Classic New York Cheesecake

Published: Jul 5, 2022 · Modified: Nov 22, 2023 by Jamie · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 42 Comments

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This classic New York-style cheesecake is rich, creamy, and decadent. It's made with sour cream and heavy cream for an extra smooth and creamy texture that New York cheesecake is best known for! Read on for expert tips on how to get the best crack-proof cheesecake!

Classic New York-style cheesecake with graham cracker crust.

This classic New York-style cheesecake is silky, smooth, creamy, and tall! It's an incredibly easy recipe that's made with simple ingredients and full of tips to get you that perfect, crack-free cheesecake. It's also the perfect dessert for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other special occasions because it can be made up to two days in advance.

Crack-proof New York cheesecake

The 3 main techniques for crack-free cheesecake:

Remove air bubbles - The most common reason for cracked cheesecake is over-mixing and large air bubbles. Over-mixing will create air bubbles that make their way to the surface during baking, resulting in cracks. To remove air bubbles, mix the batter on the lowest speed for 2 minutes to push up air bubbles so you can easily pop them. Slowly pour the batter from a height of 6 inches to pop large air bubbles, and finally bang the pan on the counter to release any remaining air bubbles.
Use a water bath - Also called a bain-maire, this technique involves placing the springform pan inside a large pan, filled with shallow water. It allows for gentle, even cooking and creates a humid environment that prevents cracks.
Watch for improper temperature - The cheesecake should bake at a constant temperature for even heating. Use an oven thermometer to monitor and avoid opening the oven which can result in the cheesecake collapsing due to the sudden drop in temperature.

Perfect crack-free New York cheesecake on a plate.

The portions and pan size used in this recipe will give you a tall and creamy cheesecake that's quintessential to classic New York cheesecake. The addition of sour cream and heavy cream gives it a silky texture that's light yet luscious. Its tall height, velvety-smooth texture, and generous slices are why everyone loves New York-style cheesecakes.

Classic New York cheesecake with creamy, rich texture.

Ingredients for Classic Cheesecake

Ingredients for classic New York cheesecake.

Graham crackers - A classic ingredient in New York cheesecake. Use a food processor to make crumbs or place the crackers in a resealable bag and crush them with a rolling pin or a kitchen mallet.
Cream cheese - Use full-fat cream cheese that's been softened on the counter or microwaved on 50% power for 20 seconds at a time.
Sour cream - Use full-fat sour cream for the best flavor. For a silkier, softer version replace half the sour cream with heavy cream.
Eggs - Room temperature eggs are recommended.
Sugar - Use fine, granulated sugar that quickly dissolves in the batter.

Step by Step Photos

Graham cracker crumbs made in a food processor and pressed into a springform pan wrapped with foil.

Make graham cracker crumbs using a food processor and then mix with melted butter, sugar, and salt.
Press them into a springform pan that's been double-lined with aluminum foil and inserted with a round of parchment paper on the bottom. This will help efficiently remove the cheesecake and prevent water from leaking through the bath. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8 to 10 minutes and remove. Lower the oven to 325 degrees F.

New York cheesecake batter beaten with a mixer until smooth.

Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer, beat the softened cream cheese, eggs, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla together until smooth and creamy.
On the lowest setting of the mixer, beat the batter for 1 to 2 minutes to pop any air bubbles. This will help prevent cracks from forming on the cheesecake. You should end up with a creamy, smooth batter that flows like pancake batter.

Classic cheesecake batter poured into a springform pan in a water bath.

Pour the batter into the crust slowly to pop any more air bubbles.
Insert the springform pan into a larger pan and fill it with hot water halfway up the springform pan. This is called a water bath and will help cook the cheesecake gently and evenly while supplying humidity to prevent the cheesecake surface from drying out and cracking.

Classic cheesecake baking in the oven in a springform pan.

Bake at 325 degrees F for 75 minutes. You should see the cheesecake expand as it cooks, this is normal.
Turn off the oven but leave the cheesecake inside for one hour. Slightly crack the oven to slowly reduce the temperature and avoid the cheesecake from collapsing. Insert a wooden spoon into the door if needed. Afterward, remove the cheesecake from the oven and remove the foil lining. Once it comes to room temperature, lightly cover it and chill in the fridge for at least 4 hour to overnight.

Classic New York-style cheesecake with no cracks.

If all goes right, you should end up with a perfect, crack-free New York-style cheesecake that's smooth and creamy. But if your cheesecake cracked, no worries! There are plenty of delicious toppings you can use to cover the crack such as cherry cheesecake topping or chocolate ganache. It'll only make it more delicious!

To serve, cut slices using a thin knife that's been dipped in hot water and wiped dry before each slice. Heating the knife in hot water will get you smooth, clean slices without sticking.

A slice of classic cheesecake on a plate.

Tips for Classic New York Cheesecake

Use room-temperature ingredients. This helps the cheesecake batter become smooth and creamy with no lumps.
Make sure the cream cheese is completely soft. My preferred way of softening cream cheese is in the microwave. Heat at 50% power for 20 seconds at a time. It's completely fine if the cream cheese is warm to the touch.
A lot of recipes call for adding the eggs last to prevent air bubbles. From my experience, this isn't necessary as long as you remove the air bubbles before baking. To do this, mix the batter on the lowest speed for 1 to 2 minutes before pouring it into the springform pan. This helps push air bubbles to the surface so you can easily pop them. When pouring, slowly pour from a 6-inch height to pop large air bubbles that may remain. Lastly, bang the pan on the counter several times to pop any more air bubbles.
Avoid opening the oven door which can cause the cheesecake to collapse due to the temperature drop. Once it's finished baking, allow the cheesecake to rest in the oven with the door cracked for an hour to let the temperature decrease slowly. This prevents the cheesecake from collapsing and cracking.
Once the cheesecake comes to room temperature, cover it loosely to prevent any condensation from dripping onto the cheesecake.
Chill the cheesecake overnight for best results.

A slice of classic New York-style cheesecake on a plate.

I hope you enjoy this recipe for classic New York cheesecake! Please leave a rating and let me know how it goes!

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What's the difference between a New York-style cheesecake and regular cheesecake?

New York cheesecake is a taller, creamier cheesecake that's at least 2 inches tall and made with additional ingredients like sour cream and sometimes heavy cream. Its texture is creamy and luscious and is always served in generous portions. Regular cheesecake is quite dense and more shallow with its main ingredients being cream cheese, eggs, and sugar.

Why did my cheesecake crack?

Cracks can form due to air bubbles, improper temperature, and over-beating. Use room temperature ingredients to get a smooth even batter. Pop air bubbles by mixing the batter on the lowest speed for 2 minutes and bang the pan several times on the counter before baking. Avoid opening the oven door during baking as it can cause the cheesecake to collapse and crack.

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