The Healthy My Ass Cookbook

New York Style Cheesecake

The richest, creamiest, most melt-in-your-mouth cheesecake I've ever had.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Remove the Cream Cheese from the refrigerator to soften at room temperature.  Grease a 12 inch springform pan with butter and set aside.  Remove the Eggs from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before using them.

Finely crush the Graham Crackers and set aside.  Melt the Butter in a microwave safe bowl, add 1/4 cup of the Sugar and stir to soften the sugar granules, microwaving another short time or two between stirring.  Add the graham crumbs, stir to blend, then press evenly into the bottom only of the greased springform pan being sure to cover the seam between the bottom and side.  Refrigerate until ready to be filled.  Do not pre-bake.

Preheat an oven to 350°F.  Measure the Sour Cream and set out to reach room temperature.

Beat the cream cheese until it is smooth and light.  Add 1&1/2 cups of the Sugar and the Salt.  Beat until all are well combined, scraping the sides of the bowl and beater(s) at least once, then beat in one overflowing teaspoon of the Vanilla.  Scrape the bowl and beater(s) one more time and add the eggs, one at a time, gently mixing each in just until the last one is combined.  Pour the cheese mixture atop the graham crackers in the pan and spread to evenly cover the crust.

Place atop a pizza pan and bake for 35 to 50 minutes or just until the center no longer jiggles like Jell-O when you bump the side of the pan, or more accurately, when a quick read thermometer reaches 150-155°F.  Remove it and the pizza pan from the oven and let it cool off the pizza pan for 15 minutes.  Meanwhile, increase the oven temperature to 425°F and prepare the topping.

Combine the Sour Cream with the remaining 1/4 cup of the Sugar and the remaining one overflowing teaspoon of Vanilla in a microwave safe bowl.  Once the oven is up to 425°F AND the cheesecake has cooled for 15 minutes, microwave the sour cream mixture 20 to 30 seconds, stir and microwave some more unless or until you see steam coming off of it.

Pour the sour cream mixture over the entire top of the cheesecake, swirl or shake to evenly and uniformly distribute it, see Notes.  Return it to the oven atop the pizza pan to bake.  Check after 4 minutes and you should see steam rising from it.  Check every minute, removing it as soon as you no longer see steam rising from the top or you see any part of the top begin to discolor, changing to off white.

Let cool completely on a rack.  If not serving soon, refrigerate with the side of the pan still attached.  Before serving, separate the cake from the side of the pan with a spatula, if necessary, and remove the side of the pan.  Slice and serve.

Refrigerate any not eaten in four hours.

Notes:

I think it is the sour cream topping which makes this the best New York style cheesecake I've had, or at least I've made.  I've never succeeded at making a New York style cheesecake that is creamy with a graham cracker crust like this, so I've always made my old fashion German style cakey cheese cake with a dough crust. Leave it to a life long carpenter to show me the light.

Yes that's a 12 inch diameter springform pan, not easy to find.

If available, I use Baker's Sugar, a.k.a. Superfine Sugar or Caster Sugar, for the 1/4 cup in the crust and the 1/4 cup in the topping.

Gary gave several admonishments about not burning the crust and offered these tips to avoid it:

• do not pre-bake the crust
• nuke the cheese mixture for a bit and make sure it is at least warm before putting it in the springform pan
• put the springform pan atop ice cubes during the 15 minute cooling before adding the sour cream topping

I did not nuke the cheese mixture, nor did I put it atop ice cubes.  I did however set the springform pan atop a larger pizza pan while in the oven.  By the way, mine are getting done after only 35 minutes of baking.

Serving Suggestions:

Though slicing is easiest when the cheesecake is very cold, for easier transferring and the best flavor and texture, serve at room temperature.

See Also:

Cheese Cake - On old fashion cheese cake with a dough crust like I remember from the German bakery.