How to Make Cheesecake—Thermal Care Makes Better Cakes

It’s always nice to have a crowd-pleasing, simple, versatile dessert recipe at the ready. Cheesecake is ideal for keeping on hand because it freezes well and pairs beautifully with many different sauces. And what’s even better, you can bake your cheesecakes perfectly every time with proper temperature control. We have the thermal tips you need for the best homemade cheesecake.

There are two different baking methods that yield very different textures. Which method should you choose? It depends on whether you want a traditional cheesecake that’s creamy and silky-smooth or a contemporary one with a more substantial texture. Or make one of each! Keep reading to find out which best suits your preferences.

4 Thermal Tips for Cheesecake From Start to Finish:

There are four critical thermal points to be mindful of as we bake a cheesecake.

1. All the ingredients need to be at room temperature—70–75°F (21–24°C)

For a smooth batter—and therefore a smoother-textured cheesecake— the initial temperature of the ingredients is important.

Cold cream cheese is firm and will create a lumpy batter. If the batter is lumpy, the finished cheesecake will not be smooth, but gritty. Softened, room temperature cream cheese mixes easily with the other ingredients.

The eggs and other ingredients must also be room temperature. If they’re added to the batter cold they will chill the cream cheese, causing it to solidify and make the batter lumpy even if it started out completely smooth.

2. Baking temperature determines the texture

Cheesecake is a custard, and custards can overcook easily. Overbaked cheesecake will crack and the texture will be dry and gritty. Egg proteins become quite firm and tightly coiled when cooked quickly at a high temperature, but can be silky-smooth and creamy when cooked gently at a low temperature. There are two different baking methods that each yield very different results. Both are very good, and which to use depends on your personal preference.

For a lighter cheesecake with a toasty browned top, bake it in a three-step process.

• First, bake it at 450°F (232°C) for about 20 minutes.
• Then turn the oven off and prop the door of the oven door open (a wooden spoon is good for this) for 10 minutes, allowing it to vent some of its heat.
• Then turn the oven back on, set the baking temperature to 250°F (121°C), close the door, and finish baking.

For a dense, pale cheesecake, simply bake it in a 250°F (121°C) oven the entire time. The slower, gentler heat will not cause the steam-induced oven spring that occurs in the high-off-low method above and the cheesecake will remain quite dense.

3. Be careful not to overbake

Regardless of the desired density of your cheesecake, bake it until the egg protein is perfectly set, and not a degree longer. The longer the cheesecake remains in the oven after it has reached its pull temperature, the tighter the egg proteins will become, and the greater the likelihood of your cake cracking.

Pull the cheesecake from the oven when the internal temperature of the center reaches 145°F (63°C) as verified with an instant-read thermometer like the Thermapen^® Mk4. Start checking the internal temperature about 10 minutes before the suggested baking time is up to be sure you don’t overbake.

A super-fast instant-read thermometer like the Thermapen^® makes it easy to perform multiple quick checks without leaving the oven door open too long.

➤ Ways to not test the doneness of a cheesecake:

Jiggle test

This inaccurate method of tapping the side of the pan to see if the side of the custard is set while the center is still slightly jiggly does not test against a reliable standard—it’s far too subjective and will vary from person to person.

Crack test

Some people wait until the top of the cheesecake cracks as a cue to its doneness. But by the time the cheesecake cracks, it’s already overdone, and it will crack more when it cools! Testing the internal temperature is the best method to know exactly when to pull the cheesecake from the oven so as not to overcook the delicate egg protein.

4. Chill well before slicing and serving

When the cheesecake is removed from the oven at an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C), it’s still a bit jiggly, but it will experience some carryover cooking as it rests. As soon as the cheesecake cools to room temperature, it should be covered and refrigerated for at least 8 hours—overnight is even better. If you plan ahead, freezing the cheesecake is even better. The firmer the cheesecake is, the cleaner the slices will be when served.

➤ Thermal Tip: Cheesecake can be stored in the freezer for 2–3 months. Keep a few of these handy in the freezer for a quick dessert anytime!

Tips for a better cheesecake

Mix gently. Don’t be tempted to mix ingredients at a high speed or to use a whisk attachment instead of a paddle attachment in an effort to get rid of lumps. This aerates the batter and can ruin that cake’s final texture.  Starting with softened cream cheese and being patient while mixing on low speed is the best way to ensure a smooth filling.

Scrape down the bowl after mixing in each ingredient. When mixing the ingredients together the consistency starts off quite thick with the cream cheese and thins out with the addition of each ingredient. The batter that sticks to the sides of the bowl—and hides in the bottom of the bowl—needs to be scraped down completely so it combines evenly. If the bowl isn’t scraped consistently, the batter will be lumpy.

A note on the graham cracker crust

How you prepare your graham cracker crust is a matter of taste. For a firm, crunchier crust, pre-bake the crust before you pour the cake batter onto it. If you want a crust that is more yielding, don’t pre-bake it. A baked crust will have more of a toasty flavor, but an unbaked one won’t act as a barrier to your fork when you’re trying to eat it. It’s up to you.

Wait! What about the water bath?!?

Some recipes for cheesecake call for placing the pan in a hot water bath when cooking. The idea behind having a water bath is that you’re protecting the cheesecake form overcooking by providing gentler heat. But if your water get’s up to 212°F (100°C), you can still overcook your cheesecake! In the end, the only way to get a perfectly cooked cheesecake is to cook it to temperature, water bath or no. And since they are an incredible hassle, we don’t use a water bath below.

New York-Style Cheesecake recipe

This cheesecake is based on the one from SeriousEats.com, Epic New York Cheesecake. It incorporates a little bit of fresh goat’s cheese along with the standard cream cheese, and it is a worthy addition. You won’t notice it, but you’ll have a lighter textured, fresher flavored cake at the end. If you can’t abide the idea, just sub more cream cheese in for it.

Yield: 12 to 16 servings

For the Graham Crust:

• 7 oz graham cracker crumbs (about 1 3/4 C)
• 2 oz unsalted butter, melted (4 tablespoons)
• Pinch of salt

Filling (all ingredients must be room temperature, 70°F [21°C])

• 32 oz full-fat cream cheese, such as Philadelphia,
• 8 oz fresh goat cheese (in log form)
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 large pinch kosher salt
• 14 oz sugar (about 2 cups)
• 6 large eggs
• 6 oz heavy cream

For serving

• 16 oz fresh blueberries or other fruit
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• Sugar to taste

Instructions

*Crust and filling instructions are the same regardless of the final baking method used.

Prepare the Crust

• Prapare your 9″ springform pan by first coating the bottom plate in aluminum foil. this will make the cheesecake easier to remove later on.

  

• Process graham crackers in food processor to fine crumbs. Transfer them directly to the springform. Add the melted butter and toss with a fork until the mixture is evenly moistened.
• Press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. Use a ramekin or measuring cup to press the crumbs firmly. If pre-baking, bake the crust until it begins to smell nutty and toasty, about 10–13 minutes.

  

☼ Did You Know? You can use a 9-inch cake pan with 3-inch high sides (non-springform pan) to bake a cheesecake if it is going to be frozen after baking and cooling. A frozen-solid cheesecake will easily release from a cake pan. If you don’t have a springform pan don’t let that stop you from making cheesecake! See unmolding instructions below.

Prepare the Filling

• Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C), or, for a denser, lighter-colored cheesecake, 250°F (121°C).
• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the cream cheese, goats cheese, vanilla, salt, and lemon juice. Start on low speed for a minute, then increase speed to medium and mix until perfectly smooth. Scrape down the walls and bottom of the bowl halfway through mixing.

  

• Reduce the speed to medium-low and add all the sugar. Mix on medium-low speed until just well combined.
• Add the eggs and mix on low speed until everything is incorporated. Scrape down the bowl again.

  

• In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a full boil.
• With the mixer running on low, slowly pour the cream into the mixture. This will warm the batter so that it cooks more quickly and it will also help trapped air bubbles to escape, improving the texture.

  

• Pour the batter into the springform pan and place in the oven.
• For the denser cheesecake, bake at 250°F (121°C) for about 65 minutes.
• For the lighter, darker-colored cheesecake, cook the cheesecake for 20 minutes at high heat, then turn off the oven and prop the door open with a wooden spoon for 10 minutes.

  

• Turn the oven to 250°F (121°C), close the door, and bake about 35 more minutes.
• Whichever method you choose, start checking the internal temperature well before the time has fully elapsed. Bake the cheesecake until an instant-read thermometer reads 145°F (63°C). Note that a few inches in the center will still be rather wobbly, that’s ok—carryover cooking will take care of it.

  

Cool and chill

• Cool the cheesecake on the countertop for 15 minutes, then run a thin-bladed knife around the edges of the pan. Let it sit on the counter for at least another hour.

  

• Refrigerate the cheesecake, covered, for at least 8 hours, but preferably overnight.

Make topping

• Place the fresh berries in a small saucepan with a few tablespoons of water and the lemon juice.
• Cook over medium-high heat until the fruit breaks down.
• Cook until the fruit is almost completely broken down and the sauce thickens. Taste for sugar and adjust sweetness as needed.
• Refrigerate until ready to use.

  

Unmold

• To unmold a refrigerated cheesecake, run a thin knife along the outside edge of the springform pan again. Release and remove the sides of the springform pan. Give the aluminum foil a bit of a tug and the cake will become easier to lift with a flat spatula. Place onto a cutting board.
• To unmold a frozen cheesecake, lightly torch the outside of the metal sides to release the cake and remove the sides. Torch the bottom of the pan and remove the bottom of the pan from the cheesecake.
  • If you don’t have a torch, dip the bottom and sides of the cheesecake into simmering water and hold for about 5 seconds. Dry off the outside of the pan and release the sides of the springform pan.

Slice and Serve

Have you ever wondered how slices of cheesecake at restaurants are always so perfectly and cleanly sliced? The secret is to slice cheesecake frozen.

• Start with an unmolded, still-frozen cheesecake on a cutting board.
• To slice, dip a long carving or chef’s knife into hot water, dry slightly and cut the cheesecake in half.
• Clean the knife after each slice by dipping into hot water, then wipe clean with a towel.
• Cut each half into 6-8 slices each (for a total of 12–16 slices per cheesecake) and reshape into a circle on a cake stand or platter.

If perfect slices aren’t as important, go ahead and slice it cold, but still wipe the blade between cuts. Top with the fruit compote and any other toppings you like!

You can make the perfect cheesecake to your own preference by mixing your room-temp ingredients well, choosing your baking temperature, and using a Thermapen^® to know exactly when it’s ready to pull your cheesecake from the oven.

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Other Blog Posts About Custards:

Creme Brulee

Secrets to Silky Pumpkin Pie

Temperature Tips to Perfect Pies

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