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Ultimate Homemade Cheesecake – In a Few Easy Steps

By Arlene Cummings
Created January 10, 2017
With only a few easy steps, you can dazzle family and friends with a homemade Ultimate Cheesecake.


Ultimate Cheesecake

We all have had an amazing slice of cheesecake in a restaurant, deli or diner and thought it must take a lot of talent, time and energy to create such a wonderful dessert. When I started researching how some of those New York delis and restaurants make cheesecake, I thought it was way too much work. 

Because I’m a busy mom, I don’t have hours and hours to spend in the kitchen. So I came up with a simple few steps to create the Ultimate Cheesecake that will rival that of any restaurant or diner. The longest part of the recipe is the time it takes for the cake to chill in the fridge. 

Start with a traditional graham cracker crumb crust in a springform pan.

Ultimate Cheesecake

Mix the filling ingredients, pour over crust and bake. No fancy water baths are needed!

Ultimate Cheesecake

After the cheesecake is done baking, spread on the sour cream topping and bake for 10 more minutes.

Ultimate Cheesecake

Let it cool; cover and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. This cheesecake tastes even better than it looks. Everyone will think you slaved for hours on end in the kitchen to create such a masterpiece.

Ultimate Cheesecake

Ingredients

  • Crust
    • 1 1/2cups graham cracker crumbs
    • 1/4cup sugar
    • 6tablespoons butter, melted
  • Filling
    • 2packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
    • 2containers (8 oz each) whipped cream cheese spread, softened
    • 1 1/4cups sugar
    • 2teaspoons vanilla
    • 2tablespoons lemon juice
    • 5eggs
    • 2tablespoons Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
  • Sour Cream Layer
    • 1pint (2 cups) sour cream
    • 1/3cup sugar
    • 1/2teaspoon vanilla
    • 1tablespoon lemon juice
  • Garnish
    • Sliced fresh strawberries
    • Strawberry sundae syrup
    • Whipped cream

Directions

  • 1Heat oven to 325°F. In small bowl, mix crust ingredients; press in bottom of ungreased 10-inch springform pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool 3 to 5 minutes.
  • 2Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat both kinds of cream cheese, 1 1/4 cups sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla and 2 tablespoons lemon juice with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and well blended. On low speed, add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition until blended. Add flour; beat until smooth.
  • 3Pour filling over crust. Bake 55 minutes. Cool on cooling rack 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix sour cream layer ingredients.
  • 4Spoon and spread sour cream mixture evenly over top of cheesecake. Bake 10 minutes longer. Run knife around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 2 hours. Cover; refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.
  • 5Before serving, remove side of pan. Garnish each serving with fresh strawberries and a drizzle of strawberry sundae syrup and a dollop of whipped cream. Store in refrigerator.

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