BEST Cheesecake Recipe EVER without the Water Bath!

4.78 from 1069 votes

February 28, 2020

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This is literally the best cheesecake recipe ever. Seven simple ingredients. No water bath. No cracking ever. Friends, I have tested and re-tested this no-water bath cheesecake recipe to make sure it is the absolute best out there! It is the only recipe you’ll ever need for classic, jaw-dropping, super creamy cheesecake. Don’t take my word for it though…read through the 1300+ reader reviews in the comments and see that my method has been successful for many others as well.

Not into the whole baking thing? Check out my No-Bake Cheesecake! Looking for a holiday cheesecake? Try my delicious Pumpkin Cheesecake.

Seriously, this is the BEST Cheesecake Recipe

I am thrilled to be sharing this creamy dessert recipe with you today. Not only did I test this recipe a several times, but I also had 5 devoted readers test this recipe to double down my claim that this cheesecake doesn’t crack. Y’all, their cheesecakes looked just as good as mine did with no cracks! Every.single.one looked great. The cheesecake gods are smiling down on this recipe and I hope you love it as much as we all did.

Why Do Cheesecakes Crack?

There are several reasons why cheesecakes can get a grand canyon-sized crack down the center but through my recipe testing and research, I’ve found the main three reasons are: air bubbles, lumps in the batter and baking and cooling. Here’s how I’ve dealt with and adjusted my recipe to ensure these three things don’t cause any issues:

How to prevent air bubbles in Cheesecake

When you are using a hand or stand mixer, it has a tendency to incorporate air into any batter you make, not just cheesecake. Particularly after you add in eggs. When eggs get whipped, they hold that volume. So, we want to reduce the mixing time after we add in the eggs and remove any extra air bubbles.

How do we do this?

Crack all four eggs into a bowl
Whisk with a fork before adding them into the cheesecake batter
Stir in the eggs last and mix until they are just incorporated
Before pouring the batter into the graham cracker crust, tap the bowl on the counter for 30 to 45 seconds to remove as many air bubbles as possible

How to prevent lumps in Cheesecake batter

Using room temperature cream cheese, eggs, and sour cream makes everything incorporate easier, thus more of a lump-free batter.
Be diligent in scraping the sides of the bowl.
You want to ensure the cheesecake batter is lump-free before adding in the eggs.

How to bake and cool Cheesecake to avoid cracking

Baking a cheesecake in a water bath helps moderate oven temperatures not only for baking but for cooling too. Since I hate water baths and think they should go die (see next section below), I had to MacGyver this whole cheesecake recipe to ensure it was baking at a lower oven temperature for a longer period and also cooling very slowly.

Once baking is finished and the oven gets turned off, you’ll notice the cheesecake still spends over an hour in the hot oven, not only to help finish baking it (called carryover cooking) but also to cool it gently and slowly. This is what gets you that beautiful, crack-free top.

Looking for even more mouth-watering desserts? See here: Actually Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies, The Best Homemade Brownie Recipe, *AMAZING* Peach Cobbler, Easy Cannoli Recipe, The Best Homemade Cinnamon Rolls, and Ultimate Banana Pudding Recipe.

Is a water bath necessary for a cheesecake?

NO! Use these recipe, and save yourself a headache! Cheesecake is a time-consuming, somewhat expensive dessert to make. I’d hate for you to wrap your springform pan in foil only to discover you didn’t wrap it well enough and now water is seeping into your cheesecake before it even hits the oven. That has happened to me a handful of times and I MAKE FOOD FOR A LIVING. It totally sucks. It not only wasted your time but it wasted that perfectly good food!

So, don’t give in to those other online recipes that call for water baths (filling a huge roasting pan with water for the springform pan to sit in). Me and my five recipe-testing readers proved otherwise. You can do better, even if this is your first time.

Cheesecake Ingredients

Like I mentioned above, you only need SEVEN simple ingredients for this recipe. Only 7! This is a classic cheesecake recipe, so really it’s all about using the best ingredients and enjoying the simplicity of this thick, extra creamy cheesecake.

Graham Cracker Crumbs: Honeymaid is my favorite, but any brand is fine. You can grind your own or buy them as crumbs.
Granulated Sugar: to sweeten the crust and the filling.
Melted Butter: to hold the graham cracker crust together.
Cream Cheese: I like using the Philadelphia brand; I think it’s slightly tangier than other off-brands out there. Make sure you are using room temperature, soft cream cheese.
Sour Cream: adds an extra tang. This also needs to be at room temperature.
Vanilla Extract: for flavor since this is a classic cheesecake.
Eggs: needed for structure. Absolutely have these at room temperature and beat together before adding in.

pouring cheesecake filling into graham cracker crust

How to make a Cheesecake

If you want to make sure your cheesecake doesn’t crack, please please please follow these directions as carefully as possible. Don’t be all Suzy-Homemaker thinking you can change this recipe however you like and still have it come out perfectly. I mean, maybe it will but I have tested this recipe as written so you can have success with this recipe as written. All the specific directions for this cheesecake recipe are in the recipe card below.

Step 1: Make the Buttery Graham Cracker Crust

Stir graham cracker crumbs (store bought or crumbed yourself in a food processor) , sugar and melted butter together and press into a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 7 minutes in a 350° F oven. Set aside to cool.

Step 2: Make the Cheesecake Filling

In a large bowl, stir very soft cream cheese together with the granulated sugar. Stir in the vanilla and sour cream. Scrape the sides really really well and stir again to ensure there are no lumps.

Whisk eggs together in a separate bowl and slowly add to the cheesecake filling with the mixer on low speed. Once eggs are incorporated turn mixer off. Scrape the sides really well to ensure a very smooth batter. If there are lumps, stir them in by hand.

Step 3: Remove Air Bubbles

Tap bowl on the counter for 30-45 seconds to remove air bubbles. Air bubbles can contribute to why cheesecakes crack and we definitely want to prevent that. This is a small step, but makes a big difference.

Step 4: Bake the Cheesecake (without a water bath!)

Pour batter into graham cracker crust, smooth the top and bake. Bake for 30 minutes at 325° F. Reduce temperature to 250° F and continue cooking for 45 minutes more. Keep the oven door closed this entire time!

Once this time has elapsed, turn oven off and keep cheesecake inside for another 30 minutes for some carryover cooking without opening the oven door. After 30 minutes, crack oven door to let cheesecake cool slowly for one hour before removing.

At this point, cheesecake should be slightly warm. Bring cheesecake to room temperature on the counter (3-4 hours) before covering with plastic wrap and transferring to the fridge.

Do I Have To Use a Springform Pan?

The best baking pan for this cheesecake recipe is a 9-inch springform pan and don’t have a suggestion for an optional pan to use instead. You can definitely put this into a 10-incher, but definitely won’t fit into an 8.

Also, I know you can buy larger 9″x 3″ cake pans without the springform option, but just don’t see any good way to remove the whole cheesecake without ruining it. Moral of the story? Splurge and get the springform pan. Or find a friend and borrow one.

I’ve had readers bake this recipe in a 9×13 pan and it has absolutely worked! So keep that in mind as well. If you’re ok with cheesecake bars, then this is a great option for you.

Step 5: Refrigerate & Serve Cheesecake

Once the cheesecake is at room temperature, you can cover and refrigerate until completely chilled. The beautiful thing about cheesecake is it’s a great dessert to make in advance because it stores so well in the fridge.

Refrigerate until chilled completely (6 hours to overnight). To serve, open the springform pan and remove the collar. Decorate as desired. Dip a sharp knife into hot water, wipe off any excess water and slice. I like to dip my knife in water between each slice to get really clean-looking pieces.

How to store Homemade Cheesecake

Like I mentioned above, cheesecake is a fabulous make ahead dessert because it stores so so well in the fridge and freezer! Here’s how to do it.

How to store Cheesecake in the fridge

After your fully baked cheesecake has come to room temperature, refrigerate covered for up to one week.

How to store baked Cheesecake in the freezer

If you are a kitchen expert, you’ll know cream cheese by itself doesn’t freeze well but baked it does! Cheesecake is a perfect candidate for freezing! The best way to do so is to first, un-mold the cheesecake from the springform pan. Place into the freezer uncovered for about 4 hours or until its mostly solid. Remove springform bottom and wrap the cheesecake well in two layers of plastic wrap or aluminum foil. It will stay good for up to 3 months in the freezer.

To defrost, simply unwrap and transfer to a plate. Cover gently with plastic wrap and transfer to the fridge to defrost. Once defrosted, cut into slices and serve.

Best Homemade Cheesecake toppings

Since this is a very basic, beautiful, and delicious cheesecake recipe, try to find delicious toppings that will help enhance the flavor. Here are a few classic ideas:

cherry pie filling
fresh berries like strawberries or raspberries
strawberry or raspberry sauce
chocolate shavings
chocolate sauce
whipped cream
lemon curd
chocolate ganache
salted caramel sauce

For more ideas for your special occasions or next dinner party, be sure to check out all of my other cheesecake recipes here!

Best Homemade Cheesecake Recipe FAQ

What is the difference between New York style cheesecake and regular cheesecake?

New York style cheesecake” typically uses cream cheese as its main ingredient which gives it its dense, creamy texture and rich, tangy flavor. Regular cheesecakes use more cream (and sometimes sour cream) for a thinner, silkier texture. This allows it to take on a variety of other flavor profiles, such as fruit or chocolate.

How can I adjust the crust ingredients to get a thicker graham cracker crust?

If you would like a thicker graham cracker crust, use 1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs, 5 tablespoons granulated sugar and 6 tablespoons melted butter. Press into the pan and bake for 8 minutes.

Slice of Cheesecake with Chocolate Sauce and whipped cream

Love Cheesecake? Try These Sweet Treats:

More Favorites from Lauren’s Latest

I hope this will soon become your favorite cheesecake recipe! If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.

Print Pin It

4.78 from 1069 votes

Best Baked Cheesecake Recipe (No Water Bath!)

This is literally the best cheesecake recipe ever. Seven simple ingredients. No water bath. No cracking ever. It is the only recipe you'll ever need for classic, jaw-dropping, super creamy cheesecake. Follow my directions and it is simply fail proof!

servings servings

Prep Time 9 30

Cook Time 1 15

Total Time 10 45

Ingredients

for the graham cracker crust-

▢ 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
▢ 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
▢ 5 tablespoons melted butter

for the cheesecake filling-

▢ 40 ounces cream cheese at room temperature (five 8 oz. packages; 2 1/2 lbs total)
▢ 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
▢ 1/2 cup sour cream at room temperature
▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
▢ 4 large eggs at room temperature
▢ any desired cheesecake toppings

US Customary – Metric

Equipment

9" Springform Pan

Instructions

Place oven racks in the center of the oven. Preheat oven to 350° F.
In a medium sized bowl, stir graham cracker crumbs together with sugar and melted butter until well incorporated and mixture looks like damp sand. Using the bottom of a measuring cup, press crust into the bottom and half way up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake 7 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
Reduce oven temperature to 325° F.
In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, mix cream cheese 30 seconds 'til smooth. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and add in granulated sugar, sour cream and vanilla. Mix again until incorporated. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and mix again briefly.
Crack eggs into a separate bowl and whisk until well beaten. With the mixer on low, slowly pour the eggs into the cream cheese mixture and stop stirring once eggs have been incorporated. Remove bowl from mixer and scrape the sides and bottom again, ensuring the entire mixture is smooth. If there are a few small lumps, try to fold in using the rubber scraper.
Once the batter is completely smooth and ready, tap the bowl on the counter for 30-45 seconds to remove as many air bubbles as possible. You should see them popping on the surface as you tap the bowl. Pour filling into the center of the graham cracker crust and gently smooth the top. Will be very full!
Bake for 30 minutes at 325° F. Reduce temperature to 250° F and continue cooking for 45 minutes more. Once this time has elapsed, turn oven off and keep cheesecake inside for another 30 minutes for some carryover cooking without opening the oven door. Crack oven door to let cheesecake cool slowly for one hour before removing. At this point, cheesecake should be slightly warm. Bring cheesecake to room temperature on the counter (3-4 hours) before covering with plastic wrap and transferring to the fridge.
Refrigerate until chilled completely (6 hours to overnight). To serve, open springform pan and remove collar. Decorate as desired.
Dip a sharp knife into hot water, wipe off any excess water and slice. I like to dip my knife in water between each slice to get really clean-looking pieces.

Video

Notes