Classic Cheesecake

Everyone loves cheesecake! It’s silky smooth and creamy with a delicious rich flavor and buttery graham cracker crust. This classic recipe is very doable, even for beginners. Follow all of my easy tips to make the best-ever cheesecake at home!

This classic cheesecake recipe was my 2020 lockdown project. I must have baked a dozen cheesecakes during those weeks at home until landing on this fool-proof recipe that I am so proud to share with you.

It’s a very traditional recipe, made with cream cheese, heavy cream, sugar, eggs, flour and vanilla all baked in a basic graham cracker crust. I recommend baking it in a simple water bath to ensure it’s smooth and crack-free, but don’t stress because it’s easy to do! Keep reading to see all of my tips for making this best cheesecake recipe.

And I promise, you’ll be so glad you did. Get ready to impress your friends and family!

Classic cheesecake ingredients

Cheesecake is not exactly a light dessert— that’s why we love it, right?! Here’s everything you’ll need for this recipe, and I do not recommend making any substitutions (full recipe at the bottom of this article):

How to make the best cheesecake at home

1. Prepare and bake graham cracker crust. Crush graham cracker crumbs then stir together with melted butter, sugar, salt and cinnamon. Press into a greased 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes, then cool.
2. Prepare cheesecake filling. Use an stand mixer with paddle attachment (or hand mixer and large bowl) to beat cream cheese on medium speed until smooth, then add sugar, flour, salt and vanilla and beat a few more minutes, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure filling is smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing on low speed after each and scraping down the bowl as needed. Pour cheesecake batter into cooled graham cracker crust.
3. Bake in a water bath. Set springform pan into a water bath (keep reading for more info on this) and bake at 325° for about 2 hours, until only the center 2-3 inches wobble slightly when gently shaken.
4. Let cool. There are 3 steps for cooling this cheesecake! First, turn off the oven and crack the door open and keep the cheesecake inside for an hour. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool for another hour or so, and then finally move to the fridge to cool completely (4-8 hours or overnight). Cooling gradually prevents the cheesecake from cracking.
5. Slice and serve. Use a warm knife wiped clean in between each slice to cut cheesecake into wedges. Serve cheesecake as desired, such as with whipped cream and/or fresh berries or a berry sauce.

Do I really need to use a water bath?

And, what is a water bath? A water bath is a method of cooking a dish within a pan of hot water. It creates a moist environment in the oven and provides even and gentle cooking.

It’s used when baking cheesecake so that the filling sets gradually and evenly, resulting in a smooth crack-free surface. Without it your cheesecake may crack, and I highly recommend using a water bath, especially if you are new to baking cheesecake. It may seem like an intimidating step, but I promise it’s actually very easy!

How to make a water bath

A water bath is not something to be intimidated by! It’s very simple, and you probably have all of the supplies in your kitchen already.

Here’s how to make the water bath:

1. Prepare crust and filling per the recipe.
2. Protect pan with a waterproof barrier. You can cover the bottom of the pan with aluminum foil, place it in a slow cooker plastic liner bag, or set it inside a 10-inch pan (my preferred method as it’s guaranteed not to leak).
3. Set prepared pan into a large roasting pan at least 2 inches deep.
4. Transfer pans to the oven.
5. Pour hot water into the roasting pan so it comes up 1-2 inches of the springform pan.

More tips for cheesecake success

For a silky smooth and crack-free cheesecake, I highly recommend you follow these suggestions. As I’ve mentioned, cheesecake is NOT hard to bake! And these simple tips will ensure success and a beautiful (and delicious) cheesecake:

• Start with room temperature dairy and eggs. Cold cream cheese will not whip or incorporate well, resulting in a lumpy filling. Room temperatureingredients help ensure a smooth batter and finished product. Pull ingredients out at least 1 hour before baking, though I’ll often let cream cheese sit at room temperature for a few hours to be sure it’s soft enough. See also my tips for how to quickly bring cream cheese and eggs to room temperature.
• Scrape down the bowl often. The other important step to getting a lump-free batter is to scrape down the mixing bowl often. Beat the cream cheese, sugar, flour, salt, and vanilla until light and creamy, pausing to scrape down the bowl completely 2-3 times. Also scrape down the bowl after each egg addition.
• Don’t overmix the eggs. Once the eggs are added, one at a time, only mix until they’ve been incorporated into the batter. Now is not the time to try to beat out any lumps. Over mixing the batter at this point will incorporate too much air, which will cause the cheesecake to deflate as it cools.
• Bake in a water bath. I tested this recipes both with and without a water bath and every cheesecake baked outside of the water bath resulted in cracked cheesecake. Don’t skip this step!
• Let cheesecake cool gradually. Changing the temperature too quickly can also result in cracks on the cheesecake. I like to very gradually cool the cheesecake— first in the oven with the door open, then on the counter, and finally in the fridge. Don’t try to rush it!
• Chill cheesecake completely before serving. Cheesecake requires refrigeration after baking for it to set up properly. Slice it too soon and it will be soft and messy. For best results, chill it for a minimum of 4-8 hours or preferably overnight. I always bake my cheesecake the day before I plan to serve it.

What do I do if my cheesecake cracks?

It happens! If you use a water bath and follow my other suggestions, you shouldn’t get cracks. But we’re not perfect, and even I mess up sometimes. If your cheesecake cracks, do not despair! It will still be delicious. Simply cover the cheesecake with a layer of whipped cream or chocolate sauce and no one ever has to know.

Toppings Suggestions

This cheesecake is incredible all on its own, but here are a few topping suggestions to take your cheesecake to the next level:

• Whipped cream and berries
• Chocolate sauce
• Caramel sauce
• Fruit preserves

More Cheesecake Recipes to Try

• Brownie Bottom Mini Cheesecakes
• Salted Caramel Cheesecake
• No-Bake Lime Cheesecake Bars
• Mini Cheesecakes

Shop Tools for this Recipe