speed. Not too fast, not too slow. Somewhere in the middle!
Mine came out a little sour. Can I reduce the amount of cream cheese?
I followed the recipe to a T with the exception of thr refrigeration time due to massive time restraints. The cheesecake was out of this world. The only hangup was my fault because I was only able to allow it to refrigerate for 2 1/2 hours. It outter portion was set up perfectly. The inner 4 inches was still a little soft. I was able to get the slides out if the springform but it was difficult. No one cared that the slices were not picture perfect because it tasted so good. Next time I may double the crust portion of the recipe since I’m a crust kind of guy. Thanks for posting this recipe on line.
I have been making Cheesecakes a long time all types of combinations many many have had and love them. As far as water bathes we need the moisture so it won’t dry out as for leakage put the spring pan in a slightly larger regular pan place it in the water bathe no water in your cake. And type of cream cheese I use one from Walmart 80 cent a block not to salty excellent I usually use of brands they are perfect ……Enjoy !
Wow… I really am trying to scroll past this comment.
Thanks Karen Cheesecake
Most disappointing comments are the ones where folks that haven’t tried the recipe tell you what they would do differently 🙁 Tell us how this recipe that we all came to read worked for you instead.
I made this exactly as written. And it is the most perfectly beautiful un-cracked and delicious cheesecake that I have ever made. This recipe is a definite keeper! Thanks so much for sharing!!
My granddaughter is not a cake fan but LOVES cheesecake and requested it for her 16th birthday. I’ve been watching you test this recipe and had to try it. I followed directions EXACTLY as written and it turned out perfectly! Smooth and creamy and it cut beautifully. Most important, my granddaughter and everyone else at the celebration LOVED it! Thank you Lauren! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
[…] am 100% tempted to make this cheesecake. HOLY […]
Cheesecake is my favorite, it is so soft and creamy to eat, probably the best dessert you can think of plus the amount of flavours you can add to it. The pointers given in the article how to make a perfect cheesecake are really helpful.
Made this today and used greek yogurt in place of the sour cream. It turned out fabulous! There were no cracks and it tasted delicious! Thank you for the AWESOME recipe!
I would like a shortbread crust…does it work with this recipe?
Yes, as long as its not too thick and you bake it completely first.
Hi Lauren. What adjustments should I do if I want to make mini cheesecakes instead of a whole pan?
Did you find a successful adjustment? I am wanting to try it as minis as well.
I’m looking forward an adjustment to minis as well. Haven’t seen anything scrolling through. Did I miss a response?
Look online for Mini Cheesecakes. I have been making those for years. It uses the cupcake tins with liners and a vanilla wafer in the bottom for the crust. So easy! You don’t need to worry about this small ones cracking.
I made this recipe and it’s absolutely perfect! There is not a single thing I would change. Thanks Lauren for all the amazing recipes you share!
This is my second time to make this cheesecake. It is very delicious!! This will be the only recipe I will use since I didn’t have to change a thing! No cracks just wonderful! Thank you for sharing!
i did everything as said and it cracked once it was cooling in the oven slightly opened. does anyone know what i did wrong?
First cheesecake I ever made! Perfection! I’ve never been much of cheesecake fan (made it for my husband), but I must say it is amazing…I’ve been converted into a fan!
So nicely described and look mouthwatering. I love this recipe.
Neeti
I agree. Been making this recipe for years!
I once bought a cheesecake from a local expert, best I ever had. Taste was perfect, and just a little crumbly. She said that it was an indication cheesecake was made properly. I’m down found anyone that could make it like that again. Is this true?
I wouldn’t necessarily equate crumbly cheesecake to good cheesecake but I understand the sentiment. If it’s literally crumbly, it has been over baked. I think when you cut into a cheesecake, it should look as if it has a crumble to it but should stay together when you cut smaller pieces off with a fork. It should eat moist, as if you wouldn’t need a drink.
I love This recipe! New family favorite. I’ve made it 3 times and everyone raves about it. However, i tried and tried and I still get cracks every time. Doesn’t affect the flavor by any means but I’m wondering what I’m doing wrong.
I have made this recipe 5 times. 2 times it was perfect with no cracks and 3 times it cracked. I know I have done something wrong but I cannot for the life of me figure out what. But it is by far the best cheesecake and I will continue working to figure out what I am doing wrong. I follow this recipe to the finest instruction….even timing each step. Thank you Lauren for this recipe!!!
I’ve made this recipe twice (third time is in the oven right now) and my tip to avoiding cracks is after the 30 minutes with the oven off, take the cheesecake out briefly and run a knife around the edges. I find the cracking happens as it’s cooling and is shrinking a bit, so if it’s stuck to the edges, the cheesecake will pull and make cracks. After running the knife, I put it back in the oven with the door open and follow the rest of the cooling steps. Turned out perfect the second time after cracking the first!
I would guess one of two things-
1) you aren’t whisking the eggs enough to the point of well-whisked, so you’re over-mixing the batter. Make sure you which well, use a fork if you don’t have a whisk and mix them like you’re making an omelette.
2) you aren’t tapping the bowl on the counter long enough to remove the air bubbles. Air bubbles equal cracks.
Or a combination of 1 and 2.
The eggs are the last thing you add and you should be using the very lowest of the low setting on your mixer, and mixing just enough to blend the batter, no more than that. Then use your spatula to scrape the bottom and sides to ensure good blend, then bang the bowl for a bit.
Hello I’ve never made a cheesecake before and I’m wondering..do you remove bottom of springform pan or does it stay on when cutting and serving the cheesecake?
I always keep the springform pan bottom for serving (it makes it much easier!), but it really is personal preference.
I have the recipe of an outstanding restaurant. The secret to the best cheesecake is to never use sour cream or ricotta. Just cream cheese and maybe 1/4 cup of heavy cream if mixing in certain flavors
I disagree with you. I think that the sour cream is key and what makes a cheesecake DELICIOUS
I can not find sour cream in my country 😪 what is a good substituto? I wanna make a perfect cheescake.. It is a dream!!
Try plain yogurt!
I used plain yogurt. I didn’t have sour cream either. Hope this helps
I used heavy cream and yogurt – perfection
But your recipe calls for sour cream. I’m trying to understand & not be rude..If the best restaurant recipe doesn’t use sour cream, why would you?
Haha I was confused, too. That was a comment by Laurel, a random commenter, not Lauren 🙂
I’ve made cheesecakes for years and I never use sour cream or ricotta cheese.
You only think you have the recipe to CKF- I’m sure it’s just a copycat version that someone swore to an aunts friends sister that it came directly from there.
sounds like a lovely recipe but you neglect to write how long it should bake at 325 degrees before reducing the heat to 250. help!!!
Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post for all the specific directions.
Can I incorporate fruit such as whipped bananas into the recipe? If so, how?
I made this recipe last weekend and it turned out perfectly! I was wondering if you could make a key lime version of this same recipe. Have you done a variation like this before?
I haven’t made that variation. I’m sure it would be delicious but I can’t guarantee it wouldn’t crack.
How well will this come off the spring form plate? Do I need to put down parchment paper or wax paper before I do the crust to get it to remove easier from the spring form plate part ?
I just made this it is still cooling in the oven and it cracked any suggestion on why 🙁
30 minutes
There is a BLOG and a recipe… read the recipe step 7… 325 for 30 … 250 for 45
What can I use instead of graham crackers? Would digestives work? Should I use the same quantity of digestives as graham crackers?
Thanks 🙂
Try grinding vanilla wafers or vanilla Oreos. I think those would be best.
This cheesecake was a hit! Great recipe.
This looks fantastic and I can’t wait to try it!
Silly question: can I halve this recipe and still obtain the same great results?
Thank you!
Can it be made lower fat with low-fat cream cheese and sour cream? Also can swerve sugar substitute be used instead of sugar?
I haven’t tested it with low fat ingredients or sweetener. But as long as you bake it according to the directions I think it should work? But not giving you any guarantees. I am not familiar with swerve.
This cheesecake is perfect. It’s delicious and easy to make. I’ve made it several times with consistent results each time.
Is this cheesecake creamy or more dense & crumbly? I have a great recipe but this one is simpler.
It’s creamy and not crumbly.
I made this recipe today for Thanksgiving and OMG. It turned out beautiful. Perfectly smooth no cracks and cooked just right. Have you ever incorporated any add ins to this recipe? Like raspberry puree or could you take half of the cheesecake batter and add some cocoa powder to make a marble cheesecake? Just wondering…
Currently in the oven! It’s my third time making it and it comes out perfect. Thanks for a great recipe! I will never ever do a water bath again.
Lauren , I made in 9 inch springform pan and came out perfect. Would the baking time change if I made it with 2 – 6 inch springform pans instead of 1 9 inch pan . Again best cheesecake ever. Thanks
Delicious and perfect.
Lauren’s right! This recipe is AMAZING. I followed the recipe to the letter and the result was stunning..no cracking, no sinking. It was divinely creamy and delicious and will be my go-to cheesecake from now on (despite comments about the banging on the counter to dispel air bubbles sounding like I was demolishing the house!) I took a photo and wish there was a way of putting it up on here!
in step 5 you missed the sour cream
sorry its in step 4
How long would i need to bake it for a tiny springform pan? About 5 inches in diameter
Most amazing recipe ever, everyone I made it for said it was the best cheesecake they’ve ever had (and they’re picky)!! For thanksgiving, I’d like to make it with pumpkin, ideas on how much I should add? Should I remove some of the cream cheese??
Try my pumpkin cheesecake: https://laurenslatest.com/pumpkin-cheesecake/
Can I use this baking technique with any of your cheesecakes? I made your pumpkin but I followed your recipe by using the water bath? Loved both these cheesecakes!!
I haven’t tried my pumpkin cheesecake with this baking method but you are welcome to try!! I probably will next Thanksgiving!
This cheesecake turned our perfect! Very smooth and creamy, people were saying it was the best cheesecake they’ve ever had!!! And I love that it could be so perfect without a water bath!
Do you bake the crust the same amount of time if you are using Nilla Wafers?
Yes, I would!
Try monk sugar since it’s super sweet with ZERO sugar in it
I made it with 1/2 regular sugar and 1/2 monk fruit. I could detect a slight difference, but my family could not! Still amazingly delicious and will make again!
Best cheesecake ever. Made this for Christmas and turned out great. A little time consuming but well worth it. I just received a piece of cheesecake from an Italian restaurant tonight and it was nothing to this cheesecake. Getting the ingredients together to make another this week. Thank you for sharing.
This recipe is the BEST one out there & there was NO CRACKS, which makes it even better! Simply delicious. The BEST! Thanks
1st time making a cheesecake, and all I can say is WOW!!! There were NO CRACKS, and it looked beautiful (honestly it’s probably magazine worthy)! The BEST recipe out there! Delicious & creamy, it’s just perfect! Thank you Lauren, now I’m check out your other recipes! Thanks again!
Me too, my first one and it was truly amazing. It is so good I am making another one this weekend… this is my favorite cheesecake by far.. thanks so much..
My 10yr old daughter was craving Cheesecake. Being in quarantine, I’ve been teaching her how to bake, so we decided to try and make one together. It was a first time for both of us.
This is the best Cheesecake we’ve ever had! She said it was even better than any we’ve had in restaurants,and I agree! We are definitely saving this recipe to make again soon!
I totally agree. Super simple, but plan to be home most of the day when you make it. Next time, I will double the crust. That is the ONLY change I will make, and only because my family likes more crust. Absolutely amazing cheesecake! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
First cheesecake attempt. Couldn’t have turned out any better. Everyone loved it.
First time ever making a cheesecake and it was absolutely amazing!
I just Love this cheese cake recipe.
Thank you so much for sharing it❤❤
Usually low fat makes it thinner. You may need to look up low fat recipes…Sorry to say
She never said it was low fat 🙄 look up low fat recipes yourself
Low fat things have more water in them so it could be a problem
Ive baked with swerve before and had awesome results with regular cake, so just my opinion, but I think it would probably be fine. Try it and tell us how it is!! 🙂
Very tasty dish. I subbed cream cheese for neufchatel (- 16 oz) and added the zest of a lemon and 2 tap of cardamom.
So I’ve made this recipe 4 times. The first two were perfect
The second 2 have cracked
I added one extra brick of cream cheese on second two. Otherwise exactly followed the recipe
Any thoughts. Would doing the whole cooking phase at 250 stop cracks?
Fyi it’s amazing even with a crack!!
You added the extra brick to the second two? The two that cracked? Don’t you think that might answer your question? lol
One year later….. I used Neufchatel and it is delicious, great tang. I cut the amount by 16oz though.
I made this cheese cake for my own 55th birthday.
Followed it exactly, except the crust, reduced sugar by half.
This cake was a perfect 10. Thank you
Silky and smooth, not too sweet. Added home made coulis, strawberry.
Yum x 10 !
I made it with the lower fat cream cheese & actually used Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. It was still absolute perfection! 😋
You can definitely halve the recipe, but I’m not quite sure what size baking pan you would use. Maybe a 6″ springform pan?
Ok. Thank you!
This is by far the easiest and best Cheesecake recipe I have used. My family requests this all the time and said tastes better than a real bakery one. Thank you!!!
I tried this for the first time back in April during the pandemic lockdown and it was great. I’m trying again and I forgot to buy the cream cheese. Can I do it with out the cream cheese?
Omg! I can’t tell you how many cheesecakes I’ve attempted over the years. All the struggle to make a perfect cheesecake with NO cracks. I was skeptical when I saw this recipe because it seemed like I’ve attempted some in the past that were similar to this but the would always crack. I followed this recipe to a T and guess what? No cracks. No unnecessary browning around the edges. No jiggly questionable center. Literally perfect. I can’t thank you enough for your recipe ❤️❤️
No.
How do you make cheesecake without cream cheese. Did you mean you forgot the sour cream?
Followed the recipe to a T!
I forgot to pull out the eggs and sour cream early to get to room temp. So I just put my eggs in a bowl of warm (not hot!) water for 10 mins. And I measured my sour cream and spread it out on a plastic plate for the same amount of time and I didn’t have any issues. I always take my cream cheeses out of the box and flip them every 30 mins and move them because the counters get cold underneath them. I’ve never had any cracks whatsoever and my moms cheesecakes are always a little dry and always crack. So when I showed her mine she was shocked at how well it turned out 😁
You have got to be kidding! Did you seriously just ask if you could make cheesecake without cream cheese? What the what what is wrong with you?
What were you planning to use in place of the cream cheese??
It says bake at 350 then finish at 250. When do you switch ? How long on 250?
If you scroll to the bottom of the post where the recipe card is, you will get all the specific baking details:
Bake for 30 minutes at 325 degrees. Reduce temperature to 250 degrees and continue cooking for 45 minutes more. Once this time has elapsed, turn oven off and keep cheesecake inside for another 30 minutes for some carryover cooking without opening the oven door. Crack oven door to let cheesecake cool slowly for one hour before removing.
You’re a funny lady, Kim 🤣
halves is plural, like two halves. Halfing the recipe is spelled half.
What is the purpose of pointing out someone’s spelling mistake? You should check your accuracy before correcting someone. She used the would halve correctly.
Really?!? smh.
Can I used 2- 6” pans with this recipe?
If you do use a smaller pan, would that affect cooking times a great deal?
Made your recipe and it was delicious! No waterbath method worked perfectly!
What is the baking time if you halve the recipe? Thanks.
Best cheesecake recipe ever! Only problem so far, I have made it 3 times in 3 weeks! Everyone keeps asking for it. And now, I am passing out the recipe. Thanks for this! 🙂
amazing!!! followed the instructions verbatim and this cheesecake turned out perf!
O my word how easy this was. Simply wonderful, I dumped all my other cheesecake recipes
If you’re reading this, STOP!
MAKE IT ALREADY!
Yes, it’s damn good
I’ve made it three times now (in a month) with three different crusts.
1) Galletas grageas (took off sprinkles)
2) Graham Cracker
3) Oreo
I don’t care for the crusts anyhow, that’s just for my girlfriend. The cheesecake is phenomenal, especially with a raspberry sauce. The Oreo one is cooling down now and I can’t wait to eat it!
Oops, sorta still reading this 😅
will do
Wish I saw this sooner, started my first cheesecake today and not sure if it went well but I’ll definitely share how it goes when I try this one next time!
Made this cheesecake this morning for the second time ever. (for the work family tomorrow) The first time was last week and it was perfect. This time it was requested with a strawberry topping. So I made a strawberry glaze and mixed in the syrup before baking with a toothpick and will put the remaining glaze (with chunks of berries) on top after the baking has finished. I’m praying it turns out just as amazing as the first go. Thank you so much for posting this recipe
I halved it to use with a 6″ pan and came out perfect and super delicious!
Did you do the same baking time?
I want to know the same thing ,! If you bake it in a smaller pan is the bake time the same?
What cook times did you use?
Omg, it is the best cheesecake recipe!!!! Everyone loved it!!!!! So rich!!! So delicious!!!! Thank you for all your great tips!!!!! I’m making it again, second time in 2 weeks, of course it is Xmas❤️
I did because I had a ready made graham cracker crust on hand that I wanted to use. It came out fine
We have made this as direct and absolutely love it, but would like to know what changes may be necessary if we make these in 2 4″ springform pans instead. A 9″ cheesecake gets wasted at our house.
Thank you for sharing this recipe it is delicious!!
Dawnette