Look no further for a creamy and ultra smooth classic cheesecake recipe! Paired with a buttery graham cracker crust, no one can deny its simple decadence. For the best results, bake in a water bath.
I originally published this recipe in 2018 and have since added new photos and a few more success tips. This recipe is such a fan favorite, that it deserved a spot in print! You’ll also find this recipe in my New York Times best-selling cookbook, Sally’s Baking 101. The one in the book also includes a recipe for an optional cherry sauce topping!
One reader, Randy, commented: “This is the best cheesecake I have ever had! I’m from New York and nothing there beats this—even in the fanciest of restaurants. The only problem is that everyone I’ve shared it with wants me to make more and more. They rave about it being the best ever. ★★★★★”
Not a Plain Cheesecake Recipe
As much as I love cheesecake, I’ve never published a classic cheesecake recipe. There’s been peanut butter cheesecake, blueberry swirl cheesecake, Snickers cheesecake, pumpkin swirl cheesecake, lemon cheesecake, caramel turtle cheesecake, or Amaretto cheesecake. Plus more cheesecake in my published cookbooks. That’s a lot of cheesecake recipes without a single nod to where it all originates: classic cheesecake.
To me, classic cheesecake is creamy, rich, and smooth. My cheesecake recipe is not as dense as New York cheesecake, but it’s just as special. It’s thick, it’s velvety, and there’s no denying its decadence. When I imagine what Chandler and Rachel’s stolen cheesecake tastes like, it’s this!
While there’s a glaring absence of chunks, swirls, and sprinkles in this ivory crowned jewel, there’s nothing plain about this simply stunning dessert.
Preparing my cheesecake recipe is rather simple—it’s baking the cheesecake that could result in a flop. Many factors are at play like the springform pan leaking, the surface of the cheesecake cracking, under-baking, over-baking, etc. I have plenty of tricks that will help guarantee classic cheesecake perfection, including determining when the cheesecake is done and everything you need to know about a cheesecake water bath.
How to Make Classic Cheesecake
You only need a few basic staple ingredients for this cheesecake recipe.
- Brick cream cheese: Four 8-ounce bricks of full-fat cream cheese are the base of this cheesecake. That’s 2 pounds. Make sure you’re buying the bricks of cream cheese and not cream cheese spread. There are no diets allowed in cheesecake, so don’t pick up the reduced-fat variety!
- Sugar: 1 cup. Not that much considering how many mouths you can feed with this dessert. Over-sweetened cheesecake is hardly cheesecake anymore. Using only 1 cup of sugar gives this cheesecake the opportunity to balance tangy and sweet, just as classic cheesecake should taste.
- Sour cream: 1 cup. I recently tested a cheesecake recipe with 1 cup of heavy cream instead, but ended up sticking with my original (which can be found here with blueberry swirl cheesecake!). I was curious about the heavy cream addition and figured it would yield a softer cheesecake bite. The cheesecake was soft, but lacked the stability and richness I wanted. It was almost too creamy. Sour cream is most definitely the right choice.
- A little flavor: 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract and 2 of lemon juice. The lemon juice brightens up the cheesecake’s overall flavor and vanilla is always a good idea.
- Eggs: 3 eggs are the final ingredient. You’ll beat the eggs in last, one at a time, until they are *just* incorporated. Do not overmix the batter once the eggs are added. This will whip air into the cheesecake batter, resulting in cheesecake cracking and deflating.
And as always, make sure all of the cheesecake batter ingredients are at room temperature so the batter remains smooth, even, and combines quickly. Beating cold ingredients together will result in a chunky over-beaten cheesecake batter, hardly the way we want to start!
How to Make a Graham Cracker Crust
Since classic is the keyword of the day, we’re sticking with cheesecake’s main squeeze: a graham cracker crust. I reduced the butter from my original graham cracker crust recipe by 1 Tablespoon. I find this crust remains a little more crunchy. Make sure you pack the crust in tight and pre-bake it to help prevent any sogginess.
You could use this Oreo cookie crust instead. No big changes necessary to the recipe below, but I do encourage you to lightly grease the bottom of the springform pan because Oreo crusts tend to stick. Or you could use a Biscoff pie crust instead if you’d like.
I like to use the bottom of a small measuring cup to smooth the crust mixture into the springform pan. Speaking of, you’ll need a 9-inch or 10-inch springform pan. A springform pan has removable sides so you can safely release the cheesecake without having to flip the pan over or struggle to cut the cheesecake inside the pan. Springform pans can leak if you’re baking the cheesecake in a water bath (more on that below!), but this particular pan is reliable. I haven’t had any leaking issues.
Cheesecake Water Bath
I promise a water bath is nothing complicated. All you’re doing is placing the springform pan in a roasting pan, filling it with hot water, and baking. What’s the point, you ask?
I actually have an entire post and video tutorial for How to Make a Cheesecake Water Bath.
You see, cheesecake loves a humid environment. The steam from the hot water will lift the cheesecake up slowly and evenly, reducing the risk of cracks on the surface. Additionally, this slow and even baking method helps prevent the cheesecake from sinking back down as it cools. Taking a few extra minutes to prepare a water bath for this cheesecake recipe is well worth it.
Cooling & Chilling Cheesecake
Another way to help prevent cheesecake cracks is to initially cool it inside the oven. You can see me do this in the video below. When the cheesecake is done, turn the oven off, crack open the oven door, and leave the cheesecake inside for 1 hour. A drastic and sudden change of temperature isn’t ideal for cheesecake—from hot oven to cool counter—so do your best to control the environment by leaving the cheesecake inside. Does this make sense?
After the cheesecake cools in the oven for 1 hour, place it on the counter to cool. After it’s cool, chill it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or even overnight. There’s no greater test to your willpower than those several hours you’re forced to wait as the cheesecake cools down and then chills in the refrigerator. But every minute is completely worth it when you take that first luscious bite.
For a quicker, easier alternative to making a classic cheesecake, try this cheesecake pie or pumpkin cheesecake pie. Or if you want to completely skip the baking and cooling process, try my no-bake cheesecake instead.
4 Success Tips for Perfect Cheesecake
To summarize, here are some tricks I discussed:
- Do not over-mix the cheesecake batter.
- Bake in a water bath.
- Leave cheesecake in the cooling oven for 1 hour.
- Cool completely at room temperature.
Cheesecake Toppings
Enjoy your velvet-rich cheesecake as is or get a little fancy with a selection of toppings. I love cheesecake best with fruit, so I serve it with this simple raspberry sauce. Or you could top with homemade lemon curd, chocolate ganache, salted caramel, strawberry topping, blueberry sauce topping, or homemade whipped cream. Get creative or keep it simple. Either way, it’s going to impress. (And you’d totally eat it off the floor… Chandler and Rachel style.)
If you’re really looking to take your cheesecake to the next level, check out my pecan pie cheesecake, cinnamon swirl cheesecake, or caramel apple cheesecake pie.
How to Freeze Cheesecake
- Cool the cheesecake on the counter before freezing. No need to chill it in the refrigerator.
- Freeze on springform pan: Remove the outer rim from the springform pan. Wrap the cheesecake with the bottom of the pan with a few layers of plastic wrap, then a final layer of aluminum foil.
- Freeze without springform pan: After the cheesecake has completely cooled, run a sharp knife underneath the crust to release it from the bottom of the pan. Carefully slide it onto a parchment paper lined piece of cardboard or use a plate. Wrap it all in a few layers of plastic wrap, then a final layer of aluminum foil.
- Freeze for up to 3 months, then thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
- Do not freeze cheesecake with any toppings. Add toppings, like homemade whipped cream or salted caramel, when serving cheesecake.
Best Classic Cheesecake Recipe
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 7 hours, 45 minutes (includes chilling)
- Yield: serves 12-16
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Look no further for a creamy and ultra smooth classic cheesecake recipe! Paired with a buttery graham cracker crust, no one can deny its simple decadence. For the best results, bake in a water bath. This recipe is also in my cookbook, Sally’s Baking 101.
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
- 1 and 1/2 cups (180g) graham cracker crumbs (about 12 full-sheet graham crackers)
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 5 Tablespoons (71g) unsalted butter, melted
Cheesecake
- 32 ounces (904g) full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (240g) full-fat sour cream, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (optional, but recommended)
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
Instructions
- Adjust the oven rack to the lower-middle position and preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Make the crust: If you’re starting out with full graham crackers, use a food processor or blender to grind them into fine crumbs. Pour into a medium bowl and stir in the sugar until combined, and then stir in the melted butter. Mixture will be sandy. Try to smash/break up any large chunks. Pour into an ungreased 9-inch or 10-inch springform pan. With medium pressure using your hand, pat the crumbs down into the bottom and partly up the sides to make a compact crust. Do not pack down with heavy force because that makes the crust too hard. Simply pat down until the mixture is no longer crumby/crumbly (you can use the flat bottom of a small measuring cup to help smooth it out if needed). Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside while you prepare the filling.
- Make the filling: In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the sour cream, vanilla extract, and lemon juice and beat until fully combined. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition until just combined. Stop the mixer as soon as the final egg is fully incorporated into the batter; over-mixing can cause the cheesecake to deflate. You will have nearly 6 cups of batter.
- Prepare the simple water bath (see Note): (If needed for extra visuals, see How to Make a Cheesecake Water Bath; the visual guide and video will assist you in this step.) Boil a kettle/pot of water. You need 1 inch of water in your roasting pan for the water bath, so make sure you boil enough. I use an entire kettle of hot water. As the water is heating up, wrap 1 or 2 sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil around the springform pan—be careful if it’s still warm from baking the crust! Place the wrapped springform pan inside of a large roasting pan. Pour the cheesecake batter on top of the crust. Use a spatula to smooth it into an even layer. Carefully pour the hot water inside of the pan and place in the oven. (Or you can place the roasting pan in the oven first, then pour the hot water in—whichever is easier for you.)
- Bake the cheesecake for 55–70 minutes or until the center is almost set. If you notice the cheesecake browning too quickly on top, tent it with aluminum foil halfway through baking. When it’s done, the center of the cheesecake should still slightly wobble if you gently tap or shake the pan. Turn the oven off and open the oven door slightly. With the door ajar, let the cheesecake sit in the oven in the water bath as it cools down for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove from the oven and water bath, discard the foil, and place the springform pan on a cooling rack to cool completely at room temperature. When it has cooled, cover and refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours or up to 2 days.
- Run a knife around the edges of the springform pan to help loosen the cheesecake, then remove the outer rim. Using a sharp knife, cut into slices for serving. For neat slices, wipe the knife clean and dip it into warm water between each slice.
- Serve cheesecake with desired toppings (see Note). Cover and store leftover cheesecake in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes
- Make Ahead Instructions: This cheesecake can be made the day before. It has to chill for quite some time before serving. See step 5. Another way to make this cheesecake ahead of time is to freeze it. Cheesecake can be frozen up to 3 months. See instructions in blog post above.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Food Processor | Glass Mixing Bowl | 9-inch Springform Pan or 10-inch Springform Pan | Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Roasting Pan | Silicone Spatula
- Oreo Cookie Crust: Feel free to replace the graham cracker crust with this Oreo cookie crust. Spray bottom of springform pan with nonstick spray, as Oreo cookie crusts tend to stick. Pre-bake the crust, just as you do with the graham cracker crust in step 2 above.
- Toppings: One of my favorite toppings for this cheesecake is raspberry sauce. Or you could top the baked and cooled cheesecake with salted caramel, lemon curd, strawberry topping, chocolate ganache, red wine chocolate ganache, fresh fruit, or whipped cream. The topping from my pecan pie cheesecake is also an option!
- Alternate Water Bath Method: This method works as well, and you don’t have to bake the cheesecake IN water. Boil a kettle or pot of water. You need 1 inch of hot water in your roasting pan for the water bath, so make sure you boil enough. Place the cheesecake on the center oven rack of the preheated oven. Place a large metal baking or roasting pan (do not use glass—I usually use a 9×13-inch baking pan or an extra-large cast iron skillet) on the bottom rack. Pour boiling water into the empty pan, about 1 inch deep. Immediately close oven to trap the steam inside. This unique water bath adds steam to the oven without having the cheesecake sit inside the water itself. No need to wrap the springform pan in foil. See How to Make a Cheesecake Water Bath for more information.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Bring all cold ingredients to room temperature before beginning. Room temperature ingredients combine quickly and evenly, so you won’t risk over-mixing. Also, beating cold ingredients together will result in a chunky cheesecake batter, hardly the way you want to begin!
- Non-US Readers: Don’t have graham crackers where you live? Use 200g ground digestive biscuit crumbs (about 2 cups; 13–14 biscuits), 1/3 cup (67g) granulated sugar, and 6 Tablespoons (85g) melted butter. Pre-bake the crust for a bit longer, about 12–14 minutes. And from what I understand, spreadable cream cheese sold in a tub in countries outside of the US is a little different from the spreadable cream cheese in the US. It’s thicker, sturdier, and more solid and should be OK for this recipe. I have no experience with it, but this is what I’ve heard from other non-US readers. If you try it, let us know how it turns out!
Reader Comments and Reviews
Came out beautifully but tasted more like custard or chess pie than cheesecake. Any idea what I might have done wrong?
Hi Nicole, it sounds like the cheesecake was under-baked. A bit longer in the oven will help if you try the recipe again.
Hello! I’d like to half this recipe but I’m not sure about the eggs — should I used 1 or 2? Thanks!
Hi Nicole, You would need 1.5 eggs. For the half egg, you can crack an egg into a bowl, beat it with a fork, and then measure out 2 Tablespoons to use in the recipe, which equates to about half an egg. Hope this helps!
I make this every year! It’s so good!
But I make enough for 3 cheese cakes and left overs for cupcakes.
And I split the batter in half and add red food dye, and peppermint extract and make it like a peppermint mixed cheesecake with whipped cream and candy canes. It’s a hit every year.
I want to try this recipe. It looks great. Would it change the cooking time/temp if I add a layer of fruit compote between the crust and the cheesecake?
Hi Jim, we’d recommend adding a fruit compote to the top of the baked cheesecake rather than inside of the cake. Cheesecake can be a bit finicky, so adding more liquid would require other changes to the recipe in order to ensure it still sets correctly. Hope this helps!
I love this cheesecake recipe. Any suggestions on time/temperature if I used 3 mini cheesecake tins instead of one 9 inch pan? Each pan is 4 inches wide. Thank you!
Hi Carol! We’re unsure of the exact time needed for small cheesecakes, but let us know how they go!
Hands-down, the BEST cheesecake I’ve ever made, and probably ever eaten. It is creamy, smooth, soft (but not too soft), honestly, just perfect! I made it for Thanksgiving as a gluten-free dessert for my daughter, using Pamela’s Gluten Free Honey Grahams for the crust. She liked it plain, and the rest of us topped it with canned cherry pie filling. Absolutely a 10 out of 10! I can’t wait for the next occasion to have a reason to make it again.
Do you bake the cheesecake at 350
Yes! See step 1: Adjust the oven rack to the lower-middle position and preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
I made this and it was amazing. I substituted half of the sugar for brown sugar (I actually ran out of cane sugar haha) and it came out soooooooo goood!!!!
Hi Sally and team! I love a sour cream top on a cheesecake. Any recommendations on how to add that to this recipe? Would it be weird with leaving it in the oven after baking? Thank you!
Hi Clare, I wish we could help, but that is not something we have tried before!
Thank you!
This is the best cheesecake recipe. I have been making it for Thanksgiving since last year. Everyone loves it. I bake for 65 mins. to avoid getting brown.
I worked so hard on this cheesecake and did my best to wrap my spring form pan in foil as directed before going in the bath. I wrapped with numerous pieces. Water got in and the cheesecake cooked sitting in water. It’s super soggy. Im going to have to figure out some way to bake a new crust and scrape off the soggy crust so that it’s edible. So disappointing.
I have a fan oven, how can i change the baking time and method?
Hi Saamiah, We always recommend using conventional settings, if possible. If you do use convection settings for baking, lower your temperature by 25 degrees F and keep in mind that things may still take less time to bake.
I’ve made this cheesecake over 6 xs. Everyone compliments me on the texture and taste. I feel like a baddie.
Happy Thanksgiving! I made your cheesecake for today’s meal. I parbaked the crust and used a silicone cheesecake pan protector . After cooling, I found the crust was soggy. Could it have been the silicone cheesecake pan protector? There was no boiling water in the roaster either. I made the crust ingredients again and will use that for the crunch. Hopefully I can get all the soggy crust off!
That happen to me the first time too, the next I made thie yummy perfect cheesecake, after I made the crust and before putting on the foil I wrapped the pan with a oven roaster bag, using the tie I secure it tight then I wrap the pan with foil. it made a big improvement to the cheesecake. I think Sally may have mentioned it. I hope this helps!
If I wanted to make a raspberry pure for cheesecake and pour it over the top by the tsp and swirl it with a toothpick before baking, could I?
Hi Hanks, You can! We like to swirl in the sauce from these white chocolate raspberry cheesecake bars.
I’ve made this recipe many times and it is a family FAVORITE that has helped me make a reputation for making the best cheesecake. 5 stars!
not sure why my cheese cake will not cook enough to only have a little jiggle in the center. Now it’s cracking! Had to cover after 55 minutes as it was starting to brown. Cooked another 30 minutes , checking at 5 minute intervals. I finally shut oven off and I’m letting it sit for 1 hour. My pan may have been 8” springform as the cake is to the top. I hope it is ok…..
Hi Lisa! The cheesecake will be very thick and hard to bake through properly in an 8 inch pan. Let us know how it turns out!
Has anyone tried using a glass 13 x 9 baking dish? If so, do you somehow do the tub bath and how?
Hi Donna, We haven’t tested this recipe as in a 9×13 inch pan but you can use our white chocolate raspberry cheesecake bars as a guide for baking times. See the recipe notes under that recipe for directions using a 9×13 inch pan size.
This cheesecake is perfection. I zested some lemon into mine as well as the 2 tsp of juice. Not too much, but just a tad. It was gorgeous, didn’t crack at all and everyone was obsessed with the consistency and flavor.
I love your cheesecake recipes! They turn out great every time! How long is the maximum you would suggest storing in fridge before serving?
Hi Els, cheesecake can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Did you bake the crust before adding the filling?
Your recipe mad me a star for the holidays. I top it with cherries Thank you so much!
I have a question can I use pumkin puree in this recipe as a add on
Hi Rich, we recommend following this recipe for pumpkin swirl cheesecake instead.
Great recipe! I use the alternate water bath method. My family loves it. Making it for Thanksgiving.
This is a great cheesecake recipe! I make it for Thanksgiving. My family loves it! I use step 5, the alternate water bath method.
This is possibly the best cheesecake I’ve ever made. I served cherry and blueberry pie filling on the side but it was fantastic all by itself.
I also want to make this recipe for Thanksgiving. I would like to bake 2 at a time. Do you have an idea of how much longer it might take to bake?
Hi CLD! We’re unsure exactly how baking two at a time will change the baking time. It will be similar. Let us know how it goes!
This is my go-to cheesecake. Perfection!! I’d like to make a maple cheesecake for Thanksgiving.
Do you have a recommendation for how much maple syrup to add, reduce granulated sugar, substitute brown sugar?? I’ve found a few maple cheesecake recipes but would love your insight! Thanks!
Hi AWM, we haven’t tested a maple cheesecake, but it sounds delicious. We would love to hear what you try.
Hi Sally,
Can I use this cheese cake recipe but pour it into mini cheesecake pans?
Sure! Or here’s our mini cheesecakes recipe.
This recipe is definitely Rachael and Chandler floor worthy.
First perfect chesecake! Folks said it was the bet they’ve ever had! Followed your recipe to a t! Thank you!