Creamy Cheesecake Recipe | New York Cheesecake Recipe

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This creamy, soft and egg-free New York Style Cheesecake recipe is a favorite among my friends and family. When served with my simple chocolate sauce, this elegant dessert is both beautiful and delicious!

new york style cheesecake wedge drizzled with chocolate sauce and topped with black berries on white plate.

About Cheesecake Recipe

New York Style Cheesecake is the quintessential dinner party dessert. Made with both cream cheese and heavy cream, the filling is extra creamy, dense and soft. I have also engineered this recipe to be completely egg free!

Digestive biscuits make for a buttery, crisp crust that pairs beautifully with the tangy cheese cake filling. That said, this recipe is entirely adaptable to your preferences. Feel free to swap in graham crackers, gingersnaps, Biscoff or even chocolate sandwich cookies instead.

This simple eggless cheese cake recipe gives you a medium sized cheesecake, which is perfect for a small party. You can also easily halve the recipe if you prefer, just be sure to use a smaller springform pan.

This recipe also includes a simple chocolate sauce to serve with the cheesecake. You can skip this if you want, but the sweet chocolate sauce complements the slightly sour taste of the cheesecake very well.

Feel free to substitute your own favorite cheesecake garnish instead, like caramel sauce, fresh berries or lemon curd.

Finally, while cheesecakes are often considered more difficult desserts to make, my recipe takes just 20 minutes of active time to prepare. Make this easy recipe for your next special occasion and bask in the admiration and appreciation of your loved ones!

Note: This recipe is a baked version and does need an oven.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to Make Cheesecake Recipe

Prepare Cracker Crust

1. Take 10 to 12 digestive biscuits or crackers or marie biscuits. Break them and add in a blender or grinder jar.

biscuits to make cheesecake recipe

2. Grind to a fine powder.

biscuits that have been ground to a fine powder for making a cookie crust

3. Take this powder in a mixing bowl.

biscuits powder to make cheesecake crust

4. Add 2 tablespoons melted butter in it.

butter added to biscuits powder to make cheesecake crust recipe

5. Mix very well with a spoon.

spoon in a mixing bowl with cheesecake crust ingredients

6. Now place this mixture in greased spring pan (a.k.a. springform). Grease the bottom as well as the sides very well with butter.

I used two pans of 5.5 inches (diameter) and 2.75 inches (height).

Tip: You can also use a 5 or 6 inches round pan. Alternatively, you can even use small to medium baking bowls or ramekins for individual servings. In this case you do not need to remove the cheesecake, so you do not need to worry about using springforms.

cheesecake crust ingredients tipped into a greased springform pan

7. Using your fingertips or the back of a small glass or bowl, press the cracker and butter mixture into the pan, making a neat, even layer. Refrigerate the pan for 20 to 30 minutes, so that the cracker layer sets.

cheesecake crust that has been pressed into a springform pan in an even layer

Make Cheese Cake Filling

8. In another bowl, take 3 cups cream cheese (600 grams) and ¾ cup sugar (150 grams).

Note: All the ingredients should be at room temperature.

I have used Philadelphia brand of cheesecake. Feel free to use a good brand that is available to you.

cream cheese and sugar in a mixing bowl

9. Next add 1 tablespoon cornstarch (cornflour), 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or powder.

making new york style eggless cheesecake filling by adding cornstarch, lemon juice and vanilla powder

10. Using an electric beater, start to whip this mixture.

making cheesecake filling by using a hand mixer to beat the ingredients

11. Use a medium-high speed and whip till smooth and creamy. Scrape the sides with a spatula and continue to beat. You can also use a stand mixer to beat the mixture.

Tip: Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl very well to prevent any lumps. The cream cheese tends to hang on the sides of the bowl, so I recommend scraping a few times while making the cheesecake filling.

preparing new york cheese cake filling

12. There should be no lumps of cream cheese in the mixture.

you can see there are no lumps in the cheesecake filling recipe

13. It should be smooth, thick and creamy without any lumps. Beat the mixture *just* until smooth. Do not over beat, as this can cause your cheesecake to crack.

egg free new york cheesecake filling in a mixing bowl prior to adding cream

14. Now add ½ cup cream.

cream added to cheesecake filling

15. Beat the mixture again.

beating the cheesecake filling with an electric mixer

16. Whip till the cream is blended very well and you see a even, smooth, creamy and thick mixture.

completed cheesecake batter for egg free new york cheesecake recipe

Bake Cheesecake

17. Remove the pan from the fridge. Here is the set cracker crust layer.

prepared pan with biscuit crust

18. Now pour the whipped cream cheese layer in the pan.

cheesecake batter added to pan

19. Even the top by using an offset spatula or the back of a spoon.

preparing cheese cake recipe by spreading the filling evenly over the crust

20. Keep the pan in a preheated oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes at 180° C/356° F. Remember to preheat your oven at 180° C/356° F for 15 minutes and keep both the top and bottom heating elements on. Keep the pans in the middle rack.

(As mentioned before, I used two pans. If you opt to use a different sized pan, please adjust your cook times accordingly!)

Tip: If you use two pans, I recommend using a baking sheet or tray to help you check for doneness and to remove the cheese cakes from the oven.

two cheesecake springform pans on a cooking sheet in the oven

21. After baking, check for doneness. A perfectly baked cheesecake will have sides that look risen, firm and set. 

The centre of the cheesecake should be wobbly, but not runny, when you shake the pan gently. The sides will also look separated from the pan.

Let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. On cooling, the centre will become firm. Do not over bake. Since temperatures vary with the size, make and litres of the oven, do keep a check while the cheesecakes are getting baked. Cracks should not form on the cheesecake.

Tip: To prevent the top of your cheesecake from cracking, keep your oven door slightly open after baking and allow the cheesecake to cool inside it. This will keep the temperature from shifting too abruptly and rupturing the top.

baked new york cheesecake showing the edges are slightly dry looking and pulling away from the sides of. thepan

22. Once the eggless cheesecake has cooled to room temperature, cover it with foil or an air tight lid. Place the pans in the fridge for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.

springform pans wrapped in foil and placed in the refrigerator to set

Make Chocolate Sauce

1. Take ½ cup hot milk in a bowl. You can heat milk in a pan or a microwave. Do not boil the milk, which can scald it and negatively impact the flavor and texture. Simply bring it to steaming.

warm milk in a glass bowl

2. Add 1 cup roughly chopped sweet chocolate (75 grams). If using semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, feel free to add sugar to taste.

chopped chocolate added to warm milk

3. Mix very well with a spoon or spatula, till all the chocolate dissolves.

spoon stirring chocolate and milk mixture until smooth

4. Let the chocolate sauce cool to room temperature.

completed chocolate sauce for eggless new york style cheesecake

Serve New York Style Cheesecake

5. Dip a butter knife in a bowl or cup containing warm water.

butter knife in a mug of hot water

6. Now take the butter knife and gently slide it around the pan edge, separating the cheesecake from the pan.

running a knife around the edge of the springform pan

7. Push the detachable lid from the bottom and gently remove the cheesecake. Then gently remove the lid from the base.

hand removing cheesecake from pan

8. Place the cheesecake on a serving plate or tray.

completed cheese cake on a serving platter

9. Drizzle the chocolate sauce and serve the cheesecake. Enjoy!

Tip: If you prefer, you can also allow your guests to dress up their own cheese cake slices. If you are having a large party, you could even create a cheesecake bar replete with many toppings like chocolate and caramel sauce, whipped cream or buttercream, crushed cookies, candies, fresh berries and citrus curd. So fun!

wedge of New York Style cheesecake on a serving plate that has been drizzled with homemade chocolate sauce and garnished with blue berries.

FAQs for Best Cheesecake

Why did the top of my cheesecake crack?

Uh-oh. Sounds like one of two things happened:
1. You over beat the filling, or
2. You tried to cool the cheesecake too quickly.

For the best results, only mix the filling until it is *just* uniform, and allow the baked cheesecake to cool in the turned-off oven with a slightly opened door until cool enough to handle. Then you can remove it and allow it to cool the rest of the way to room temperature.

What can I substitute for digestive biscuits?

A very easy way to change the flavor profile of your cheese cake is to change out the crust. Feel free to swap in graham crackers, gingersnaps, Biscoff cookies, or even chocolate sandwich cookies instead!

I don’t like chocolate – what else can I serve with my New York style cheesecake instead?

No problem at all! This cheesecake makes a lovely blank canvas for your to paint your own favorite flavors on. Try subbing in some salted caramel sauce, lemon curd, fresh berries or a berry-based coulis instead!

What makes this a New York style cheesecake?

A New York style cheesecake has a filling that has been augmented with either heavy cream or sour cream, which results in a creamier, denser filling. The addition of lemon zest is also a typical feature of New York style cheesecakes.

Since my filling has both heavy cream and lemon zest, it can therefore be classified as “New York style.”

Can I freeze cheesecake?

Absolutely! Once the cheesecake has cooled to room temperature, you can cover it and pop it in the freezer instead of the refrigerator. It should keep well for about 2 to 3 weeks. Any leftovers can also be frozen.

Also, freezing the cheesecake for even just one night can result in cleaner edges for your slices! Remove from the freezer, run a warmed knife around the edge to help it release from the pan.

Then, using a long chef’s knife that you have warmed with water, cut into the appropriate number of pieces. Allow it to come to refrigerator temperatures before serving.

More Rich Desserts To Try!

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eggless cheesecake recipe

Creamy Cheesecake Recipe | New York Cheesecake Recipe

Creamy, tasty and soft New York Style Cheesecake. This Cheesecake recipe is made without eggs and is a baked cheesecake. I also share a recipe of homemade chocolate sauce that complements the slightly tangy taste of the cheesecake very well.
4.88 from 25 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Cuisine American, World
Course Desserts
Diet Vegetarian
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 9
Units

Ingredients

For cheesecake

  • 10 to 12 digestive biscuits or graham crackers or Marie biscuits
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter – salted or unsalted
  • 3 cups cream cheese – 600 grams
  • ¾ cup sugar – 150 grams
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla powder
  • ½ cup cream – 30% to 50% fat, heavy or whipping cream
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

For chocolate sauce

  • ½ cup milk – whole milk
  • 75 grams sweet chocolate or 1 cup chopped sweet chocolate

Instructions
 

Preparing Cracker Crust

  • Grease or spread some softened butter very well in two springform pans of 5.5 inches (diameter) and 2.75 inches (height).
    You can also use a 5 or 6 inches round pan.
    Alternatively, you can even use small to medium baking bowls or ramekins for individual servings. In this case you do not need to remove the cheesecake, so you do not need to worry about using springforms.
  • Take 10 to 12 digestive biscuits or crackers or marie biscuits. Break them and add in a blender or grinder jar.
  • Grind to a fine powder like texture. Take this powder in a mixing bowl.
  • Add 2 tablespoons melted butter in it. Mix very well with a spoon.
  • Now place this mixture in greased springform pans.
  • With your fingertips or the back of a small glass or bowl, press the cracker and butter mixture and make a neat and even layer.
    Keep this pan in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes, so that the cracker layer sets.

Making New York Style Cheesecake

  • In another bowl, take the cream cheese, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
  • Now with an electric beater, start to beat this mixture.
  • Use a medium to medium-high speed and whip till smooth. Do not over beat. 
  • Next add the whipping cream or heavy cream.
  • Again beat the mixture till the cream is blended very well and you see a even, creamy, thick smooth mixture. Do not over beat. 
  • Now pour the whipped cream cheese layer in the pan. With an offset spatula or back of small spoon even the top.
  • Keep the pans in a preheated oven and bake 180° C/356° F for 30 to 40 minutes.
    Remember to preheat oven at 180° C/356° F for 15 minutes and keep both the top and bottom heating elements on.
    Keep the pans in the middle rack.
  • To check the doneness, the sides will look firm, risen and the center of the cheesecake will be wobbly.
    The sides will also look separated from the pan. Let the cheesecake cool at room temperature.
  • Then cover with a foil or an air-tight lid and place the pans in the fridge for 4 hours or more. You can also keep overnight.

For Chocolate Sauce

  • Take ½ cup hot milk in a bowl. You can heat milk in a pan or a microwave. No need to boil the milk. Just let it get hot.
  • Add roughly chopped sweet chocolate (75 grams). If using semi-sweet or bitter chocolate, then do add sugar as per taste.
  • Mix very well with a spoon or spatula till all the chocolate dissolves.
  • Let the chocolate sauce cool at room temperature.

Removing and Serving Cheesecake

  • Dip a butter knife in a bowl or cup containing warm water.
  • Now take the butter knife and gently slid through the sides of the pan, separating the cheesecake from the pan.
  • Push the detachable lid from the bottom and gently remove the cheesecake. Then remove the lid from the base.
  • Place the cheesecake on a serving plate or tray.
  • Drizzle the chocolate sauce and serve. Or your family or guests can serve the chocolate sauce themselves on the sliced cheesecakes.
  • If you want you can even add some berries like blueberries, blackberries or strawberries while serving. Dry fruits or slivered nuts can also be sprinkled on the cheesecake.
  • Feel free to top the cheesecake with your choice of sauce like a berry sauce or caramel sauce or lemon curd sauce.

Video

Notes

  1. Keep all the ingredients at room temperature, including cream cheese, vanilla extract or powder and cream. 
  2. Do not over beat the cream cheese. Doing so may result in cracked tops once the cheese cake gets baked.
  3. Do keep a check while baking as oven temperatures vary. So it can take less or more time than what is mentioned in the recipe. Do not over bake. If you see cracks on top, then remove it from the oven. 
  4. You can skip making the chocolate sauce but I would suggest to make it. Or else top the cheesecake with your favorite sauce like a berry sauce or lemon curd sauce.
  5. I used two pans. If you opt to use a different sized pan, please adjust your cook times accordingly.
  6. If you use two pans like me, I recommend using a baking sheet or tray to help you check for doneness and to remove the cheese cakes from the oven.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Creamy Cheesecake Recipe | New York Cheesecake Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 521 Calories from Fat 351
% Daily Value*
Fat 39g60%
Saturated Fat 20g125%
Cholesterol 103mg34%
Sodium 359mg16%
Potassium 205mg6%
Carbohydrates 38g13%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 28g31%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 1344IU27%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg5%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin B12 1µg17%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Vitamin D 1µg7%
Vitamin E 1mg7%
Vitamin K 4µg4%
Calcium 109mg11%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 17µg4%
Iron 1mg6%
Magnesium 28mg7%
Phosphorus 138mg14%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This Cheesecake Recipe from the archives, originally published in November 2016 has been updated and republished on February 2023.

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Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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62 Comments

  1. i’ve made this recipe twice and it came out amazing both times. thank you for making your content so accesible and easy to follow!!5 stars

  2. Made this recipe yesterday. This is the best cheesecake we have ever eaten. Thank you so much for such a wonderful recipe. Didn’t even need waterbath and other hassles! Too good.5 stars