Best Cheesecake Recipe

This classic Southern Cheesecake Recipe features a rich, creamy filling with just a touch of tangy sour cream, all nestled in a buttery graham cracker crust. It’s a decadent, make-ahead dessert that’s right at home on any holiday table or Sunday supper spread.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, Southern

Keyword best-cheesecake-recipe, easy-cheesecake-recipe, southern-cheesecake-recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 1 20

Chill time 1

Total Time 1 1 40

Servings servings

Calories 436kcal

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crust:
2 cups finely ground graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup salted butter melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Cheesecake Filling:
4 8 oz blocks plain cream cheese softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup cornstarch
6 large eggs room temperature
1 cup full fat sour cream room temperature
Toppings: cherry pie filling, peaches, apple pie filling, pecan praline sauce, strawberry or blueberry pie filling, macerated strawberries or mixed berries and whipped cream, or drizzled with chocolate ganache or caramel

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place an 8x8-inch pan on the bottom rack of the oven and fill halfway with boiling water.
Spray a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray. Wrap the outside of the bottom of the pan with heavy duty aluminum foil, to prevent any leakage. Set aside.
Graham Cracker Crust: In a medium-size mixing bowl combine graham cracker crumbs with granulated sugar and butter until fully moistened. Press crumb mixture evenly onto the bottom and halfway up the sides of the pan. Place the pan into the freezer while you make the filling.
In a large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip together cream cheese, granulated sugar and vanilla extract on medium speed for 2-3 minutes or until completely smooth. Add cornstarch, mix well. (Try not to beat too much air into the filling or the cheesecake could crack.)
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition until no lumps remain. Stop and scrape bottom and side of bowl as needed. Stir in sour cream by hand.
Pour cheesecake filling evenly into the graham cracker crust. Place pan into the oven.
Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 1 hr 10 - 1 hr 20 minutes or until the center is still slightly loose when the pan is gently shaken. It won't be completely set. Turn off the oven, leave the oven door slightly ajar, and leave the cheesecake in the oven for 1 hour longer to finish baking.
Remove pan to a cooling rack. Allow to cool for 30 minutes then run a knife gently around the top edge. Cool completely to room temperature. Leave the ring in place, wrap and chill for 8 hours preferably 24 hours.
Slice the cheesecake and serve with fresh fruit and whipped cream or any of your favorite toppings.

Notes

Cream Cheese - This cheesecake uses four 8 ounce blocks of plain cream cheese. That's 2 pounds. There's really no substitute, this is one time that you need to go for the gold.
Graham Cracker Crust - You can use Nilla wafer crumbs, Biscoff cookie crumbs or gingersnap crumbs for the crust.
Brown Sugar - You can use light brown sugar in place of white sugar for the crust.
Butter - You can use unsalted butter for the crust. When doing so, add a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness.
Flavorings - You can also experiment with different flavorings and extracts. If you plan to top it with strawberries, add strawberry extract to the cheesecake filling. You could add lemon extract and top it with lemon curd or blueberry pie filling. The sky's the limit with this vanilla cheesecake recipe.
Allow Chill Time to Set - It's important that the cheesecake has ample time to chill before slicing. That makes it ideal for make ahead dessert preparation.
Serving Suggestions - You can top this classic cheesecake recipe anyway you like. Top it with cherry pie filling, praline sauce, peaches, apple pie filling, macerated strawberries or blueberry pie filling. You can use any macerated berries, raspberries or blackberries or a combination of mixed berries and whipped cream. You may also opt to drizzle it with warm hot fudge sauce or salted caramel sauce.

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