Tall New York Cheesecake, baked high and light with fruit topping, is a melt in your mouth dessert that will look beautiful on any holiday dessert table!
Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year! Sleigh bells ringing, the joyful sound of Christmas carols and the sweet smell of pine boughs are just magical. It would not be the holidays if the house didn’t smell like something good was baking! Baking goodies to enjoy from Thanksgiving to New Year is a must at my house.
This amazing Tall New York Cheesecake recipe is my go-to fancy dessert for the holidays. It takes a little time to make, but is so worth it! Don’t forget the fruit topping, it adds a perfect finishing touch!
Tips For Making The Best Tall New York Cheesecake:
- When called for, USE ROOM TEMPERATURE ingredients! Cold ingredients do not incorporate together easily, or at all! This can result in dense cakes and cookies, lumpy frostings and streaks throughout your batter.
- This recipe was created and tested using regular cream cheese. If substituting lower fat cream cheese the final result may be different.
- Follow the stated times in the recipe for mixing the ingredients together. Shortening the mixing times may effect the lightness and texture of the cheesecake.
- Do wrap your springform pan with foil before filling. It is an extra precaution against the water bath leaking into the cheesecake during baking.
- Let cool in the oven with the door open for the full hour to prevent the cheesecake fromcracking on top.
Looking for more delicious cake recipes worthy of the Holiday Season? Check these out:
- Perfect Pound Cake – tastes like shortbread cookies
- Classic Carrot Cake Recipe – pineapple,coconut,raisins – oh my!
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This fluffy, light cheesecake will be a hit at your next gathering!
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1 and 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 4 oz (1/2 stick) of butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Filling:
- 4 blocks of cream cheese, 8 oz each, at room temperature
- 4 eggs, at room temp
- 1 and 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 and 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 tsp fresh lemon zest (optional)
Fruit topping (Optional):
- 1 can cherry pie filling ( I use the kind that says extra cherries on the label)
- 1/8 tsp Almond Extract
Instructions
- Butter the bottom and sides of a 9 – inch springform pan that is at least 2-1/2 inches deep. If using a smaller pan, you my have leftover batter that you can bake in ramekins or a another dish. Wrap the bottom of the pan in 2 layers of aluminum foil.
- Combine the graham cracker crumbs , sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Add the melted butter and stir until all crumbs are moistened. The mixture will be crumbly. Press this mixture into the bottom and about 2 inches up the sides of the pan.
- Set the pan in the freezer while you preheat the oven to 350 F.
- When the oven is preheated, place the springform pan on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 10 minutes. When done, cool on a rack while you make the filling.
- For the filling:
- In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add the cream cheese. Beat at medium speed for 5 minutes, until the cream cheese is fluffy. With the mixer on, add the sugar and salt , continue to beat another 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating an additional 1 minute after each egg. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure that all of the cream cheese has been incorporated. Add the sour cream and vanilla with the mixer on low until well blended.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. The batter will be light and airy. Fill the pan to the top.
- Create a Waterbath:
- Place the filled springform pan into the larger baking or roasting pan, make sure there is enough room on the sides to add water. Place the pan in the center rack of the oven. Fill the larger pan with boiling water until it comes half way up the side of the springform pan.
- Bake the cheesecake for 1-1/2 hours. The cake will be golden and may have cracks.
- Leave the cheesecake in the oven. Turn off the oven and open the oven door about 12 inches. Prop open with a large wooden spoon or stick if needed. Leave open and allow the cheesecake to sit in the waterbath for another hour.
- Carefully remove the pan from the oven, and lift the springform pan out of the waterbath with oven mitts as water may still be hot. Let the cheescake cool on a rack until room temperature. Wrap and put in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- At least an hour before serving, take the cheesecake out of the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature.
- Optional: Mix the cherries with the almond extract and set aside. Or use your own favorite topping.
- Put the cheesecake on a serving plate and remove the outer ring of the springform pan carefully.
- Cover with the fruit filling and enjoy!
Notes
**Pans you will need:
9 inch Springform pan, with at least 2-1/2 deep sides
Baking sheet
Baking pan or roaster large enough to sit the springform pan into
TIPS:
Cream cheese and eggs MUST be at room temperature. They will not combine if they are cold.
DO NOT omit wrapping the pan with foil, this is an extra precaution against any water from the water bath leaking into your pan
Cool the cheesecake slowly, make sure to leave in the turned off oven for the full hour
DO NOT shorten the beating times needed for mixing the ingredients, the lightness of the cheesecake will be effected if you do
** Blueberry Pie Filling is also a fan favorite to top this cheesecake
Keywords: cheesecake,dessert
