Signature New York Style Cheesecake
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp. grated lemon zest
- 1 stick butter, chilled and cubed
- 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
- ¼ tsp. vanilla extract
For the Filling:
- 58-ounces Philadelphia cream cheese, room temperature
- ¼ tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. grated lemon zest
- 1-¾ cups granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 5 eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- Fresh fruit, for serving, optional
Instructions
To prepare the crust:
- Pre-heat oven to 400°F.
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar and lemon zest; cut in the butter until mixture is crumbly; add the egg yolk and vanilla; mix to combine.
- Pat a third of the dough over the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with sides removed.
- Place in the pre-heated oven and bake about 6 minutes, or until golden; remove from the oven and allow to cool.
- Butter the sides of the pan and attach to the bottom; pat remaining dough around the sides to a height of 2 inches.
- Increase the oven heat to 475°F.
To prepare the filling:
- With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until fluffy; add vanilla and lemon zest.
- In a separate bowl, combine sugar, flour and salt; gradually blend into cheese mixture.
- Beat in the eggs and egg yolks, one at a time, and the cream; beat well.
- Pour mixture into the prepared pan; place in the pre-heated oven and bake 8 to 10 minutes.
- Reduce the oven heat to 200°F.
- Continue to bake for 1 hour longer, or until set.
- Turn off the oven heat and allow cake to remain in the oven for 30 minutes with the door ajar.
- Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.
- Once cooled, place in the refrigerator and chill at least 3 hours before serving.
- When serving, adorn with fruit if desired.