The Greatest New York-Model Cheesecake

February 29, 2024

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New York-Model Cheesecake is wealthy, creamy, and probably the most well-known cheesecake recipes on this planet! With a crunchy graham cracker crust and dense however creamy cheesecake filling, it’s scrumptious with strawberry sauce on prime! Comply with my pro-tips under to forestall cracking whereas the cheesecake bakes.

New York Cheesecake? Sure, Please!

Reader Sheri F. says:

This really is the most effective NY type cheesecake recipe!!! So many compliments from family and friends that it’s the most effective cheesecake they’ve ever had. Even my cousin from NJ! I’ve made it 3 occasions within the final 6 weeks.

When you’re a cheesecake purist, immediately’s new cheesecake recipe is for you! As a result of immediately I’m educating you find out how to make the BEST New York-Model Cheesecake! This number of cheesecake is known for a couple of causes:

Thick and crunchy graham cracker crust – with numerous buttery taste.
Dense however creamy cheesecake filling – really the right texture!
To-die-for scrumptious traditional cheesecake taste – it’s arduous to cease at one slice!
Scrumptious plain or with a wide range of topping like whipped cream, strawberry sauce, sizzling fudge, or salted caramel sauce.

When you’re a cheesecake professional, you’ll love figuring out that I’ve examined and perfected this recipe. And it has dozens of 5-star critiques! When you’re a cheesecake newbie, this recipe is a superb start line for you as a result of it’s principally foolproof. However be at liberty to ease your method into the cheesecake baking world with these New York-Model Cheesecake Bars, that are even simpler!

Cheesecake Components

Graham Crackers Crumbs: For ease, I purchase them already crushed. However you should purchase sheets of graham crackers and pulverize them in a meals processor or a high-power electrical mixer.
Unsalted Butter: Melted butter is the binder for the graham cracker crust. When you can solely discover salted butter, merely omit the salt known as for within the recipe.
Cream Cheese: Brick-style full-fat cream cheese works greatest for cheesecake recipes. For straightforward and even mixing, be sure that it’s at room temperature – or softer – earlier than making the cheesecake batter.
Bitter Cream: Provides richness and a delightfully tangy taste to the cheesecake. When you can not discover bitter cream, an equal quantity of full-fat plain Greek yogurt is the most effective substitution.
Vanilla Extract: A touch will add scrumptious vanilla taste whereas enhancing the opposite flavors on this recipe. You’ll want to use pure vanilla, not synthetic or imitation vanilla.
Eggs: This recipe requires complete eggs and egg yolks. Use giant selection eggs. They assist thicken the batter and provides it a clean texture. You’ll want to add the eggs one by one, and beat on medium-low pace till simply mixed.
Flour: A small quantity of all-purpose flour offers this cheesecake it’s trademark dense but creamy texture. I believe a 1-for-1 GF flour would work nice right here.
Heavy Cream: Aka heavy whipping cream. This dairy product makes the cheesecake insanely clean and creamy. Don’t sub milk or half and half.

The Good Springform Pan

After baking HUNDREDS of cheesecakes, I’ve lastly discovered the right springform pan. Really, I’ve two favorites: Fats Daddio’s Springform Pan and USA Pan Springform Pan.

You’ll want a 9-inch springform. A daily 9-inch cake pan won’t work. Fortunately, these pans have many makes use of past cheesecake recipes, and are definitely worth the funding! Please don’t try this recipe with out the appropriate pan.
The springform pan wants to have the ability to maintain a minimum of 8 cups of batter, so select one which’s a minimum of 2.5 inches deep. If you find yourself with further batter, you’ll be able to all the time bake it in a muffin tin like these mini cheesecakes.
I recommend a springform pan that’s lighter in colour. Lighter coloured pans will bake a cheesecake with a pale prime. Darker pans will yield darker baked items. A darkish cheesecake prime isn’t the tip of the world although… and a few folks even choose it!

Secrets and techniques to a Creamy Cheesecake

Full-fat Cream Cheese: This cheesecake recipe will not be the place to make use of diminished fats cream cheese. I additionally don’t suggest utilizing Neufchâtel, which is decrease in fats content material. And thus will produce a much less creamy cheesecake. So purchase full-fat brick-style cream cheese for greatest outcomes.
Bitter Cream AND Heavy Cream: Most cheesecake recipes solely use one among these elements. However in my testing I’ve discovered you get the creamiest cheesecake once you use each! When you can not discover bitter cream, plain full-fat Greek yogurt is the way in which to go.
Do NOT over Combine the Batter: It is best to do the vast majority of your mixing BEFORE you add the eggs and flour. When you’ve added these elements, you wish to combine on low pace till simply mixed.
Water Tub: Baking in a water bathtub permits the cheesecake to bake slowly and evenly. This produces an extremely creamy cheesecake!
Comply with the Cooling Course of: After baking, you’ll flip off the oven, however don’t open the oven door! You’ll let it cool this fashion for half-hour earlier than eradicating it from the oven after which eradicating the pan from the recent water.

Easy methods to Stop Cracking

Don’t Over Combine: Particularly when you’ve added the eggs and flour! The one time you wish to combine the cheesecake batter on excessive is when you’re getting the clumps out of the cheesecake. When you add within the eggs, it’s essential to combine on low so that you just don’t beat an excessive amount of air into the batter. Extreme beating will make the cheesecake puff up within the oven after which sink and crack when you take away it from warmth.
Room Temperature Components: Chilly elements don’t bond evenly! And on this case, chilly elements would additionally require numerous mixing, which as said above, is a no-no. So make sure your entire elements are at room temperature. Particularly the full-fat cream cheese, which must be fairly tender earlier than use.
Water Tub: Baking in a water bathtub is an important step for creamy cheesecake! This further step will assist stop cracking and can guarantee a clean and creamy cheesecake recipe!
Don’t Over Bake: That is the piece of recommendation most individuals ignore… and the remorse it! You don’t want to over bake your cheesecake. In actual fact, you wish to take away it from the oven earlier than it units utterly within the heart. A bit of jiggle is an effective factor, as a result of it’ll proceed to prepare dinner because it cools.
Cool Slowly: You’ll wish to cool this New York-Model cheesecake slowly, which helps stop cracking. You’ll start by cooling the cheesecake within the oven, with the temperature turned off. Then you definitely’ll open the oven door, take away the cheesecake, and funky to room temperature. Lastly, you’ll chill within the fridge for a number of hours.

When you end chilling your cheesecake, you’ll be able to slice it and dig in! To get clear slices of cheesecake, use a big knife and press firmly down when reducing. Wipe the knife clear with a heat moist fabric between slices.

Baking in a Water Tub 101

Baking a cheesecake in a water bathtub helps the cheesecake keep moist, creamy, and helps stop cracking. Lots of new bakers concern this course of, however I promise there’s nothing to concern. I’ve a complete submit on find out how to make a straightforward water bathtub for cheesecake, however listed here are my prime suggestions damaged down:

Springform Pan: Earlier than you even take into consideration baking cheesecake, be sure to have the appropriate springform pan available! That is important for cheesecake AND for the water bathtub.
Aluminum Foil: To make sure no water seeps into our pan, you’ll wrap the springform pan with aluminum foil. I like to recommend further large heavy-duty aluminum foil, which principally guarantees no water will spoil your graham cracker crust.
Roasting Pan: You’ll want a pan that’s large sufficient to carry the springform pan and deep sufficient to carry about 3-inches of sizzling water. A flat-bottomed roasting pan works greatest, however you may get inventive right here and attempt to discover a pan you have already got that works.
Scorching Water: The final step earlier than putting your cheesecake within the oven? Add about 3-inches of freshly boiled sizzling water into the roasting pan. Ensure you pour slowly; you don’t need the water to splash and get IN the cheesecake.

How Lengthy Does Cheesecake Final within the Fridge?

One in every of my favourite issues about cheesecake recipes is that you would be able to make them upfront! Baked and absolutely cooled, this cheesecake will maintain within the fridge for as much as 4 days. So you’ll be able to bake it earlier than your subsequent vacation gathering and chill out figuring out desert is prepared if you find yourself. Or you’ll be able to freeze it following my directions under!

Are you able to Freeze Cheesecake?

Baked cheesecakes freeze nice, and can maintain for as much as 2 months when frozen appropriately.
You have to cool and chill the cheesecake utterly earlier than freezing it. Then you’ll be able to determine for those who freeze the entire cheesecake or lower it up and freeze it in slices. If freezing complete, don’t freeze within the cheesecake pan!
Place the entire cheesecake – or slices – on a baking pan and punctiliously place within the freezer simply till agency. This takes about an hour for slices and two hours for the entire cheesecake.
Take away from the freezer (set a timer so that you don’t neglect) and wrap the cheesecake tightly in a number of layers of saran wrap. The plastic wrap will make sure the cheesecake doesn’t get freezer burn.
Place the entire cheese, or the slices, in a big freezer bag. Press out any extra air, then seal the bag. Label with the date and pop the bag within the freezer for as much as 2 months!
To defrost this New York-style cheesecake, take away it from the freezer the evening earlier than you propose on serving it. Thaw the wrapped cheesecake in fridge in a single day, or till tender and sliceable. Don’t try to thaw this cheesecake within the microwave or oven!

Whereas the Cheesecake Bakes…

This cheesecake has an extended bake time… however because you’re already within the kitchen, why not make a recent strawberry sauce? You’ll solely want a handful of elements like strawberries, lemon juice, and sugar. And this strawberry sauce is the right topping for cheesecake! Between the crunchy graham cracker crust, creamy cheesecake filling, and fruity strawberry sauce topping, it’s actually dessert perfection!