Lemon Cheesecake

This Lemon Cheesecake has a thick, creamy lemon cheesecake filling baked right into a candy Graham cracker crust, topped with selfmade lemon curd. An exquisite mixture of candy and tangy, this cheesecake is certain to win you over. Excellent for summer time!

Lemon cheesecake on a cake platter with a slice taken out of it.

The Greatest Lemon Cheesecake

There’s simply one thing a couple of recent, vibrant pop of citrus that will get me within the temper for heat climate months. This cheesecake is chock-full of lemon taste and excellent in your subsequent summer time gathering. I can’t wait to share it with you.

When you’ve already tried my Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake, you then already know that this lemon one goes to be wonderful. No blueberries this time however I used the identical buttery Graham cracker crust and the same, lemony filling. Prime it off with a creamy, candy, and tart lemon curd (the identical one in my Lemon Meringue Cheesecake) and also you’ve acquired your self a dessert to be reckoned with. When you love lemon and cheesecake, this one’s for you!

Why You’ll Love This Cheesecake Recipe

It’s onerous to not love this vibrant, perfect-for-summer lemon curd cheesecake. Listed here are a few of my favourite issues about it.

Mild and refreshing. This cheesecake virtually tastes like summer time. It’s so gentle and refreshing. Excellent in your subsequent sunny out of doors soiree.
Yolks. Including further egg yolks to this recipe makes the filling much more creamy and wealthy than my different cheesecakes. It additionally does a wonderful job of amplifying the lemon taste. Yum!
Not too candy, not too tart. I really like the juxtaposition of candy and tart on this recipe. It’s cheesecake, so, after all, there’s loads of sweetness occurring however the tanginess from the bitter cream and the tartness from the lemon makes this a superbly well-balanced dessert.
Dynamic. There are 4 scrumptious elements coming collectively to make this pleasant cheesecake what it’s. Candy and crunchy graham cracker crust. Thick, creamy, sweet-yet-tart cheesecake filling. Clean, candy lemon curd. Fluffy whipped cream. So many flavors and textures. Each chew is an journey.

Ingredients for lemon cheesecake separated into bowls.

What You’ll Want

Right here’s a listing of components wanted to make this lemon cheesecake. Remember to scroll to the recipe card under for precise measurements.

Crust

Graham cracker crumbs – You should buy these already in crumbs, or grind up your individual. You might additionally use vanilla wafer cookies.
Butter – The butter should be melted in order that it might maintain the Graham cracker crumbs collectively.
Sugar – You should utilize granulated or gentle brown sugar right here. Simply word that the sunshine brown sugar will add a deeper, extra molasses-like taste.

Lemon filling

Cream cheese – The cream cheese should be at room temperature. In any other case, it won’t incorporate as easily with the opposite components and also you may end up with a lumpy filling.
Sugar
All-purpose flour – The starch prevents the egg proteins from over-coagulating, providing you with a creamier texture and serving to you stop any cracks. You can too use your favourite 1:1 gluten-free substitute as a substitute, and even cornstarch (half the quantity).
Bitter cream – Provides to a creamy texture.
Recent lemon juice – Recent is unquestionably finest for optimum taste.
Lemon zest
Eggs – The eggs ought to be at room temperature. They are going to combine into the filling extra simply, serving to to forestall over-mixing.
Egg yolks – The egg yolks also needs to be at room temperature in an effort to be sure that they incorporate easily and simply into the filling.

Lemon curd

Recent lemon juice – I extremely suggest recent lemon juice.
Grated lemon zest
Sugar – This not solely sweetens the lemon curd, but it surely additionally provides some quantity.
Egg yolks – These thicken the lemon curd and add to the flavour.
Butter

Whipped cream

Heavy whipping cream – Be sure that the heavy whipping cream is nicely chilled earlier than utilizing. Whether it is too heat, it won’t whip up and maintain quantity correctly.
Powdered sugar – This sweetens the whipped cream, but it surely additionally prevents it from wilting. Your whipped cream gained’t be going anyplace.
Vanilla extract – For taste.

Methods to Make Lemon Cheesecake

There are 4 elements to this lemon curd cheesecake however don’t let that intimidate you. Simply take it one step at a time and benefit from the course of. Right here’s a fast overview of methods to make it. Ensure to scroll to the recipe card under for extra detailed directions.

Make the Crust

Prep. Preheat oven to 325°F and line the underside of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Grease the edges.
Mix the crust components and press them into the underside and up the edges of the springform pan.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Leakproof the pan. Wrap the skin of the pan with aluminum foil.

Mixing together Graham cracker crumbles and melted butter for Graham cracker crust.

Graham cracker crust baked into a springform pan.

Make the Cheesecake Filling

Scale back the oven temperature to 300°F.
Beat collectively the cream cheese, sugar, and flour on low pace till clean.
Add and blend. Add the bitter cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Combine till mixed.
Add eggs. Add the eggs one after the other, mixing after every addition. Add the egg yolks. Combine till mixed.

Beating together cream cheese, sugar and flour for cheesecake.

Adding sour cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest to cheesecake filling.

Put together to bake. Pour the cheesecake into the crust and unfold evenly. Place the wrapped pan inside a barely bigger pan. Fill the bigger pan with heat water in order that it comes about midway up the edges of the cheesecake pan.
Bake for 1 hour and quarter-hour.
Cool slowly. Flip the oven off and go away the cheesecake inside for half-hour. Crack the door of the oven and go away the cheesecake inside for an extra half-hour. Take away the cheesecake from the oven and the water tub. Take away the aluminum foil from the pan. Permit the cheesecake to chill to about room temperature.

Lemon cheesecake batter in a water bath ready to be baked.

Lemon cheesecake baked in a springform pan before being topped with lemon curd.

Make the Lemon Curd

Mix all of the components for the lemon curd in a double boiler.
Warmth whereas continually whisking till the combination thickens and reaches 170-180 levels.
Unfold the nice and cozy curd excessive of the cheesecake.
Chill. Place the cheesecake within the fridge for 4-5 hours.

A spoon with lemon curd on it. A finger has been traced through the lemon curd to show its thickness.

Make the whipped cream topping

Whip the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract on medium pace till stiff peaks kind.
Adorn the cake. Take away the cheesecake from the pan, set it on a plate, and pipe the whipped cream across the rim of the cheesecake. Garnish the whipped cream dollops with quartered lemon slices in case you’d like.

Does This Cheesecake Want A Water Bathtub?

Sure. All baked cheesecakes can profit from a water tub. A water tub may sound like a ache to make but it surely’s actually fairly easy. Simply wrap the cheesecake pan in aluminum foil (or one other leak-prook possibility from my publish on methods to bake a cheesecake in a water tub), place it inside a barely bigger pan, and fill the bigger pan with heat water till the water reaches midway up the cheesecake pan.

The water tub will create steam throughout the baking course of, serving to to cook dinner the cheesecake evenly and to forestall it from drying out. The water itself in opposition to the pan may also assist defend the perimeters of the cheesecake from cooking sooner than the middle. Do your cheesecake a favor and take the additional minute to make a water tub.

Ideas for the Greatest Lemon Curd Cheesecake

Listed here are a handful of helpful ideas and tips that can assist you obtain the very best lemon cheesecake. In an over-achieving temper? I extremely recommend trying out my publish on methods to make an ideal cheesecake for extra particulars.

Room temperature components. It will be important that the cream cheese, the eggs, and the egg yolks are at room temperature earlier than you make the cheesecake filling. They are going to have a neater time combining with the opposite components, which is able to assist stop you from over-mixing.
Combine slowly and never an excessive amount of. Mixing shortly and/or mixing for too lengthy will incorporate air into the cheesecake batter. That air may cause cracks within the cheesecake because it bakes. So combine on low pace and simply till all the pieces is integrated.
Use a springform pan. This can make your life a lot simpler when it comes time to take away the cake from the pan. It’s 100% definitely worth the funding. Take a look at my publish on methods to take away your cheesecake from the springform pan for extra.
Make a leakproof water tub. Making a water tub actually does make a distinction. It can assist your cheesecake keep moist, be sure that it cooks evenly, and can assist stop cracks. Take a look at my publish on methods to bake a cheesecake in a water tub to study extra.
Cool slowly. Permit the cheesecake to remain within the closed oven for half-hour after it has been turned off earlier than cracking the door and maintaining it within the oven for one more half-hour. Not solely will the cheesecake end cooking throughout this course of, however it’s a essential step in guaranteeing the cheesecake doesn’t crack.
Use recent lemons. You gained’t remorse it. The flavour of the filling and the curd will likely be a lot brighter and total higher.
Don’t let the lemon curd cool. Unfold the lemon curd over the cheesecake as quickly because it comes off of the range. It won’t unfold correctly whether it is left to chill and thicken.

A whole lemon cheesecake on a serving plate.

Methods to Retailer Do-it-yourself Cheesecake

Permit the cheesecake to relax for 4-5 hours, or till agency. Seal it in an hermetic cake provider or wrap the entire cake in a double layer of plastic wrap and retailer it within the fridge for as much as 5 days. That is finest to do earlier than including the whipped cream however, in case you already adorned the cake, simply prop the plastic wrap away from the whipped cream utilizing toothpicks. To retailer particular person slices, prepare them in a single layer in an hermetic container earlier than storing them within the fridge. If you end up able to serve, make the whipped cream and pipe it onto the cheesecake, if relevant.

To freeze the cheesecake, enable it to agency up within the fridge for 4-5 hours, then switch it to the freezer for an hour or so to flash freeze it. Wrap it in a double layer of saran wrap and retailer it within the freezer for as much as 3 months. I like to recommend freezing earlier than including the whipped cream, however in case you already added it, it’ll be high quality. Alternatively, you possibly can slice the cake, prepare the slices in a single layer in an hermetic container, and retailer it within the freezer for as much as 3 months. If you end up able to take pleasure in, enable the dessert to thaw within the fridge. Make the whipped cream and pipe it onto the cake earlier than serving, if relevant.

To study extra, try my publish on methods to retailer cheesecake.

Extra Cheesecake Recipes:

I. Love. Cheesecake. This lemon curd model is ideal for summer time however I’ve no scarcity of cheesecake recipes so that you can check out. Listed here are a number of of my favorites.

Watch Methods to Make Lemon Cheesecake

Learn Transcript

Recipe up to date 6/1/2023. For the earlier model of this recipe, obtain the PDF.

Lemon Cheesecake | Life, Love and Sugar

The Greatest Lemon Cheesecake

Why You’ll Love This Cheesecake Recipe