Looking for the best recipe for a melt-in your-mouth New York Style Cheesecake? Rich, dense, creamy and smooth, this classic cheesecake is absolutely delicious and so easy to make!
New York Style Cheesecake
Finely here I am today, sharing the recipe for easy take on a classic. After all these years of blogging, I realized that I have a dozens of cheesecake recipes, but non for a classic, go-to, basic cheesecake. In order to make it right, I get back to the start with this New York Style Cheesecake recipe.
Cheesecakes are my greatest love in a dessert world. I love any kind of cheesecake, bake or no bake, regular size or mini cheesecakes. Crazy about these sweet and decadent desserts I even transformed them into a truffles, fillings for cake, chimichangas … I just can’t help it.
As I said, I love experimenting with all sorts of cheesecake creations so I carried away and forgot to show you how to make a classic cheesecake.
New York Style Cheesecake is just a simple combo of basic graham cracker crust and smooth and silky cream cheese filling. It’s a bit tangy but rich in texture thanks to addition of sour cream in filling.
Some types of New York style cheesecakes use sour cream for topping, but I like to mix it into filling. That’s easier than applying it onto cheesecake after cooking and replace it in the oven, making the cheesecake twice-baked.
How to make the best New York Style Cheesecake
In order to achieve rich and dense, but smooth and creamy consistency of a cheesecake, make sure to use full fat cream cheese and room temperature ingredients.
The most common issue is how to avoid the cheesecake cracks at the top. That won’t look good if your cheesecake doesn’t have topping. Cracks may be caused by over beating the batter, so make sure to run your mixer on low speed. You don’t want to incorporate a lot of air into the batter. Just slowly combine ingredients until smooth.
Cracks could also appear because too much moisture is lost during baking or the cheesecake is over baked. That’s way you should always use water bath. Water bath keep moisture and also evenly distribute the heat.
Above all, cheesecake should have nice, smooth and creamy consistency. That’s way you don’t want to over bake your cheesecake. When it’s done it should be firm but the center should look a little wet and if you shake the pan gently it should still wobbles a little. Don’t worry, it will firm up as it cools.
Also a good trick is to turn off the oven after baking and let your cheesecake sits in with a door slightly open. Wait for an hour before bring it out at room temperature. It will prevent failing and cracking.
Given these points, making perfect cheesecake is really simple and easy. Get on and bake!
What’s your favorite cheesecake?
New York Style Cheesecake
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
Looking for the best recipe for a melt-in your-mouth New York Style Cheesecake? Rich, dense, creamy and smooth, this classic cheesecake is absolutely delicious and so easy to make!
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 3 Tablespoons sugar
- 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter-melted
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
For the Filling:
- 2 lbs. full fat cream cheese-softened to room temperature
- 1½ cups sugar
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 4 eggs-room temperature
- 3/4 cup sour cream- room temperature
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream- room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F and place the rack in lower third.
- Place double layer of extra large aluminum foil under your 9 inch springform pan and cover the bottom and sides of the pan, wrap it tightly around the sides to make sure no water gets in during baking in water bath.
- To make the crust mix together graham cracker crumbs, sugar, melted butter and salt. Press the mixture into the bottom and sides of springform pan. Bake for 10-12 mins, then set aside to cool.
- Turn down the oven temperature to 325 F!!!
- To make the filling beat softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually beat in sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in salt, vanilla, lemon juice and cornstarch.
- Beat in eggs one at a time. Run your mixer on low speed. You don’t want to incorporate a lot of air into the batter. Just slowly combine ingredients until smooth.
- Beat in sour cream and heavy whipping cream.
- Place springform pan into roasting pan. Pour the batter into springform pan and smooth the top. Pour boiling water in roasting pan halfway up the side of the springform pan make sure no water drip on the batter.
- Place in the oven and bake at 325 F for 1 hour and 45-55 minutes.
- When the cheesecake is baked let it sit in the oven with the door slightly open for 1 hour (don’t forget to turn off the oven!!!)
- Remove the cheesecake from the water bath, dry the bottom of the pan, run a thin knife around the edges to loosen the cake and let it cool to room temperature. Cover the top and place it in the fridge to chill for at least 5 hours or overnight before serving.
- Release the ring from springform pan before serving.
44 comments
What is water bathing? Can you post any pictures to help with making this? I’m just starting out learning to make things, so I don’t have many dishes but can buy some, springform pan and roasting pan?
She describes water bathing in the body of the directions. I was perplexed at first as well. The directions are good. A spring form pan has sides that sit down in the bottom and then there is a clasp that makes it fit tightly enough to hold the batter. That way when the cake is done, you unlatch the clasp and there’s your cake! A roasting pan is a very large pan that you might use to cook a turkey.
Best cheesecake ever !
Can you clarify the cook time please. At the top of the recipe it says cook time is 1 hour and 10 min and in the recipe itself it says 1 hour and 45-55 minutes. Which is correct? Thank you!
HI Penny, it’s 1 hour and 45-55 minutes
Hello.
The cheesecake tastes amazing but for some reason it raises a lot and cracks a lot.
I’m following the recipe to the t but it still does that. It really bothers me so today is the second day I make it in a row but still the same result.
Do you know what the reason for that might be?
Hi Ventsi, I guess you beat the batter more than it should and incorporate to much air after adding eggs and cream.
Question? If the cook time is eally 1 hour and 45-55 minutes why wasn’t that corrected at the top of the recipe. I don’t want to waste all my ingredients if it is over baked. Please clarify for me.
Thanks ,
Bev
Yes, it’s 1 hour and 45-55 minutes.
I found that 1 hour and 45-55 minutes was over baked as well as the time for the crust. This is a delicious cheesecake!!
Very creamy cheesecake!!!!
Do You to the pan with the filling? Or half way only?
[…] source […]
Followed recipe to a T, cheesecake came out perfect. I wrapped a double layer of foil around the spring form pan and placed the pan in a slow cooker bag and secured it around the foil, placed it in a roasting pan and added water halfway up the sides, cheesecake was perfectly cooked in 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Awesome idea to add the slow cooker bag! Thanks!!
Can I do a raspberry puree swirl on the top before baking?
I’m going to try a blackberry purée marbling on this recipe, I’ll let you know how it turns out. I’m also going to try it out in the instant pot
This cheesecake is amazing. I think I overbaked it as I miscalculated the timer. Totally my fault. I was looking at recipes to try for Christmas and this is the one. Although I am going to try the oven bag that someone had mentioned previously. My crust got soggy while taking its bath. Lol. It hardened up in the fridge though. No cracks, and tastes amazing. Thank you for the detailed step by step directions I am not that great of a cook, or baker. Now everyone will be thinking I lie to them about it lol. Thank you.
Thanks Carrie!
Mine is in the oven now, and after reading the reviews, I see I forgot to bake the crust first, well now what should I do ? Hope for the best is all i can do…..Anyway, things happen… Merry Christmas….
Merry Christmas Bobbi! I hope everything was well at the end!
2 pounds of cream cheese?
Yes, 4 x 8 oz. blocks
45 too 55 minutes then an hour with the oven door ajar?
1 hour and 45-55 minute, than leave it in the oven for 1 more hour .
Made this last night and it came out PERFECT!!! No cracks, it was rich and the crust was so good. I love baking cheesecake as it’s my husbands FAVORITE dessert. THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS RECIPE!! Will be using it from now on!!!
Thanks April! I’m so happy to hear that!
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can I bake the crust the night before & mix the filling up the night before?
Hi Cheryl, sorry, I haven’t tried to keep the filling in the fridge.
Wow!!! I made this cheesecake for my Hubby yesterday to celebrate his Birthday (cheesecake is his favorite). This is the best cheesecake recipe ever, so creamy and flavorful. I will definately keep this recipe as one of my favorites. Thanks.
So I followed all directions except bought the light version sour cream accidentally, after only one hour I peaked thru oven window and saw cracking already ! And the end time ( 1 hr and 45 mins ) big circle crack around whole diameter lol?? Anyway , guess I’ll be putting a topping on to cover it . Looks nice and thick just waiting for it to cool then I’m digging in baby!!!!!!!!
Best cheesecake I have ever made,
Could this recipe be modified to make it a chocolate cheesecake? So far every chocolate cheesecake recipe I’ve found only have 2-2.5 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese. I’d like to have the NY style cheesecake consistency, but in chocolate.
First off, I LOVE this recipe, its a no fail to please.
have found tho that there should be a change in the process of adding ingredients,
the eggs should be added alternately w/ the cream cheese at the begining
beating each egg individually before adding to the cream cheese
I have a kitchenaid mixer, start off w/ the paddle blade to break down the cream cheese w/ the eggs till smooth
then switching over to the whisk attachment to finish w/ other ingredients
makes for smoother creamier cake
Frustrated that advertisements are so large on the print out of the recipe. Probably won’t use this blog in the future because of it.
Cheesecake is in the oven now, making it for my husband’s birthday tomorrow. Recipe was really easy to make and I’m excited to see how it comes out.
I’m making this tonight for a friends birthday tomorrow. I’ve had lots of Cheesecake recipes and made them so many times, not sure why I’m always looking for another one to try. I wanted to give my ideas on the water bath. After I found out about this many years ago I never make a cheesecake without baking it like this. I have a hint that might help. When I started doing the water bath method I had a couple soggy crusts because the water got into the pan. You might try using one of those crockpot liners to sit the pan down in, tie it off tight at the top. Then wrap it with the aluminum foil like directed in the recipe. Works for me. Good Luck!
Fantastic!!!! I will definitely make it again. I followed all the instructions (and even added the slow cooker bag over the foil) and was careful not to over beat starting with eggs. Turned out perfectly! I wasn’t able to get the Graham cracker crumbs to stay on sides of pan so I just had a bottom crust. But it was so good! Just like I had hoped.
Made this for my daughters birthday last night. Very simple, easy recipe to follow. I turned the top into a turtle cheesecake by adding caramel chocolate and pecans. It turned out perfect! I used a small pan of hot water on shelf below instead of wrapping in foil. No cracks. Delicious recipe thank you!
If you click on ” print recipe”, you get no ads. Not right to blame the blog….
I have made this recipe many times, exactly as directed, and it came out perfect. This is my go to New York style recipe! Today I am going to try marbling in a blackberry purée, and putting it in my 10 quart instant pot. I’ll let you know how it goes 🙂 I found another recipe that says if you put a layer of paper towel covered in foil and you cook it in the instant pot it’s like doing the water bath in the oven but you can cut the time in less than half.
I have made this numerous times. It is hands down the best NY style ever!! I just switched from electric to natural gas oven. Are there any adjustments that I need to make?