DENSE AND FIRM CHEESECAKE

Dense and Firm Cheesecake image

My quest is the perfect cheesecake in taste and texture reminiscent of the New York Delicatessens which for me seems to be just one step out of my grasp! This is a Cook's Illustrated recipe which has a different baking temperature I have not used but I will very shortly and I will update soon.

Provided by oilpatchjo

Categories Dessert

Time 1h30m

Yield 16 slices, 16 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

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Ingredients

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
3 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs
2 lbs cream cheese
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon lemon (zest from 1 small lemon, minced)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sour cream

Steps:

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 500 degrees. Line bottom of 9-inch springform pan with foil, tuck foil underneath pan bottom, assemble pan, then pull foil around side of pan, Brush bottom and sides with butter. Sprinkle crumbs over bottom. Tilt pan in all directions to coat evenly with crumbs.
Meanwhile, beat cream cheese in bowl of electric mixer until smooth.
Gradually add sugar and beat on medium speed until sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just incorporated and scraping down after each addition. If you don't scrape down the bowl after each egg, cream cheese that sticks to the bowl will ultimately show up as lumps in the batter. Add zest and vanilla and beat until just incorporated. Remove bowl from mixer; stir in cream and sour cream.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake cheesecake at 500 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 200 degrees, leaving oven door ajar until oven temperature reduces. Bake until perimeter of cake is set, but center jiggles like Jell-O when pan is tapped, about 1 hour longer. Remove springform pan and set on wire rack; cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours. Can be refrigerated up to 4 days.
TECHNIQUE: To Foil-Line a Springform Pan; To foil-line your springform pan, remove the pan bottom from the ring. Line the bottom round with foil, tucking the excess foil underneath. Return the pan to the ring and clamp it in place, pulling the foil from the underside of the pan bottom up around the side of the pan.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 309.3, Fat 24, SaturatedFat 14.6, Cholesterol 123.8, Sodium 194.8, Carbohydrate 18.3, Sugar 16.2, Protein 6.1