Creamy, rich, dense, and highly indulgent Classic NEW YORK CHEESECAKE. Top it with a fresh strawberry compote, or leave it bare and simple. Either way, you won’t be stopping at just one slice!
Ingredients:
Graham Crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 16 whole crackers)
8 tablespoons (112g) melted butter
2 tablespoons (25g) brown sugar
1 tablespoon (12.5g) sugar
pinch of salt
Cheesecake:
2 pounds cream cheese (4, 8 oz cream cheese blocks) , softened
1 ¾ cup (350g) granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon (1.25g) salt
3 tablespoons (22.5g) corn starch
½ cup (115g) sour cream
2 teaspoons (8.4g) vanilla extract
2 teaspoons (10ml) lemon juice
2 large egg yolks
4 large eggs, at room temperature
½ cup (120ml) milk
Strawberry Topping:
1 lb (453.59g) strawberries, halved
1 cup (237ml) water
1 cup (200g) sugar
Instructions:
1 – Preheat oven to 375 F.
2 – Brush a 10-inch springform pan with butter. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar, and salt using a wooden spoon until evenly combined. If you like a thick crust, double the crust recipe and cook for about 5 minutes longer.
3 – Press graham cracker mixture into bottom and up the sides of the springform pan and bake until set. About 10 minutes. Remove from the oven. Reduce heat to 200 F.
4 – In a large bowl, using an electric mixer using a paddle attachment, cream together cream cheese, sugar, salt, and cornstarch until evenly combined – about 1 minute. Scrape sides with a rubber spatula.
5 – Add sour cream and vanilla extract and lemon juice. Mix well.
Followed by egg yolks, mix, then add whole eggs.
6 – Finally, add milk and continue mixing until all the ingredients have been mixed in.
7 – Pour batter into the springform pan. Set aside for 10 minutes until bubbles form on the surface. Using a fork to pop the bubbles.
8 – Make sure the oven is at 200 F. Then transfer the springform pan to the oven and bake until set. About 3 – 3 ½ hours. The batter should jiggle a bit when nudged. To be more specific, if the center of your cake registers at 165 degrees F, then you are good to go.
9 – Carefully take out the cheesecake from the oven and then bump up the temperature to 450 degrees F.
10 – When the oven is at 450 degrees F, return cheesecake back to the oven and place on the upper rack, bake until top is evenly browned, about 4-8 minutes. Start checking after 2-3 minutes. It browns quickly. Remove as soon as it brown.
11 – Remove from the oven and let cool it cool for 5 minutes; run a paring knife between cheesecake and side of the springform pan to make it easier for the cheesecake to come off when ready to slice the cake.
12 – Let it cool down, this might take approximately 2 ½ to 3 hours. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold and firmly set, at least 6 hours or preferably overnight. You can’t rush perfection.
13 – To get the pretty and clean slices, dip your knife in hot water. Then dry it off and slice. The warm knife will cut cleanly for pretty slices.
ENJOY!
