Learn how to make a simple but perfect cheesecake every time! I am sharing my 10 secrets for the best creamy cheesecake and how to keep it from cracking.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Have you ever had the pleasure of baking a cheesecake and pulling a no-crack-top beauty out of the oven? It's like angels singing and confetti is flying around you! Definitely a baking success worth bragging about and showing off!!
It took me a few years and many, many cheesecakes to finally learn all the secrets to creating the perfect one each and every time. Mind you, even if there is a crack or crumbling crust - your cheesecake will still be delicious. So how do you make a perfecr cheesecake? It's quite simple!
I use this classic cheesecake recipe for my Orange Cranberry Cheesecake and the Caramel Apple Cheesecake.
Ingredients:
- cream cheese: must be softened in room temperature; best if you need to scrape it with a butter knife off the wrapper;
- sugar: white, granulated;
- graham crackers: for making the crust; use digestive biscuits if you can't find graham crackers;
- butter: helps the crust mixture come together, I always use unsalted;
- sour cream: adds creamy texture and tangy flavor so the cheesecake is not overly sweet;
- flour: helps to achieve the perfect texture;
- eggs: you need the same amount of eggs as 8 ounce packages of cream cheese;
- vanilla extract: adds that sweet dessert flavor; use the best quality you can get;
- milk: another ingredient that helps achieve the perfect creamy texture.
The perfect cheesecake should be:
- smooth
- creamy
- melt in your mouth with every bite
- with no crack
- with no crumbling crust.
It has to look fabulous and taste absolutely amazing.
How to make a perfect cheesecake?
This classic cheesecake recipe is very easy. It makes the best, creamy, and smooth vanilla cheesecake, with a perfect no-crumbling crust.
- Prepare the pan:
Trace the pan on a sheet of parchment paper and line the bottom of your springform pan. This will help with removing the cheesecake from the pan. Simply slide a knife under the parchment and remove the cheesecake from the bottom of the springform pan.
Wrap the bottom of the pan with aluminum foil, to prevent the water from the water bath from getting into the pan.
- Make the crust:
Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a mixing bowl. Press it into the bottom and up the sides of your pan. Using a flat-bottom measuring cup is very helpful here.
- Make the batter:
Beat cream cheese until creamy. Add sugar and mix in. Add flour, sour cream, and vanilla and mix in well.
- Bake the cheesecake:
Add beaten eggs to the batter and mix in on low speed, just until incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and set in a roasting pan. Add hot water to the pan and place the cheesecake in the oven.
Helpful Tips!
So what are the secrets to a perfect cheesecake? Well, let's go through all 10 of them. I promise it's easier than you may think!
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- Baking the cheesecake in a water bath.
This is the secret to a no-crack top! It will require you to add about 5 minutes to the preparation time but it is so so worth it. Line the springform pan with two sheets of aluminum foil and place the pan in a roasting pan. Boil 2 cups of water and when the cheesecake is ready for baking, pour enough water into the roasting pan to come up at least an inch up the sides but not too high so it won't go over the foil and flood your cheesecake. You can refill the water after the first 50 minutes of baking.
- Always use a springform pan.
I can't imagine trying to get the cheesecake out from a regular cake pan or a pie pan. It would be a mess! A springform sides help you release the cake from the pan so you can show off the cake and also perfectly slice it.
- Softened cream cheese for the smoothest texture.
The cream cheese should be very soft. You should need a knife to scrape it off the silver wrapper. If your cream cheese is not soft enough, you will end up with small chunks of it in the batter and the texture won't be smooth. If you are making a chocolate or pumpkin cheesecake and you can see small white dots in each slice, it means the cream cheese was not soft enough.
- Cream cheese to eggs ratio.
If you look at all the great cheesecake recipes, you will notice that the cream cheese to eggs ratio is 1:1. Which means that if you are using 3 8oz. packages of cream cheese - you should use 3 eggs. This is your secret to a perfectly rich, dense, and creamy cheesecake!
- Perfect graham cracker crust for a cheesecake.
This is your secret to a perfect flat crust that will come off in one piece when slicing the cheesecake. You do not want half the crust from your piece to be stuck to the pan. You want the crust to be perfectly flat (no hills) to make an ideal base for the filling. For every 1 and ½ cups of cookie crumbs (traditionally graham cracker crumbs, but also gingersnaps, Oreo's, even Ritz crackers!), you should use ½ cup of butter, melted. I highly recommend this ratio for 8 or 9-inch cheesecakes. After years of experimenting, I find it to be perfect. It's not too much to be stuck in the corners and enough to make a sturdy base for your filling. Pre-baking the crust for 7 to 8 minutes, will harden it enough which prevents it from crumbling while slicing the cake. To make 1.5 cups of graham cracker crumbs, you will need 10 sheets with 4 crackers each, attached to each other.
- The addition of flour and Greek yogurt.
It may sound strange, but you do want to add a little bit of flour and some Greek yogurt (or sour cream) to your batter. It will help with the smooth texture and perfectly creamy end result. I usually use only 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour in my cheesecakes.
- The oven temperature.
Go low and slow. The cheesecake needs time to bake. Do not hurry it! It's not cookies. Bake your cheesecake at 325 degrees instead of 350 degrees or 375 degrees. It will prevent it from over-baking and burning the top. You need to adjust the time to the size of your pan. I usually bake my cheesecakes in an 8" springform pan for 1 hour and 20 minutes at 325 degrees. You can also use a 9" pan and bake for 1 hour and 5 minutes, add more minutes if needed.
- Cooling the cheesecake in the oven for 1 hour after baking with the door slightly open.
After the timer beeped on your stove to inform you that the baking time has ended, turn the oven off, open the door and stick a wooden spoon in it to leave it slightly open. Leave the cheesecake in the oven in these conditions for 1 hour. This is another secret to a no-crack top!
- Loosening the sides with a knife, yet not taking the ring off.
After the cheesecake has cooled in the oven for 1 hour, slide a knife around the sides to loosen them up. Do not take the springform pan ring off. If you don't loosen the edges, the cheesecake will pull away during cooling and that will cause a crack. Chill the cake in the pan. This is your secret to a crack-free cheesecake!
- Chilling, chilling, chilling! 6 hours to overnight.
Chilling the cheesecake is absolutely crucial. This is your secret to a perfectly smooth, dense, and creamy texture! I always try to plan ahead while making a cheesecake for any occasion so I can chill it overnight. It makes a huge difference!
What to do if the cheesecake cracks?
If the cracks are on the sides (that happens if the cheesecake was slightly overbaked), they will close during cooling. If the crack is in the middle, there is not much you can do, except cover it with a topping (sour cream, chocolate ganache, pie filling, etc.).
How to remove cheesecake from a springform pan?
If you want to remove the whole cake from the pan to present on a cake stand, I recommend lining the bottom of the pan with a parchment paper circle. Once you remove the side ring of the pan, slide a knife under the parchment paper and remove the bottom of the pan. The paper also helps with removing individual slices without the crust crumbling or breaking.
Recipe FAQs:
Since the cheesecake is made mostly of dairy, it should be stored in the fridge. I place plastic wrap over the top (unless there is topping). Any leftovers should be kept in the fridge as well.
You can freeze a whole cheesecake or slice it into individual servings, wrap each one in plastic wrap, place in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 1 month.
Always use full-fat cream cheese, not Neufchatel. I am not particular about any brand. More affordable, store brand cream cheese works great!
Eggs along with cream cheese make the custard rich and creamy. I would not skip them in this recipe. Try a no-bake cheesecake, if you need to avoid the eggs.
Pre-baking the crust ensures that it will not crumble. It is a simple yet important step in my opinion. It only takes a few minutes to bake the crust.
Either works great! They help the cheesecake set. I always use flour or cornstarch when making cheesecake.
More cheesecake recipes:
If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!
Perfect Cheesecake
Ingredients
for the crust:
- 1 ½ cups finely crushed graham crackers
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
for the filling:
- 24 oz cream cheese softened (3 packages, 8oz. each)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 3 large eggs well beaten
Instructions
prepare the water bath:
- Wrap an 8" springform pan in aluminum foil and set in a roasting pan.
- Boil 2 cups of water. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 325℉.
to make the crust:
- Place graham crackers in food processor and process until finely crushed.1 ½ cups finely crushed graham crackers
- Add sugar and melted butter and process on low until all comes together.1 Tablespoon granulated sugar, ½ cup unsalted butter
- Press the crust into the springform pan.
- Bake for 7 minutes in preheated oven.
- Set aside.
to make the filling:
- Place cream cheese in a large bowl and beat with a hand mixer for 30 seconds.24 oz cream cheese
- Add sugar and mix until combined.1 cup granulated sugar
- Add flour, sour cream, vanilla and milk and mix until smooth.2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, ½ cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon milk
- Add eggs and mix on low until completely incorporated. Do not overmix.3 large eggs
- Pour the batter over baked crust. Tap the roasting pan on the counter a few times to release any air bubbles from the batter. If they are stubborn, you can poke them with a toothpick.
- Place the roasting pan with the springform pan in the oven. Pour enough water into the roasting pan to come at least 1 inch up the sides of the springform pan but not over the foil.
- Bake 1 hour and 20 minutes. Replace water after the first 50 minutes of baking.
- When the time is up, turn off the oven and insert a wooden spoon in the door, leaving it slightly ajar. Leave the cheesecake inside for one hour.
- Run the knife around the edges of the pan. Do not release the pan. Cool the cheesecake completely on the counter.
- Place cheesecake in the fridge and chill for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- Top with desired toppings (fresh fruit, sauce, ganache, glaze, frosting, chopped candy, etc.)
Notes
- The total time includes the cooling time. You need to let the cheesecake cool completely and then refrigerate it (preferably overnight) for the best results.
- Refrigerate any leftovers for up to 5 days in a closed container.
- Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate.
Nutrition
If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section. I know many of us bakers have our favorite ways to bake but these are mine. I am not saying that other recipes are wrong, I am just sharing my tips for creating what is a perfect cheesecake in my opinion. I hope my list of tips will be at least a guide.
Sheens says
Hi Anna! I’ve been making many failed cheesecake bakes from one recipe and your tips are so helpful!
Today I tried the method of switching off the ove. And letting it cool in the oven before removing it onto the counter.
However, there was a crack on the surface ( maybe I over whipped it) but what was most surprising was the entire cheesecake filling dislocated itself from the crust! I’m not sure what happened!
I baked it at 150degrees celcius for about 1 hr 30 mins and then switched off the oven. When an hour was up for me to remove it to chill I noticed the entire cheesecake filling came apart and there is a huge gap between the filling and the crust. 🙁 this has never happened before - even with the various previous attempts.
What do you think could have happened? I feel so helpless! x thank you ◡̈ sheens
Sheens says
Btw my crust is just a mix of butter and digestive / graham biscuits. I haven’t yet tried it with sugar as my recipe didn’t call for it. But I’m keen to try it especially if the sugar does help to bind it together.
My crust is terribly crumbly and I’m trying to figure out how to make it harder.
JoAnna says
Hello,
My cheesecake just finished baking and I have a wooden spoon holding the door slightly open where it will cool for one hour. After that your recipe says to leave it on a rack on the counter to cool completely and then to chill overnight in the oven but elsewhere it says to leave it in the pan and do not take it out of the springform pan so is it supposed to chill in the pan in the fridge or can I remove it from the pan after it’s chilled out on the counter completely?? Then place to chill without pan in the fridge? It doesn’t really specify at what point do you release the pan. I look forward to hearing from you! Thank you so much!
JoAnna
Anna says
Hi JoAnna! In step 9, I say to run the knife around the edge of the cheesecake, don't release the pan and let it cool completely on the counter. Place cheesecake in the fridge, in the pan to chill overnight. After that, you can release the sides. I hope this helps! Let me know how it turns out!
Bob says
I think conversion to metric not correct for the cheese
Carol Sanders-Sheehan says
My math is telling me it should be 675 grams of cream cheese.
Paula wells says
I made this for my daughter's birthday. I made it in a 10" springform pan and used 3 1/2 cream cheese, 1 1/2 cup butter etc,.
If turned out perfect, my family absolutely loved it.
I am making another one right now for a friend.
Thank you for your very detailed hints. I used everyone of them,
Paula W.
Kim says
Perfection. Recipe is fabulous very detailed and specific and easy to follow. I had one minor crack which is expected no problems with anything else. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
kim says
Do you completely remove the cheesecake when changing the water?
Anna says
Hi Kim! I do not. Just add more water to the pan.
Kim says
Thank you!
vanessa says
Thank you for the recipe. My family loved the cheesecake. ❤
Cheesecake man says
I have found that a removable bottom cake pan works much better than a spring form pan. But even better is a deep (3"-4") cake pan with parchment paper on the bottom works even better. Cool and flip. Then you don't have to worry about water getting into the pan. Also, both of these are much easier to clean. I like Fat Daddios.
Anna says
Thank you so much for sharing!
JERENE HAYNES says
I made my first baked cheesecake for my family’s Christmas Eve dinner and it was a BIG hit!! Thank you for sharing!!
Anna says
Thank you for trying my recipe, Jerene!
Cathy says
Hi Anna, thank you for this great recipe! I made it last night and after it was done cooling in the oven, I noticed that water had gotten into the foil. I had only added the 2nd layer to half of it. Will that mean the crust will be soggy? I hope I can still serve it tomorrow. Any suggestions?
Anna says
Hi Cathy! The foil is a double protection in case the pan leaks. Let me know how you liked the cheesecake!
Gerald says
Hi Anna,
For the spring form pan, is the size an 8inch or 9 inch pan?
I see both sizes listed in the recipe.
I can't wait to try it! Thanks!
Anna says
Hi Gerald! I use 8" springform pan. You can use 9" but the cheesecake won't be as thick as the one on the photo. I hope you love this recipe! Let me know.
Gerald says
The cheesecake in the photo looks perfect! I will use the 8 inch pan.
Thanks So Much Anna!
Anna says
No problem at all! If you have any other questions, just let me know!
Catalina says
I love the texture of this cheesecake! Thanks for these tips!
Erin says
I need to try this cheesecake immediately, it looks so good!
Melanie says
You've done it! You've made it look easy to make the perfect cheesecake!
Anna says
It really is easy! 😀 Thanks, Melanie!
Julie Blanner says
Cheesecake is one of the best desserts ever created! This is so creamy and a perfect dessert for any meal!
Anna says
I agree! Thank you, Julie!
wilhelmina says
I finally baked a cheesecake with no cracks! Thanks for the great tips, this cheesecake is phenomenal!
Anna says
Yay! That's fantastic! I am so glad my tips are helpful. Thank you, Wilhelmina!
Valerie says
Cheesecake is my favorite dessert in the world. I always enjoy seeing the different ways people make them.
Anna says
Same here! Thanks, Valerie!