4.1 from 147 votes
Lemon Cheesecake
Classic Lemon Cheesecake is a special occasion dessert easy enough for any day. Get my secret for the freshest lemon flavor!
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 501 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
gingersnap crust
- 1 1/2 cups Gingersnap crumbs process gingersnaps in a food processor until finely ground
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
cheesecake
- 32 ounces regular (not whipped) cream cheese, at room temperature that's 4 8-ounce packages)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- zest peeled from 1 lemon
- 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
garnish
- fresh berries
- mint leaves
- Edible Flowers
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly spray a 9 inch springform pan and line with a circle of parchment paper on the bottom. Line the sides with strips of parchment paper ~ this helps to prevent cracking as the cake cools. Note: if you have any worry about your pan leaking, wrap the outside tightly with foil.
- Mix together the gingersnap crumbs and brown sugar, making sure to get out any lumps from the brown sugar. Drizzle in the melted butter and mix until all the crumbs are evenly saturated. Press the crumbs firmly and evenly into the bottom of the pan, going up the sides about an inch.
- Bake the crust for 8 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- Put the sugar in a food processor and process with the lemon zest until the sugar is pale yellow and all the zest is incorporated. This will take under a minute.
- Put your lemon sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the balloon whisk and blend with the cream cheese, and flour until well combined. Note: you can do this with electric beaters if you prefer.
- Beat in the sour cream and lemon juice, and then the eggs, one at a time, beating in between each addition. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl often to get everything well incorporated.
- Turn the batter into the pan and spread out evenly. Set the pan on a baking sheet.
- Bake for about 55 minutes, or just until the outside is set and the inside still wobbles. Turn off the heat and leave the cheesecake in the oven for another hour with the door propped open.
- Cool the pan on a rack until room temperature, then refrigerate overnight.
- Carefully remove cheesecake from pan, and decorate with fresh berries, mint, and flowers.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Use regular graham cracker crumbs for the crust, or any other cookie crumbs you like. Chocolatey Nabisco Famous Wafers or Nilla Wafers would be nice, too.
- If you only have a 10 inch pan you can use it, just be aware that the cooking time will be shorter.
- You can get the same topping effect using just one of the berry varieties that I used. If using strawberries look for small ones, and slice some of them in half for a nice visual touch.
Nutrition Information
Calories
501kcal
(25%)
Carbohydrates
42g
(14%)
Protein
8g
(16%)
Fat
35g
(54%)
Saturated Fat
19g
(95%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
9g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
147mg
(49%)
Sodium
343mg
(14%)
Potassium
201mg
(6%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
32g
(64%)
Vitamin A
1271IU
(25%)
Vitamin C
2mg
(2%)
Calcium
111mg
(11%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 501
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 501kcal | 25% |
| Carbohydrates | 42g | 14% |
| Protein | 8g | 16% |
| Fat | 35g | 54% |
| Saturated Fat | 19g | 95% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 147mg | 49% |
| Sodium | 343mg | 14% |
| Potassium | 201mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 32g | 64% |
| Vitamin A | 1271IU | 25% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 111mg | 11% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.