No Fail Perfect New York Cheesecake Food

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Wrap the outside of a 9-inch springform pan (bottom and sides) with a large piece of foil.
• In a medium bowl, mix together crumbs, sugar, and melted butter and mix until combined and moistened. Press mixture into the bottom of prepared pan to form an even layer of crumbs. Bake for 8-9 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Meanwhile, prepare the filling.
• Increase oven temperature to 425°F/220°C.
• In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese on medium-low speed until smooth and lump-free, 1-2 minutes. Add sugar and beat until blended. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary. Add cornstarch and mix until blended. Add the eggs and beat until fully combined. Add cream, vanilla extract, and lemon zest and beat just until combined and smooth. Pour batter over cooled crust and spread evenly.
• Bake cake for 10 minutes, then lower temperature to 225°F/110°C and continue to bake for 60 minutes until the sides are set but the center is still slightly wobbly (some comments suggested this was not enough baking time. I baked this so many times and it works. If you're not sure if your oven temperature is accurate or if your baking time is usually longer than those called for in a recipe, you can add an additional 10-20 minutes, and avoid opening the oven door too many times). My cheesecake always gets golden brown around the edges but if yours doesn't, that's ok, just trust the recipe :) Turn off oven, open the oven door slightly or halfway to let in cold air, and leave the cake in the oven for 60 minutes. This will help prevent the cake from cracking and the cake will remain creamy. Transfer the cake to a wire rack and allow it to cool to room temperature. Cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or for at least 12 hours.
• Cheesecake will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

THE BEST NEW YORK-STYLE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the crust: Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• Mix together the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, brown sugar and salt in a medium bowl until evenly moistened.
• Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and halfway up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake the crust until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes.
• Cool completely on a rack. Wrap the bottom and up the sides of the pan with foil and place in a roasting pan.
• For the filling: Add the cream cheese to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and beat, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed, until light and fluffy. Gradually add the cream, beating until combined. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the lemon zest and juice, vanilla and salt and beat just until combined, taking care not to over whip. Pour into the crust.
• Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Carefully place the roasting pan in the oven (don't pull the rack out of the oven). Pour enough hot water in the roasting pan to come about halfway up the side of the foil-wrapped springform pan.
• Bake until the top of the cheesecake is lightly browned around the edges, but the center still jiggles slightly, about 2 hours.
• Remove the 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 and up to overnight.
• Bring the cheesecake to room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Remove the springform ring. Dip a knife in warm water and wipe dry before slicing each piece.

NO FAIL PERFECT NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• 1. SPONGE CAKE CRUST
• 2. Preheat oven to 350* F and generously butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch spring-form pan. Wrap the outside with aluminum foil, covering the bottom and extending all the way up the sides.
• 3. In a small bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together.
• 4. Beat the egg yolks in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high for 3-minutes. With the mixer running, slowly add 2-tablespoons of the sugar and beat until thick light yellow ribbons form, about 5-minutes more. Beat in the extracts.
• 5. Sift the flour mixture over the batter and stir it in by hand, just until no more white flecks appear. Blend in the melted butter.
• 6. Wash the mixing bowl and beaters really well (if even a little fat is left, this can cause the egg whites not to whip). Put the egg whites and cream of tartar into the bowl and beat with the mixer on high until frothy. Gradually add the remaining sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form (the whites will stand up and look glossy, not dry). Fold about one-third of the whites into the batter, then the remaining whites. Don't worry if you still see a few white specks, they'll disappear during baking.
• 7. Gently spread out the batter over the bottom of the pan, and bake just until set and golden (not wet or sticky), about 10-12 minutes. Touch the cake gently in the center. If it springs back, it's done. Watch carefully and don't let the top brown.
• 8. Leave the crust in the pan and place on a wire rack to cool. Leave the oven on while you prepare the batter.
• 9. CHEESECAKE DIRECTIONS:
• 10. Put one package of the cream cheese, 1/3 cup of the sugar, and the corn-starch in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low until creamy, about 3-minutes, scraping the bowl several times. Blend in the remaining cream cheese, one package at a time, scraping down the bowl after each one.
• 11. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat in the remaining 1-1/3 cups sugar, then the vanilla. Blend in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after adding each one. Beat in the cream just until completely blended. Be careful not to over mix! Gently spoon the batter over the crust.
• 12. Wrap the bottom of your springform pan with aluminum foil to prevent any leakage. Place the cake in a large shallow pan containing hot water that comes about 1-inch up the sides of the springform. Bake until the edges are light golden brown and the top is slightly golden tan, about 1 1/4 hours.
• 13. Remove the cheesecake from the water bath, transfer to a wire rack, and let cool for 2-hours; JUST WALK AWAY - DON'T MOVE IT.
• 14. Leave the cake in the pan, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until completely cold, preferably overnight or for at least 4 hours.
• 15. To serve, release and remove the sides of the springform, leaving the cake on the bottom pan. Place the cake on a plate and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• 16. Slice the cold cake with a sharp straight-edge knife, not a serrated one. Cover any leftover cake and refrigerate or wrap and freeze for up to 1 month.

CRACK PROOF: NEW YORK STYLE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• 1. To prepare crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the crust ingredients together with a fork until evenly moistened.
• 2. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray. Firmly press the mixture over the bottom and 1-inch up the sides of the pan. Use your finger or the smooth bottom of a glass. Refrigerate the crust while preparing the filling.
• 3. To prepare the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese on low speed for 1 minute just until smooth and free of any lumps.
• 4. Gradually add the sugar and beat until creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Periodically scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters.
• 5. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to slowly beat until combined.
• 6. Stir in the vanilla and the lemon zest.
• 7. Blend in the sour cream. The batter should be well mixed, but not overbeaten. (Overbeating incorporates too much air and will cause the cake to puff when baking, then fall and crack when cooling.)
• 8. Pour filling into the crust-lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
• 9. To prepare a water bath: Set the pan on a double piece of aluminum foil and fold up the sides. This will prevent water from seeping into the seams of the springform pan. Carefully set the cake pan in the large roasting pan.
• 10. Pour boiling water into the roasting pan until the water is about halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan.
• 11. Preheat oven 325.
• 12. Place cake and water bath into the preheated oven.
• 13. Decrease oven to 300 bake for 1 hour 20 min.
• 14. The cheesecake should jiggle. It will firm up after chilling. Be careful not to overcook! Do not do a toothpick test in the cake's center this will make a crack.
• 15. Loosen the cheesecake from the sides of the pan by running a thin metal spatula around the insides of rim. Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator, loosely covered, for at least 4 hours to set up.
• 16. De-mold and transfer to a cake plate. Slice the cheesecake with a thin non-stick knife that has been dipped in hot water and wiped dry after each cut.
• 17. To prepare the topping: Combine all ingredients in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat.
• 18. Bring up to a slow boil and stir gently until the berries break down and release their natural juices. The consistency should remain a bit chunky.
• 19. Cool to room temperature and serve on top of the cheesecake. Yield: 2-1/2 cups

EASY NO-BAKE CHEESECAKE PARFAITS

Steps:

• Beat the cream cheese, 3 tablespoons heavy cream and 5 tablespoons sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth. Add 1 tablespoon vanilla extract and the lemon juice and zest. Beat until light and creamy, about 3 minutes.
• Whisk together the remaining 1 cup heavy cream, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and the sour cream in a large bowl with a handheld electric mixer (or a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment) on high speed until soft peaks form.
• Add a layer of crushed graham crackers to the bottom of each parfait glass. Top the graham crackers with a layer of the cheesecake, then a layer of fruit (see Cook's Note). Top each parfait with a dollop of the whipped cream and serve.

CRACK PROOF CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• To prepare crumb crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the crust ingredients together with a fork until evenly moistened. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray. Firmly press the mixture over the bottom and 1-inch up the sides on the pan, use your fingers or the smooth bottom of a glass. Refrigerate the crust while preparing the filling.
• To prepare filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese on low speed for 1 minute just until smooth and free of any lumps. Gradually add the sugar and beat until creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Periodically scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to slowly beat until combined. Stir in the vanilla and lemon zest. Blend in the sour cream. The batter should be well mixed but not overbeaten. Overbeating incorporates too much air and will cause the cake to puff when baking, then fall and crack when cooling. Pour filling into the crust-lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
• To prepare water bath: Set the pan on a large piece of aluminum foil and fold up the sides. This will prevent water from seeping into the seams of the springform pan. Carefully set the cake pan in a larger roasting pan. Pour boiling water into the roasting pan until the water is about halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan.
• Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 45 minutes. The cheesecake should still jiggle, it will firm up after chilling. Be careful not to overcook! Do not do a toothpick test in the cake's center, this will make a crack. Loosen the cheesecake from the sides of the pan by running a thin metal spatula around the inside rim. Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator, loosely covered, for at least 4 hours to set up. Demold and transfer to a cake plate. Slice the cheesecake with a thin, nonserrated knife that has been dipped in hot water and wiped dry after each cut.
• For the topping: Combine all ingredients in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring up to a slow boil and stir gently until the berries breakdown and release their natural juice. The consistency should remain a bit chunky. Cool to room temperature and serve on top of cheesecake.

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 1/4 cup sugar together. Press mixture onto the bottom of one 9 or 10 inch springform pan. Place in freezer for 10 minutes.
• Cream 3/4 cup of the sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the eggs, vanilla, and cornstarch until just mixed. Stir in sour cream on low speed or with spatula until blended. (I prefer using low speed but do not go over 2 minutes) Poor into the prepared crust.
• Place in oven and Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
• After 15 minutes, turn down the oven to 200 degrees for 45 minutes.
• After baking for 45 minutes turn the oven off. DO NOT OPEN OVEN door until the oven has completely cooled. This will take about three hours though I like to bake this at night then turn the oven off when I go to bed.
• After oven has cooled completely refrigerate for at least an hour and serve with or without your favorite topping.