16 Creamy Cheesecake Recipes with Unforgettable Flavors (2024)

FAQs

What is the best cheesecake flavor? ›

Cream Cheese – Be sure you're using full-fat cream cheese, as low-fat will not provide the creamy texture we're looking for. Sour Cream – Again, ensure you're using the full-fat version. Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract is a must for the best flavor in the filling.

There are three basic types of cheesecake: baked, mousse and set. New York cheesecake is a variety of baked cheesecake. A mousse cheesecake is set with gelatin and is my least favourite type.

They both are great in their own way. It all narrows down to your personal preferences. If you enjoy dense and velvety cake, a baked cheesecake is the one for you. Or if you crave some light and airy dessert post-dinner, go for the no-bake one.

The best widely available pick: Philadelphia Cream Cheese, $2.54 for eight ounces at Jet. If I'm buying cream cheese to use in a recipe, like cheesecake or frosting, this is the one I'll turn to. The special fresh cream flavor of the Gina Marie would be lost in a recipe, so there's no sense paying a premium for it.

The addition of cream gives a velvety, smooth texture, but too much of it and you begin to mask the cream cheese flavor. Sour cream supports the underlying tang of the cream cheese, but, if overdone, it takes over as the dominant flavor. You need a little of each -- cream for texture and sour cream for flavor.

Eggs: Three whole eggs hold the cheesecake together. I also add an extra yolk, which enhances the cake's velvety texture. (Whites tend to lighten the cake, which is actually fine — if you don't feel like separating that fourth egg and don't mind some extra airiness in the texture, just add in the whole egg.)

It is possible to use whipping cream as an alternative - the cheesecake will have a slightly softer texture but it should set in the fridge. Whipping cream can also be used for the White Chocolate Cheesecake, though again the texture of the cheesecake will be softer.

Skip the Water Bath

The answer is quite simple: Cook the cheesecake at a low temperature and eliminate the bath altogether. Baking at 250ºF simulates the gentle heat of the bath, without the anxiety-inducing suspense of the crust reveal.

Regular cheesecake relies on heavy cream and sour cream to thin the batter and create a silkier, creamier texture. New York cheesecake is heavy on the cream cheese which is why it's so dense and rich. Extra cream cheese isn't the only thing that makes New York cheesecake so special.

Which baking method is best for cheesecake? ›

Classic Cheesecake Recipe. Look no further for a creamy and ultra smooth classic cheesecake recipe! Paired with a buttery graham cracker crust, no one can deny its simple decadence. For the best results, bake in a water bath.

The main difference between what we would consider typical New York American cheesecake and Italian cheesecake is that in Italy, cheesecake is made with ricotta rather than cream cheese. It is also a bit lighter and dryer, more cakelike and less cloying.

In case the name didn't give it away, Cheesecake Factory desserts aren't exactly baked mom-and-pop style. All of the decadent cheesecakes are put together by baking teams in Calabasas Hills, California, and Rocky Mount, North Carolina, before being frozen and shipped all over the country.

It should be a tight fit, with no loose crumbs lingering. Prebaking your crust will help create a sealed barrier between crust and filling, sidestepping the soggy bottom issue. For the smoothest batter, make sure your ingredients are room temperature before starting.

Avoid Overcooking

DON'T overbake. Overbaking a cheesecake can cause cracks on the surface. The center of the cheesecake should still be a little wobbly, the filling still pale, and the outer ring slightly puffy and firm. It will continue to cook as it cools and maintains that smooth and rich texture.

That city, dubbed “the Center of the Universe,” is Daystar's home base. Founded in 1957 by Sansbury “Cotton” Sweeney, the company has been producing the trademarked “World's Best Cheesecake” in Virginia for 57 years.

New York cheesecake is heavy on the cream cheese which is why it's so dense and rich. Extra cream cheese isn't the only thing that makes New York cheesecake so special. It also includes extra eggs and egg yolks to provide and smooth consistency.

"It's smooth and creamy, just sweet enough, with a hint of tartness. If there's a crust, it adds something extra without overwhelming the taste of the cheesecake itself. And it's rich enough to seem a bit decadent, without going down like a cement pour. You should want to keep eating—at least, for more than one bite."

Chicago Cheesecake has a firm exterior, but inside it's soft, creamy, and fluffier than New York cheesecake. It was invented by Eli Schulman, founder of Eli's Cheesecake, at the first ever taste of Chicago in 1980.