Ingredients Crust: 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs 1 Tbsp sugar 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and divided Filling: 2½ lb cream ch...
Ingredients
- Crust:
- 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and divided
- Filling:
- 2½ lb cream cheese, (5 8-oz packages) at room temperature
- 1½ cups sugar
- 5 extra large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 extra large egg yolks, at room temperature
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- 2 lemons, zest only
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Directions
- Crust:
- 1Adjust an oven rack to the lower-middle position and preheat the oven to 325F.
- 2Brush the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with ½ tablespoon of the melted butter.
- 3In a medium bowl, combine the graham crackers, sugar, and 5 tablespoons melted butter. Blend with a fork and pour mixture into a 9-inch springform pan.
- 4Use the bottom of a measuring cup to firmly press the crumbs evenly into the pan bottom. Don’t form a crust on the sides of the pan.
- 5Bake for 14 to 18 minutes. Remove pan and set aside.
- Filling:
- 1Increase the oven temperature to 500F.
- 2In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
- 3Reduce the speed of the mixer to medium and add the eggs and egg yolks, 2 at a time, mixing well. Scrape the beater and bowl well with a rubber spatula, as needed. With the mixer on low, add the sour cream, lemon zest, and vanilla. Set aside.
- 4Brush the sides of your springform pan with the remaining butter. Pour filling onto the cooled crust.
- 5Bake for 10 minutes on 500F, then reduce the oven temperature to 200F. Bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center reads 165F, about 2 hours and 30 minutes. The cheesecake will not be completely set in the center.
- 6Remove pan and let it sit at room temperature for another 2 ½ to 3 hours, until completely cooled. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- 7Remove the cake from the springform pan by carefully running a paring knife around the outside of the cake.
