Classic Cheesecake Baked In A Water Bath Food

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• For the crust: Melt the butter, covered in the microwave, in a medium microwave-safe bowl, or a saucepan. Brush a 9-inch springform pan with some of the butter. Stir the remaining butter together with the crumbs, sugar, and salt. Press the crumb mixture over the bottom of the pan, taking care to get the crust evenly into the edges. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool. Wrap the bottom and up the sides of the pan with foil and put in a roasting pan.
• For the filling: Beat the cream cheese on medium speed with a hand-held mixer until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and beat just until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl and beaters as needed. Slowly beat in the sour cream, then eggs, vanilla and both citrus zests; take care not to over whip. Pour into the cooled crust.
• Bring a medium saucepan or kettle of water to a boil. Gently place the roasting pan in the oven (don't pull the rack out of the oven). Pour in enough hot water to come about halfway up the side of the springform pan. Bake the cheesecake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes---the outside of the cake will set but the center will still be loose.
• For the topping: Stir together the sour cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Spread over the top of the cooked cheesecake and return to the oven for 5 minutes. Turn the oven off, cook the cheesecake in the residual heat in the oven for about 1 hour. This gentle finish minimizes the risk of the dreaded crack in your cheesecake.
• Remove cheesecake from the roasting pan to a rack. Run a knife around the edges and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Bring cheesecake to room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Remove the springform ring. Dip a knife in warm water, wipe dry before slicing each piece. Serve with berries, if desired.

BEST CLASSIC CHEESECAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Adjust the oven rack to the lower-middle position and preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
• 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 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 and you can use the flat bottom of a small measuring cup to help smooth it all out if needed. Pre-bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and place the hot pan on a large piece of aluminum foil. The foil will wrap around the pan for the water bath in step 4. Allow crust to slightly cool as you prepare the filling.
• Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed in a large bowl until the mixture is smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the sour cream, vanilla extract, and lemon juice then beat until fully combined. On medium speed, add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition until just blended. After the final egg is incorporated into the batter, stop mixing. To help prevent the cheesecake from deflating and cracking as it cools, avoid over-mixing the batter as best you can. You will have close to 6 cups of batter.
• Watch my video tutorial below; the visual guide will assist you in this step. Boil a 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 the aluminum foil around the springform pan. Pour the cheesecake batter on top of the crust. Use a rubber spatula or spoon to smooth it into an even layer. Place the pan inside of a large roasting pan. 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 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 will slightly wobble if you gently shake the pan. Turn the oven off and open the oven door slightly. Let the cheesecake sit in the oven in the water bath as it cools down for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and water bath, then cool cheesecake completely uncovered at room temperature. Then cover and refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Use a knife to loosen the chilled cheesecake from the rim of the springform pan, then remove the rim. Using a clean sharp knife, cut into slices for serving. For neat slices, wipe the knife clean and dip into warm water between each slice.
• Serve cheesecake with desired toppings (see Note). Cover and store leftover cheesecake in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Make crust: Butter a 9-by-3-inch springform pan. In a food processor, pulse graham crackers until fine crumbs form; add melted butter, sugar, and salt, and pulse to combine. Press crumb mixture into bottom and about 1 inch up side of pan. Bake until set, 12 to 15 minutes; let cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven to 325 degrees.
• Set a kettle of water to boil. Make filling: Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese on medium until fluffy, scraping down side of bowl. Gradually add sugar, beating until fluffy. Beat in lemon zest and juice, and salt. Beat in eggs, one at a time, scraping down side of bowl after each addition. Beat in sour cream.
• Wrap bottom half of pan in foil. Pour in filling; place in a roasting pan. Pour in boiling water to come halfway up side of springform. Bake until just set in center, about 1 3/4 hours. Remove pan from water; let cool 20 minutes. Run a paring knife around edge; let cool completely. Cover; chill overnight before serving.

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 2 tablespoons sugar in a bowl. Mix until evenly moistened; press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan and place in the refrigerator.
• Beat cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add 1 cup sugar and beat until combined. Add eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; beat on high speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Pour cream cheese mixture into the chilled cracker crust and spread to evenly cover crust.
• Pour enough water into a rimmed baking sheet to cover the bottom, and place the springform pan on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and increase oven temperature to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
• Just before cheesecake finishes baking, combine sour cream, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract in a bowl for the topping. Spread evenly on top of the cheesecake.
• Return to the oven and bake for 5 minutes. Set the pan on a wire rack, and allow the cheesecake to cool at room temperature, about 1 hour. Refrigerate until completely chilled, about 4 hours, before serving.

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE BAKED IN A WATER BATH

Steps:

• To prepare the crust, melt the butter and brush on the bottom of a 10x2 heavy cake pan or 10-inch springform pan.
• Mix the crumbs and sugar in a bowl, then add enough butter to make the crumbs stick together.
• Press firmly onto the bottom of the pan.
• Set aside and preheat the oven to 325°F.
• In the bowl of a heavy mixer, beat the cream cheese on low with the paddle until smooth.
• Scrape and add the sugar, beat on low speed until smooth.
• Scrape the bowl.
• Add the vanilla and lemon juice, beat in the eggs and yolks, one at a time.
• Scrape the bowl well and combine.
• Scrape the bowl well to ensure even mixing, you should have a smooth batter.
• Pour into the pan, all the way to the top and set the pan into a larger pan.
• Set in the oven and then pour the hottest tap water into the outer pan.
• This is a water bath.
• Bake until the center is just firm, but when you tap the side the center will jiggle like firm jello.
• Don't worry, it will firm up when it cools.
• You don't want to overbake this cake, this will cause cracking and a dry texture.
• Remove from the outer water pan and set on a level surface and cool until room temperature.
• Then place in the refrigerator overnight.
• When you are ready to remove the cake from the pan, have the plate ready that you want to use.
• A board covered in plastic wrap is ok, too.
• If using a cake pan, hold it over a burner on your stove, just to melt the butter to release the cake.
• Keep the pan turning so you don't overheat.
• Then, turn pan over onto the plastic covered board and hold both at an angle.
• Tap the edge firmly on the counter until you feel the cake release it's seal.
• Turn out onto the board and immediately turn over onto the plate.
• Store the cheesecake in the refrigerator.
• If you wish to serve at room temperature, then slice while cold, then set the slices out about 1 hour before serving.

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Toss the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar in a medium bowl until well combined. Firmly press into the bottom and 1 inch up the side of a 9-inch round springform pan. Bake until firm and a few shades darker, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely. Reduce the oven temperature to 300˚ F.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and slightly fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the heavy cream until combined. Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl as needed. Beat in the lemon juice and vanilla. Pour the filling into the cooled crust.
• Bake until the cheesecake is set around the edges but the center still jiggles slightly, 1 hour to 1 hour 25 minutes. Turn off the oven. Keep the cheesecake in the oven with the door ajar slightly, 20 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the oven and run a knife around the edge of the cheesecake to loosen. Transfer the pan to a rack and let the cheesecake cool completely, then refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours or overnight. Remove the springform ring, then slice the cheesecake.
• Drain two 14.5-ounce cans tart cherries, reserving 1/3 cup liquid. Combine the drained cherries, 1 cup bottled tart cherry juice, 2/3 cup sugar, 1/2 vanilla bean (add the pod and the seeds) and a pinch of salt in a saucepan. Simmer until syrupy, 20 minutes. Whisk 2 tablespoons cornstarch into the reserved cherry liquid, then pour into the saucepan. While stirring, bring to a boil and cook 1 more minute. Remove from the heat and stir in 1/4 teaspoon almond extract; let cool. Discard the vanilla bean. Refrigerate until chilled.
• Heat 2/3 cup heavy cream and 1/2 cup malt powder in a saucepan over medium heat, whisking, until the powder is dissolved and the mixture is steaming. Pour over 6 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate in a bowl; let stand 3 to 5 minutes. Stir until smooth, then let stand until thickened, 20 to 40 minutes. Pour over the cheesecake and spread with the back of a spoon. Sprinkle with chopped malt balls. Let set about 20 minutes.
• Slice a 2-inch piece of ginger into thin rounds. Combine the ginger with 1/4 cup sugar and 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat; cook until syrupy, about 10 minutes. Let cool, then remove the ginger and stir in 1/2 teaspoon lime zest. Toss the ginger-lime syrup with 3/4 cup chopped pineapple, 2 chopped kiwis and 1/2 chopped mango.

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese, sour cream, and butter until smooth.
• Mix in sugar, corn starch, vanilla, and lemon juice.
• Beat in eggs one at a time.
• Pour the mixture into a springform pan.
• Place the springform pan into a larger pan.
• Add water in the larger pan to halfway up the springform pan.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour.
• Turn off the oven, open the oven door and let the cheesecake cool for one hour.
• Remove the cheesecake from the oven and cool another hour.
• The top of the cheesecake should be slightly brown and cracked.
• Refrigerate at least 6 hours before serving.

BEST CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch springform pan.
• Combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar for crust in a bowl until mixture resembles wet sand. Transfer to the prepared pan. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to press crumbs firmly into an even layer.
• Bake crust in the preheated oven until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit on a wire rack until completely cool. Leave the oven on.
• While the crust is cooling, beat cream cheese in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on low speed until smooth.
• Add sugar, sour cream, and vanilla. Scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl and continue to beat until combined.
• Gently whisk one egg with a fork in a small bowl; add to the cream cheese mixture and beat just until combined. Repeat with each remaining egg, whisking and adding just one at a time.
• Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and firmly bang it on the counter a few times to release any large air bubbles.
• Place the springform pan (with the cooled crust) in an oven bag. Fold down the excess and wrap the pan in a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Pour cheesecake mixture into the pan.
• Place the springform pan in a large roasting pan and move it to the lower rack of the oven.
• Pour 2 inches of boiling water into the roasting pan. Bake cheesecake until edges are puffed and surface is firm except for a small spot in the center that will jiggle when the pan is gently shaken, about 1 ½ hours. Tent the cheesecake with a sheet of foil if the top is browning too much during baking.
• Turn off the oven; keep the oven door closed and let the cheesecake cool slowly for 2 hours.
• Remove from the oven. Take the springform pan out of the water bath and set it on a cooling rack; let sit until it comes to room temperature, about 2 more hours. Place in the refrigerator until fully set, 8 hours to overnight.
• Run the tip of a knife around the edges of the pan. Unhinge the lock and remove the pan sides. Use a warm, clean knife to cut every slice. Top slices with cherry pie filling. Keep leftovers in the refrigerator.