Cheesecakes make a delectable dessert and there are very few people who do not like this versatile dish. Apart from the original, they also come in flavors like blueberry, chocolate, strawberry lime etc and can be tweaked according to your likes. Cheesecakes usually consist of a topping made of soft cheese placed on a crust made of biscuits and are baked and chilled. You can play around with toppings such as grated chocolate or fresh fruits and sauces and make it as per your requirements. More or less, every culture has its own version of cheesecake using various ingredients and the New York cheesecake is one such version popular in United States.This very rich cheesecake is easy to put together with a few practice sessions and is sure to woo any guest. Read on to learn how to bake a perfect New York cheesecake.
Complexity Level: Basic
Time Required: 80-85 minutes
Resources Required:
- 1 1/4 to 2 cups graham crackers
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 32 ounces of cream cheese
- 1/2 cup of butter
- 1 1/4 cups of granulated sugar
- 5 large eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 plastic food storage bag
- Rolling pin
- Measuring cups
- Mixing bowl
- Spring form pan
- Electric mixer
Instructions:
1. Make the base
- Place the graham crackers into the plastic food bag and using your rolling pin, gently roll over a couple of times till you have crushed them.
- You should get around 1 1/2 cups of crumbs.
- In a bowl, combine the crumbs, 1/2 cup butter and 1/4 cup sugar till they are all uniformly mixed.
- Line the base of a spring form pan with parchment paper and tip in the mixed contents into the pan.
- Using your fingers or the back of your spoon, press this mixture across the bottom and up the sides of the pan.
- Refrigerate the crust till you are ready to make the filling.
2. Make the filling
- Bring all your filling ingredients to room temperature. This will ensure that mixing is made easier and you will ultimately get a smooth filling.
- Into a mixing bowl, add the cream cheese and 1 cup of sugar.
- Using an electric mixer gently beat them together till they are creamy and smooth.
- Break the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Once all the ingredients are evenly blended, remove the graham cracker crust from the refrigerator and fill it with the cheesecake filling.
3. Baking the cheesecake
- Place a rack in the center of the oven and pre-heat the oven to 500 degrees.
- Place the cheesecake in and bake for 15 minutes.
- Then reduce the oven temperature to 250 degrees and continue to bake the cheesecake for a further 60 to 90 minutes or till done
- To confirm if the cheesecake is done, the filling should be firm but still jiggle slightly.
- Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Once it has completely cooled, cover with a plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
- Slice and serve with a dollop of cream if preferred.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How is the New York cheesecake different from the original?
Although, the differences are not that explicit, New York cheesecakes traditionally have their crusts along the sides whereas the original cheesecake has only a graham cracker base. The filling is also known to be much more denser and creamier for a New York cheesecake.
Quick Tips:
- Adding a dash of vanilla extract and a dash of lemon juice enhances the flavour drastically.
- For a healthier version, replace the full fat cream cheese with a lighter version.
- Top the cheesecake with some fruit compote or just fresh fruits to make it fancier and richer.
- To prevent any cracks from forming while the cake is cooling, run a knife between the edge of the pan and the crust .
Things To Watch Out For:
- Blending the ingredients is crucial. If you don’t beat it well enough it could lead to a lumpy filling.
- Keep a close eye on the cheesecake while baking as it could easily burn if temperatures are not right.
