Today I’m so excited to show you how to make the best Cheesecake Recipe of your life. Simple, classic, and no water bath required!! The texture is smooth, rich, and creamy, served over a crisp homemade graham cracker crust.
I’ve included tons of detailed tips and important info in today’s post so you can make the perfect creamy cheesecake every time. For a visual how-to, be sure to check out my step-by-step video beneath the recipe!
The Perfect Cheesecake Recipe
This cheesecake recipe has been a long time coming.
For a recipe with so few ingredients (cream cheese, eggs, sugar, sour cream, vanilla & salt), it took a lot longer than you might think to develop the perfect version. I’ve shared a few cheesecake variations in the past, including my No-Bake Cheesecake, but getting a perfected classic version took lots of testing. Finally, here we are.
Oh, and we are skipping the water bath! I’ve always found them to be largely unnecessary with cheesecakes. Cook yours on a low temperature and follow my tips below and you’ll have a perfectly creamy and crack-less cheesecake without all the hassle of a water bath.
Other tested/perfected classics to try: my Pound Cake, Chocolate Cake, and Carrot Cake, (to name just a handful).
Must-Know Tips for Baking the Perfect Cheesecake (Without a Water Bath!)
Use room temperature ingredients
It’s important that your cream cheese comes to room temperature before you begin making your cheesecake. This will prevent any lumps and ensure a cheesecake with a smooth, creamy texture. However, to ensure that all of your ingredients blend together nicely and give you the desired result, they should all be at room temperature before you begin.
Take it easy on the eggs
Over-beating your eggs is one of the quickest ways to ruin a cheesecake. Over-beating can ruin the texture and can cause cracks. To prevent this, lightly scramble each egg before adding it into your batter. Keep your mixer on low speed and stir until just combined. Be sure to pause after each addition and scrape down the sides and bottom of your mixing bowl.
Don’t open the oven!
I know how tempting it can be to want to check on your perfect, beautiful cheesecake, but wait until it’s finished baking (or close to it) before opening the oven door! Yes, you will have to test for doneness at some point and there’s a real possibility it will need more time in the oven, but minimize opening the oven as much as possible.
Opening the oven door can drastically reduce the temperature of your oven, which will slow the baking process and might cause your cheesecake to sink or crack.
Free your crust!
Once your cheesecake is done baking, allow it to cool for 10 minutes on top of the stove. Then, run a knife around the inside of the springform pan to loosen the crust from the sides.
As your cheesecake cools, it may to shrink a bit. If the crust is stuck to the pan, your crust won’t give but your cheesecake will (leaving you with cracks). Free the crust from the sides so it can contract with your filling as needed.
Cool at room temperature before moving to the fridge
I always let my cheesecake come to room temperature before chilling. For bests results, let it cool as gradually as possible. I put mine on top of my oven (the warmest spot in my house) so it can gradually cool off as the oven does.
This pre-chilling cooling period can take an hour or two, but it’s worth it. An abrupt temperature change (moving the cheesecake directly from oven to fridge) is likely to make it crack.
How to Store Cheesecake
Cheesecake should always be stored chilled in the refrigerator. When I’m ready to store mine, I’ll usually replace the springform ring and then cover the top with foil.
Cheesecake shouldn’t be left out at room temperature for more than 4 hours (or less if it’s particularly hot/humid!).
Can I Freeze Cheesecake?
Yes, you can freeze your cheesecake! Fortunately, this cheesecake recipe actually freezes very well. To freeze, first allow your cheesecake to cool on the stovetop and in the fridge as instructed. Once it’s chilled, you can freeze by wrapping thoroughly in plastic wrap and then wrapping in foil. Cheesecake will keep in the freezer for several months.
To thaw, transfer to the fridge and let it thaw there overnight.
Here’s a great source for more information on freezing cheesecake, including suggestions if you’d like to freeze by the slice.
Other Cheesecake Variations You Might Like:
- Oreo Cheesecake
- Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Chocolate Cheesecake
- Or try something different and serve this cheesecake on an Oreo Crust!
Enjoy!
The BEST Cheesecake Recipe
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust¹
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (170g)
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar (can substitute white)
- 7 Tablespoons butter melted
Cheesecake
- 32 oz cream cheese² softened to room temperature (910g)
- 1 cup sugar (200g)
- ⅔ cups sour cream (160g)
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs room temperature, lightly beaten
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F (160C).
- Prepare Graham Cracker crust first by combining graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and brown sugar, and stirring well. Add melted butter and use a fork to combine ingredients well.1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs, 2 Tablespoons sugar, 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, 7 Tablespoons butter
- Pour crumbs into a 9” Springform pan and press firmly into the bottom and up the sides of your pan. Set aside.
Cheesecake
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large bowl (using a hand mixer) add cream cheese and stir until smooth and creamy (don’t over-beat or you’ll incorporate too much air).32 oz cream cheese²
- Add sugar and stir again until creamy.1 cup sugar
- Add sour cream, vanilla extract, and salt, and stir until well-combined. If using a stand mixer, make sure you pause periodically to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula so that all ingredients are evenly incorporated.⅔ cups sour cream, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract, ⅛ teaspoon salt
- With mixer on low speed, gradually add lightly beaten eggs, one at a time, stirring just until each egg is just incorporated. Once all eggs have been added, use a spatula to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl again and make sure all ingredients are well combined.4 large eggs
- Pour cheesecake batter into prepared springform pan. To insure against leaks, place pan on a cookie sheet that’s been lined with foil.
- Transfer to the center rack of your oven and bake on 325F (160C) for 50-60 minutes (or longer as needed, see note 3). Edges will likely have slightly puffed and may have just begun to turn a light golden brown and the center should spring back to the touch but will still be Jello-jiggly. Don't over-bake or the texture will suffer, which means we all suffer.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool on top of the oven⁴ for 10 minutes. Once 10 minutes has passed, use a knife to gently loosen the crust from the inside of the springform pan (this will help prevent cracks as your cheesecake cools and shrinks). Do not remove the ring of the springform pan.
- Allow cheesecake to cool another 1-2 hours or until near room temperature before transferring to refrigerator and allowing to cool overnight or at least 6 hours. I remove the ring of the springform pan just before serving then return it to the pan to store. Enjoy!
Notes
1) Graham cracker crust
For more details on making this crust or to use whole graham crackers, please see my Graham Cracker Crust Recipe.2) Cream cheese
Make sure that you use the brick-style cream cheese, not the spreadable version that is available in tubs.3)Bake time
Exact bake time can vary depending on your oven, whether you bake your cheesecake on a baking pan or not, the color of your springform pan (light or dark), and even the precise temperature of your ingredients. Because of this I recommend checking your cheesecake at 50 minutes and adding time as needed. However, it is not uncommon for the cheesecake to take as long as 75 minutes to bake, but it's better to check sooner.4) Cooling cheesecake
I recommend the top of the oven because it is usually the warmest place in my house (after it’s been on for over an hour). This will help to cool the cheesecake more gradually and will also help avoid cracks).Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Hannah
I just made this recipe today but with water bath and they turned out perfect! I also added sour cream toppings. This recipe is great. ❤️
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed the cheesecake, Hannah! 🙂
Noelle
Followed the recipe to a “T”, worked out perfectly!
Thank you!!!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed the cheesecake, Noelle! 🙂
Tiffanie
Hello! I’m about to try this, but I’ve discovered I have cream cheese spread instead of block cream cheese. Is there anything I can do with the cream cheese spread to make this work? In light of all the craziness, going back to the supermarket isn’t really an option. I do have full fat greek yogurt though…
Thanks for your recipes!
Sam
Hi Tiffanie! Unfortunately you need brick style cream cheese here. If you use the spreadable cream cheese the consistency just won’t be right. The greek yogurt would work as a substitute for the sour cream but you will really need the brick style cream cheese. 🙁
Marlena
Excellent Cheesecake
Jodi B
My 1st homemade cheesecake! Just put it in the oven! Looks and tastes delicious so far!!
Sam
I hope you love it, Jodi!!
Kristina Hollis
Hi! I am using a normal pie tin and the recipe actually made enough for 2 cheesecake fillings, so I made more graham cracker crust. How long would you recommend cooking the 2 pies since I assume they are thinner? There is about 30 mins left on my timer.
Sam
Hi Kristina! Unfortunately I have not made it in a pie pan to give you a suggestion. I would keep an eye on it and look for that jiggly but firm top. Enjoy! 🙂
Sherry
My cheesecake is a light golden brown around the edges
But there’s a sinking or a dip in it.
Sam
Hi Sherry! I am so sorry this has happened. Is it possible that the eggs were over-beaten? Most of the time when this happens your cheesecake will puff up in the center while you are baking it and then it will be deflated later. 🙁
Susie
Mine didn’t crack but came out overdone and brown on most of the top. The written directions say 75 minutes and I even took it out a few minutes before that.
Sam
Hi Susie! I am so sorry this happened. Is there a chance your oven runs a little hotter than it says? It should take about 75 minutes to bake. 🙂
Nadia
Perfect. Everyone loved it. Thank you!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that it was a hit, Nadia! Enjoy! 🙂
Tatiana
Hello,
I followed all the steps… my cheesecake came up overcooked, full brown and cracked
Sam
Hi Tatiana! It sounds like it was baked for too long or your oven may be running much hotter than it is saying, unfortunately. It certainly should not be brown or overcooked or cracked and I’m disappointed to hear that.
Jezaniah
If I make it tonight Refrigerate ,and bake in the morning would there be in issue of how the cheesecake is baked tomorrow ?
Sam
Hi Jezaniah! I think it will be fine as long as it is covered in the refrigerator, but keep in mind that the cheesecake will need to cool to room temperature for about an hour and then in the refrigerator for about 6 hours. Enjoy! 🙂
Leah
When do I take the spring form pan apart?
Sam
Hi Leah! You can take it off right before you serve it, but definitely not before it’s completely cooled. Enjoy! 🙂
Vana
Can I use 9×13 if I don’t have Springform?
Sam
Hi Vana! If you do that, you will have a much thinner cheesecake, it will be more like a cheesecake bar, but it will work. The bake time would be significantly reduced. Enjoy! 🙂
Kathleen Peterson
Mine is in the oven now… fingers crossed 🤞Happy Easter to all! Be safe everyone… these are strange times… in strange times make cheesecake!
Sam
I hope everyone loves the cheesecake, Kathleen! 🙂
Natalie Valyan
Can you tell me at what point do you remove the spring form?
Sam
Hi Natalie! You can remove the spring form pan right before cutting in and serving. 🙂
Carla
Hi! If I would like to add lemon flavor to this, what do you suggest using and how much? Thanks!
Sam
Hi Carla! I think the best way would be to use lemon extract, I’d substitute some of the vanilla extract with lemon extract. How much is really a matter of personal preference, but keep in mind that lemon extract is more potent than vanilla so you likely won’t need as much.