Classic New York Cheesecake Recipe: The Perfect Extra Creamy Slice
- Sep 28, 2025
- 4 min read
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Preparation & Cooking Time: 90 Mins
QUICK INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
Make the crust: Brown the butter, then combine all crust ingredients in a food processor until it resembles wet sand.
Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch (23 cm) springform pan and bake for 5 minutes. Let it cool.
Make the filling: Using a mixer, beat the cream cheese on low until smooth.
In a separate bowl, rub the sugar and lemon zest together.
Add the lemon sugar, lemon juice, sour cream, vanilla, and salt to the cream cheese mixture and mix on low speed until combined.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing just until each is incorporated.
Pour the filling into the cooled crust and tap the pan to remove air bubbles.
Bake for 90 minutes at 325°F (160°C).
Turn off the oven, prop the door open slightly, and let the cheesecake cool inside for one hour.
Remove from oven, let cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
Release from pan and serve.
Ingredients:
For the Crust:
1 ½ cups (180 g) graham cracker crumbs (or digestive biscuits)
6 tbsp (85 g) unsalted butter, browned
2 tbsp (25 g) granulated sugar
Âź tsp (1.5 g) fine sea salt
For the Filling:
4 (900 g) blocks of full-fat cream cheese, room temperature
1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
Zest of one large lemon
Juice of ½ a large lemon
1 cup (240 ml) full-fat sour cream (or crème fraÎche), room temperature
1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
Âź tsp (1.5 g) fine sea salt
4 large eggs, room temperature
Detailed Cooking Process: Baking a perfect New York cheesecake is less about strict rules and more about trusting your instincts. It's a journey, not a race. Our first stop on this delicious trip is the foundation: the crust. While most recipes just tell you to melt some butter and mix it with graham crackers, we're taking it up a notch by browning the butter first. This simple step unlocks a hidden, nutty flavor that will make your taste buds do a little dance of joy. Just remember to pour it off the heat immediately once it's golden brown to stop the cooking process.
