This Easy Cheesecake Recipe comes out perfect every time, with a luscious, creamy filling in a graham cracker crust! Plus my tips for how to make the BEST cheesecake, even if it’s your first time.
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The Best Cheesecake Recipe
Cheesecake is one of those recipes that can be intimidating but it doesn’t have to be. Making cheesecake at home can be super simple with the right technique and attention to detail. In this post, I’m going to show you how to make the best cheesecake ever with step-by-step instructions.
The end result is a creamy cheesecake in a buttery graham cracker crust. And once you’ve mastered this easy cheesecake recipe, you’ll see that it’s totally open to be adapted. You can change the crust or mix in fun things like cookie dough, caramel, or fudge.
I hope this tutorial has helped you feel extra confident in your next cheesecake adventure! This truly is the best cheesecake recipe and will be one you make for years to come.
Craving more cheesecake? Check out my mini cheesecakes, sour cream cheesecake, pumpkin cheesecake, and no bake cheesecake too!
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Cheesecake
Here are a few reasons I truly believe this is the best cheesecake recipe out there.
- Perfect for beginners. There’s nothing complicated about this recipe, so even if you’ve never made a cheesecake before you’ll be able to follow along just fine. Plus I have lots of tips below as well.
- Only a few ingredients. There’s just a handful of ingredients in both the crust and the filling. Most of them are pantry staples too!
- Easy to customize. Once you have this base recipe down, you can experiment with different variations. You can also add fun toppings, like chocolate sauce or cherry pie filling.
What You’ll Need
Let’s start with a quick look at the ingredients for this cheesecake recipe. (See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for amounts.) There is nothing complicated here! Simple ingredients often make the most amazing desserts. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Graham crackers – Crushed into crumbs for the graham cracker crust.
- Butter – Helps to hold the crust together.
- Sugar – Used in both the crust and the cheesecake filling.
- Salt – Balances the sweetness in the crust.
- Cream cheese – Be sure to use full-fat cream cheese. Reduced fat does not have the same consistency and can make the filling runny.
- Sour cream – Adds the classic cheesecake tanginess to the filling.
- Vanilla extract – For flavor.
- Eggs – Help to hold the cheesecake filling together.
How to Make a Cheesecake
So are you ready to make cheesecake? I’m breaking down all the easy steps for you…Let’s do this!
- Prepare the pan. Double wrap the bottom of your pan with foil, ensuring the layers are overlapped to prevent water from getting into the pan. Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Make the crust. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar, and salt. Press into the bottom and up the sides of the pan.
- Bake the crust. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until lightly golden. Set aside.
- Make the cheesecake filling. Mix the cream cheese and sugar on medium until smooth. Turn the speed to low and add the sour cream and vanilla. Scrape the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the eggs one at a time, until just mixed. Pour the filling into the crust and spread evenly.
- Add the water bath. Place the springform pan in another large pan. Fill 3/4″ inch deep with very hot water.
- Bake. Bake the cheesecake for 60-70 minutes, until the center is almost set. Run a knife around the rim to gently loosen the cake.
- Cool. Cool the homemade cheesecake at room temperature for an hour, then cover and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight.
- Enjoy. Release the sides of the springform pan before slicing.
How to Bake a Cheesecake in a Water Bath – Easy Method!
Intimidated by the water bath portion of this easy cheesecake recipe? Don’t be! It’s actually super simple!
- Wrap the pan tightly with foil. First, DOUBLE wrap the bottom of your pan in foil. You bake a cheesecake in a water bath, and the foil is just a preventative measure so water doesn’t leak in and cause your crust to get soggy!
- Set the springform pan in a larger pan. Once you’ve added the cheesecake filling to the pan, you’ll want to place it in a larger pan. I use my half sheet pan but you can use any shape, as long as the spring form fits inside.
- Add water. Pour very hot water into the larger pan. Just make sure to not pour it higher than the foil! 3/4 inch is the sweet spot for me.
Tips for the Best Homemade Cheesecake
So what have we learned today? Here is a quick rundown of my tips for the best homemade cheesecake:
- Pre-bake your crust! It only takes a few extra minutes and ensures you have a sturdy crust that won’t get soggy.
- Make sure all your ingredients are at room temperature. This includes the eggs, cream cheese, and sour cream. Room-temperature ingredients will combine much easier, which will result in a cheesecake flipping without lumps.
- Don’t over mix your cheesecake. This is one of the most important tips for making a homemade cheesecake. Over mixing will incorporate too much air into the filling and cause it to crack as it’s baking.
- Don’t skip the water bath. It’s not as hard as you think and it’s essential for helping your cheesecake cook evenly.
- Don’t open the oven. Resist all temptation to open the oven before the 60 minute mark, as you want all the hot air inside to cook the cheesecake.
- Avoid overbaking. The cheesecake should still be a bit jiggly in the center. Overbaking can cause the cheesecake to crack.
- Don’t skimp on chill time. And don’t go straight to the fridge either. You need to let your cheesecake chill for at least an hour at room temperature before covering and refrigerating.
Homemade Cheesecake FAQs
The outside should be set, while the inside should jiggle ever so slightly. This means it’s done. If you bake the cheesecake long enough that the center is set, it is over baked. Over baking ALSO causes cracking, which is what you’re trying to avoid.
All is not lost if you see a crack in your cheesecake! Usually, this is just a cosmetic thing. To fix it you can top your cheesecake with whipped cream, or with cherry pie filling. The crack will be hidden and your cheesecake will still taste amazing!
Because with cheesecake the goal is to bake it slowly and evenly without browning or cracking the top. A water bath lets you insulate your cheesecake so that the outside doesn’t bake too quickly. It also helps keep the oven moist. End result: perfectly baked, moist cheesecake that is all kinds of creamy deliciousness!
Cheesecake Topping Ideas
Now, don’t get me wrong – you can enjoy this cheesecake exactly as it is. And it will be absolutely delicious! But if you want a little something extra, here are a few ideas:
- Chocolate syrup
- Caramel sauce
- Fresh berries
- Cherry pie filling
- Fruit compote
- Chocolate shavings
- Peanut butter sauce
Proper Storage
Cheesecake can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. Keep it in the springform mold to hold its shape and cover it with saran wrap until you plan to serve it. Wait to add your toppings, if any, until you serve it.
Can I Freeze Homemade Cheesecake?
Yes! To freeze your cheesecake allow it to cool completely on the stovetop and set in the fridge. Then you can freeze it by wrapping it in a couple of layers of plastic wrap, plus a couple of layers of tin foil. Cheesecake will keep in the freezer for a few months. When you are ready to eat your cheesecake, transfer it to the fridge to thaw overnight.
More Cheesecake Recipes to Try
- Sugar Cookie Cheesecake
- Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
- Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Cheesecake
- Boston Cream Pie Cheesecake
- Smores Cheesecake
Easy Cheesecake Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 70 minutes
- Total Time: 90 minutes + chill time
- Yield: 12 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Easy Cheesecake Recipe comes out perfect every time, with a luscious, creamy filling in a graham cracker crust! Plus my tips for how to make the BEST cheesecake, even if it’s your first time.
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 3/4 cups Graham Cracker Crumbs (about 15 full crackers)
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Cheesecake
- 4 (8 ounce) packages Cream Cheese, room temperature (32- ounces in total)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3 eggs, room temperature
Instructions
Make the Crust
- Double wrap the bottom of the springform pan with foil, sealing it tightly to prevent water from getting into the pan.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl mix the graham cracker crumbs, butter, granulated sugar, and salt together evenly.
- Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of 9-inch springform pan.
- Bake the crust for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly golden. Set aside while you make the cheesecake filling.
Make the Cheesecake
- In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the cream cheese and sugar on medium speed, until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
- Turn the mixer to low and add the sour cream and vanilla; mix well, scraping sides of the bowl as necessary.
- Add the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until mixed. Don’t over mix.
- Pour the filling over crust and spread evenly.
- Place the springform pan into a larger pan and pour very hot water into the pan, until it’s 3/4- inch deep, careful to make sure the water level doesn’t come up higher than the foil.
- Bake for 60-70 minutes or until the center is almost set. The center will still jiggle while the edges will be set.
- Carefully run a knife around the rim of pan to loosen cake.
- Allow the cheesecake to cool at room temperature for at least an hour, then cover and transfer into the refrigerator for 6 hours or overnight.
- Release the sides of the springform pan before slicing.
Notes
Store airtight, refrigerated for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Slice
- Calories: 372
- Sugar: 23.2 g
- Sodium: 244.8 mg
- Fat: 27.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 27.2 g
- Protein: 4.4 g
- Cholesterol: 119.1 mg
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Best cheesecake EVER! I am NOT an inexperienced cheesecake baker now, thanks to this recipe. I have made it more than 10 times to rave reviews from my family and others. I need to be gluten free, so I substitute an 8oz box of Kinnikinnick Graham Style Crackers (“S’moreables”) for the crust and it works perfectly, no other modification to the recipe necessary. I won’t need another cheesecake recipe for the rest of my life, because adding a few raspberry swirls and fresh berries on top, or mini chocolate chips with chocolate sauce swirls on top also works great with this basic recipe. Everyone thinks I am a master cheesecake maker, and it’s all because of what I learned here. As a beginner the detailed instructions were easy to understand and an excellent guide, and I highly recommend this for a first-timer. After your guests and family taste this, they will beg for cheesecake for every event, even for birthday cakes, and I will never tell them it was so easy to do! THANK YOU!!!
Literally the best recipe ever! I’ve made it over 20 times. Perfect every time ! Have you ever made mini 4” ones out of this recipe ? And if so, how long did you bake them for ?
Love hearing that! I actually have a mini cheesecake recipe here on my site! https://cookiesandcups.com/mini-cheesecakes-with-graham-cracker-crust/
I’ve now made this recipe over 10 times! One gal at church even paid me to make her one! It’s a show stopper for sure! I’ve started using roasting bags on top of tin foil just to be 100% sure no water gets in (after a couple heartbreaking leak incidents!)
The same gal who paid me to make one asked if I could do a chocolate caramel one…. so here I am asking you, can I? Would I just drizzle those things in with the filing and bake as usual??
What a great tip! I am totally going to try the roasting bag next time! I do have a chocolate cheesecake recipe here on my site that is fantastic. but you can definitely drizzle some caramel into the cheesecake batter before baking and swirl it. You could even use an Oreo crust!
Hi! I just wanted to thank you for sharing this recipe! I have been too intimidated to make a real cheesecake for years, but your recipe, words, and tips gave me the confidence to try! I have made it twice now, second time being yesterday for my Mom’s 69th Birthday today (at her request)!!! So excited!!! Thank you again!!
Hi, Shelly! I made this for family in town. One woman loved it, but my best friend and I thought it was WAY too dense. I could only have a few bites. I’m wondering if you know what mistake I made or how this happens? Or is it just dense? Thank you 🙂
You may have answered this many times, but can you add fresh or frozen fruit to the cheesecake mixture? Can you add chocolate chips to the mixture? Can you add anything else to change it up flavor wise? What can you add to create a “swirl” of flavor in the batter? How would these things affect the baking time? I love the recipe like it is, but am trying to expand things and do something special for our Church’s cake auction.
Oh my gosh, this recipe is truly perfection! I had never made a baked cheesecake before and while searching for a recipe for the “perfect cheesecake” this one popped up. I followed your recipe to a T and it is definitely one of the best, creamiest cheesecakes I’ve ever tasted. My husband told me I should start making them and selling them, lol. Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi! Is it 8 ounces per package or a total of 8 ounces?
it’s a total of 32 ounces, as stated in the recipe 🙂 4 (8- ounce) packages of cream cheese
Whoops, made it with 1 8-ounce cream cheese and that’s whyyy lol. My nephew loved it though ha. Sorry just a beginner here. Will definitely make another one! Thank you! ❤️
This recipe is fantastic! I can’t believe I hadn’t reviewed it because it’s my go to for cheesecake! I’ve even made it for the crew at work. Got another request for tomorrow, so I’m making it again. SO GOOD!!
PS. I had my oven on!!
This recipe always comes out perfect. Easy to make, and the most delicious cake I have ever had… that said, I have made Shelly’s chocolate cheesecake and the key lime cheesecake and they are both amazing as well!!
Thank you so much for the review of this recipe as well as the others!