Classic New York Cheesecake

Serves 12

Ingredients

For The Crust

• 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs, from 12 whole crackers
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• ⅛ teaspoon salt

For The Batter

• 32 oz (four 8-oz blocks) cream cheese, at room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon packed lemon zest, from 1 lemon
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, from 1 lemon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 6 large eggs

Directions

For the Crust

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and set an oven rack in the lower middle position. Wrap a 9-inch springform pan with one large piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and salt. Stir until well combined. Press the crumbs into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, until set. Remove the pan from the oven and set aside.
3. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F. Set a kettle of water to boil.

For the Batter

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or beaters, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and flour together on medium speed until just smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl to be sure the mixture is evenly combined. Add the vanilla, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt; beat on low speed until just combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed until incorporated, scraping the bowl as necessary.
2. Check to make sure your oven has cooled to 325°F, then set the cheesecake pan in a large roasting pan.
3. Pour the batter on top of the crust. Pour the boiling water into the large roasting pan to come about 1 inch up the side of the cake pan. Bake until the cake is just set, 1 hour and 30 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes. (If the cheesecake starts to look too golden on top towards the end, cover it loosely with foil.) The cake shouldn’t look liquid but will wobble just a bit when the pan is nudged; it will continue to cook as it cools.
4. Carefully remove the roasting pan from the oven and set it on a wire rack. Cool the cheesecake in the water bath until the water is just warm, about 45 minutes.
5. Remove the springform pan from the water bath and discard the foil. If necessary, run a thin-bladed knife around the edge of the cake to make sure it's not sticking to the sides (which can cause cracks as it cools), then cover with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator to cool for at least 8 hours or overnight.

Arnold Reuban is the man behind the creation of the New York Style Cheesecake as we know it. New York Cheesecake is ultra-dense and rich, firm yet creamy, and relies on lots of cream cheese for tang and texture, along with heavy cream, eggs, and sugar. It’s usually served without all the garnishes.