This classic baked cheesecake is rich and creamy yet light, sweet without being overly sweet. This is an easy Cheesecake recipe that anyone can make, thanks to a couple of little-but-important tips I’m sharing!
For your next cheesecake, try the stunning Strawberry Cheesecake or famous Basque Cheesecake!
Baked cheesecake – made easy!
This is an easy Cheesecake recipe. Well, I should say, this is a baked cheesecake recipe that’s made easy with a few key tips that make all the difference.
I think some people find the idea of making cheesecakes daunting, especially ones where the biscuit crust comes up the side like this one. But you know what? In my humble opinion, cheesecake is easier to make than cakes.
You don’t need to worry about the cake rising, or even sadder is when it sinks in the middle while it cools (such a let down after thinking you’ve nailed it!). And it’s definitely easier than making pastry.
The risk of failure with baked cheesecakes is lower. There’s no rising agent, no gelatine to set it. If the surface cracks (but it shouldn’t, with my tips! 🙂 ), just hide it under icing sugar and/or a pile of berries – or the biscuit crust cracks a bit.
See? How would anyone know if the surface is cracked?? 😉
Easy Cheesecake recipe tips
Here are my tips to make this classic baked Cheesecake stress free and easy for you to make:
The biscuit crust is stronger than you think. I always stress that the crust is going to crack (especially the walls) but it always surprises me how well it holds together when I’m handling the finished cheesecake. It’s firm but has a little give so it doesn’t crack with the slightest bend.
Invert the base of the springform pan. Though the ridge around the base of the pan is small, it can be a real pain to transfer the cheesecake out of the base onto the serving platter. We can’t flip cheesecake upside down like with cakes!! So make your life easier by inverting the base so it’s perfectly flat so the cheesecake will slide right off onto the platter.
Paper overhang – this also helps remove the cheesecake. Just slide it right off the cake pan base!
Press biscuit crumbs firmly using something flat. The key to a sturdy crust is pressing the biscuit crumbs firmly into the base and up the wall of the cheesecake. Use something with straight walls and a flat base – I use a measuring cup. I use the side of the cup to press the crumbs into the walls and the base to press down.
Easy Cheesecake recipe tips (cont’d)
Don’t over-beat the batter. Unlike cake batters, we don’t want to aerate cheesecake batter to make it rise too much. If you over-beat the batter causing bubbles in the batter, the cheesecake will rise more when baking then when it collapses as it cools, it will crack.
Room temp ingredients – make sure the cream cheese is softened and the eggs are at room temp. This will ensure your cheesecake filling is beautifully smooth as it should be!
Bake on a low temp – helps ensure the surface doesn’t crack.
No water bath – it’s tedious and makes no difference. See this Strawberry Cheesecake for notes and a side by side comparison.
Cheesecake surface shouldn’t crack…. but if it does, don’t worry! Just hide them under berries or cream!!
What this Baked Cheesecake tastes like
The Cheesecake Spectrum is very broad and this version is a classic one that sits in the middle. On one hand, you have cheesecakes that are very dense and creamy which weigh a ton – like a New York cheesecake that uses twice as much cream cheese for the same size cheesecake. Many no-bake cheesecakes have a tendency to be too heavy – unless you use gelatine like in this No Bake Mango Cheesecake.
On the other side of the Cheesecake Spectrum, you have cheesecakes that are so light and airy, it is almost like a souffle. Like this famous Japanese Cotton Cheesecake on my mother’s website, RecipeTin Japan. Then there’s the beautiful Basque Cheesecake with its signature caramelised surface which is also very light.
This one is in between. It is creamy and definitely indulgent, but not dense. The texture is light when you cut into it but the mouthfeel is creamy. It’s sweet but not overly so. I have more of a savoury than sweet tooth so I don’t enjoy extremely sweet desserts too much.
And lastly, a little touch of lemon zest just gives it that perfect finishing tough.
All those words to describe the cheesecake. I should have just said – THIS IS DARN DELICIOUS!!! – Nagi x
Classic Baked Cheesecake recipe – made easy!
Watch how to make it
This is the Strawberry Cheesecake recipe video. The cheesecake is made exactly the same way as in this recipe, but is topped with a Strawberry Sauce.
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Classic Baked Cheesecake
Ingredients
CHEESECAKE BISCUIT BASE:
- 200g / 7 oz Arnott’s Marie crackers or other plain biscuit (Aus) or 28 Graham Cracker squares (Note 1)
- 120g / 8 tbsp unsalted butter , melted
CHEESECAKE FILLING:
- 1 lb / 500g cream cheese , softened (Note 2)
- 2 tbsp plain flour (all purpose flour)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sour cream (full fat)
- 1 1/2 cups caster sugar (superfine sugar)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 3 large eggs , at room temperature
TOPPINGS:
- Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries
- Icing sugar / powdered sugar , for dusting
Instructions
PREPARATION:
- Preheat oven to 160°C/320°F (140°C fan).
- Prepare pan – Get a 20cm/8" springform cake tin. Turn the base UPSIDE DOWN (Note 4), butter lightly and place a square piece of parchment/baking paper on the base. Then clip into the springform pan – excess paper will stick out, see photos in post and video. Butter and line the side of the pan.
CHEESECAKE BISCUIT BASE:
- Blitz – Break up biscuits roughly by hand and place in a food processor. Blitz until fine crumbs (Note 5). Add butter, briefly blitz until dispersed and it resembles wet sand.
- Press into pan – Pour into the prepared cake tin. Use a spatula to roughly spread it out over the base and up the walls. Use something with a flat base and vertical edges (I used a measuring cup) to press the crumbs up the wall almost to the top of the sides, and flatten the base.
FILLING:
- Beat cream cheese – Use a mixer or beater to beat the cream cheese until smooth – about 30 seconds on medium high,.
- Finish batter – Add flour, beat until just combined (10 sec). Add vanilla, sour cream, sugar and lemon zest. Beat until just combined (10 – 15 sec). Add eggs one at a time, beat in between until just combined (10 sec each). Don't over beat, we don't want to aerate the batter.
- Bake – Pour into prepared crust. Bake for 55 minutes. The top should be a very light golden brown, not cracked, and near perfectly flat. It should jiggle slightly when you gently shake the pan.
- Cool in the oven with the door open 20 cm / 8" (Note 6), then refrigerate for 4 hours+ in the pan.
- Remove springform pan sides. Use overhang paper to slide cheesecake off the cake pan. Then slide the cheesecake off the paper.
- Serve – Top with berries and dust with icing sugar!
Recipe Notes:
- Australia: Arnott’s Marie Crackers, Arrowroot and Nice are ideal, I’ve made it with all these.
- US: Use 28 squares / 14 full sheets, yes I measured it with my last Graham Cracker packet I brought back from my last trip.
- UK: Digestives are ideal, I LOVE digestives!
Nutrition Information:
More cheesecake recipes
I love a good cheesecake. Proof!
Life of Dozer
The recipe video I shot was a fail because a certain very large-furry-rascal with Giant Paws bumped the tripod while filming so I ended up with 10 minutes of footage of my dirty bench top.
I was extremely cranky with him. Yet look at him, eyeing the cheesecake! He still thinks he’s going to get some!!! Not a chance Dozer, not a chance!!!
I only have a 9 inch springform pan. How long of baking time would you suggest?
Thanks in advance! Can’t wait to make it!
Made it for the first time. Loved all your helpful hints too. Easy and yummy
Hey Nagi, I have now made this cheesecake 3 times (the latest with strawberries) and all have been great! Interestingly I don’t have a springform pan, but it seems you can make this cheesecake in any square or round ceramic container. As it cools it pulls away from the sides very slightly, which means you can get slices out fairly easily without mangling them.
Hi nagi, I’m hoping to use this recipe to make a caramilk cheesecake – I was thinking I just use caramilk philly instead of the normal, and omit the SC and lemon. Would you agreed?
Baked cheesecake Recipe
Came out perfect. After the cheesecake had cooled I poured melted dark chocolate on top and set in the fridge to make a thin shell on the top layer before dusting with icing sugar. I also used dark chocolate biscuit for base and doubled the quantity of cream cheese. Calorific but went down a treat.
Hi just wondered what the addition of flour is for? Could I leave this out?
I think the flour is a stabilizing ingredient. I am a fan of Nagi and her recipes and was looking for a cheesecake recipe that specifically calls for this because my best and first (now misplaced) cheesecake recipe used this. OF COURSE NAGI HAS A RECIPE WITH FLOUR- her recipes are always great!
Can this cheesecake be frozen?
Thanks Nagi. The whole family loves it! The sweetness was just right and it wasn’t overly sweet as I thought. Thank you!
Can I replace the sour cream with plain greek yogurt?
Yes you can – just as long as it’s full fat. N x
Thanks for your prompt helpful reply!
So easy! I halved the recipe & made mini cheesecakes in a muffin tin. Made 12 perfectly & they are delicious!! I baked them for 25 mins in a water bath.
Hi Nagi.
How long do you think this will stay fresh for. Want to get ahead on a birthday dinner?
Amazing, my first time doing a baked cheesecake & it turned out perfectly, was a big hit!
Finally an Australian version, so well explained… I don’t have to constantly be going back and forth with conversion charts and Googling… what the hell is that ingredient, and where can I buy it!!!!
I haven’t tested it yet (still cooling) but it looks amazing… thank you thank you thank you ♡♡♡
Hi Nagi,
The cheesecake is not turning light brown/ golden in the oven, do I need to leave it there abit longer. Also, the mixture had air bubbles in it, does that mean I overdone it? Would the outcome be bad🥺
Hi rose – as long as it’s set to the right consistency that should be fine – your oven may run slightly on the cooler side. Air bubbles just mean it’s been beaten a little too much – not to worry it will be fine! N x
This was my firsr attempt i. making cheesecake and can I just say it was by far the best and easiest cheesecake recipe ever! My entire family loved it and I will be making more for Christmas tomorrow! Have a lovely Christmas Nagi x
Hi Nagi, would it be possible to make these into mini cakes in cupcake tins?
I imagine so, although they may be a little difficult to get out of the tin! N x
Hi Nagi!
This is my go to recipe for cheesecake – love it! Made it too many times to count and never had a fail. ☺️ Just wondering if you reckon there would be any way to incorporate a caramel swirl into the cake?
Hi Mary-Rose – one to add to my recipe development list! N x
Haha! Thanks Nagi! Do please! ☺️
Hi Nagi
I was looking at the recipe and I seen that you need a 20cm springboard tin and mine is 26cm will it still cook the same or will I have to change the recipe at all?
Thank You!
Wow 26cm! That is a BIG one! 🙂 It will not be as tall and I think you will need to increase the biscuit base by around 25% (Just click on servings and slide up) because you’ve got a lot more base surface area to cover. Actually, it will be more like the height of cheesecakes sold at places like the Cheesecake shop here Down Under, rather than cake height which is how it’s done in the photos. Also, bake time will probably be less because yours is not as deep – I am guessing 45 minutes. Look for the right jiggle texture when you take it out – see the video for what you want. 🙂 Hope you love it! N x
Hi Nagi, I have this in the oven right now and butter is leaking out of the springform base. Have I killed it? I need it for tomorrow!! Thanks, Helen
Hi Helen, sounds like your base may be loose??
Hi Nagi, amazing recipe. Was wondering how long do we keep this in the oven?
Hi Nagi, how long do I need to leave it in the oven (with door open) to cool?