Straightforward Cheesecake Recipe | Life, Love and Sugar

April 28, 2023

This straightforward cheesecake recipe affords the entire yummy goodness of a traditional cheesecake however with method much less problem and in a fraction of the time. Designed for a 9×13 inch baking dish, this recipe lets you skip the springform pan and water tub and get straight to scrumptious consuming.

A slice of easy cheesecake on a plate with a fork near a bowl of berries and a full cheesecake.

An Straightforward Cheesecake Recipe for a Crowd

I hear you. Cheesecake could be intimidating. I occur to like spending hours within the kitchen baking my favourite dessert however I additionally perceive that generally there’s simply not sufficient time! This straightforward cheesecake recipe is ideal for these moments.

A vanilla cheesecake filling over a traditional Graham Cracker crust brings to the desk the entire candy, tangy, creaminess of a traditional cheesecake. The cool half about it’s that it’s meant to be baked sans water tub and sans springform pan. So that you don’t want something fancier than a standard 9×13-inch baking pan. Plus, the entire thing is prepped, baked, and cooled in a fraction of the time it will take to make a conventional cheesecake. Give it a strive!

Why You’ll Love this Cheesecake Recipe

This easy, straightforward cheesecake recipe is ideal for these searching for the entire joys of cheesecake with much less of the complexity. Listed below are some issues that make this recipe fairly incredible in my eyes.

  • No water tub. Water baths are intimidating. I get it. This recipe is nice as a result of it takes away the fuss of utilizing one. Simply bake immediately within the oven in a 9×13-inch pan.
  • No fancy pan. Most cheesecakes require you to make use of a 9-inch springform pan. It makes it simpler to take away the cake from the pan and serve. Not everybody has a springform pan, nevertheless, and this recipe lets you make due with out one.
  • It doesn’t take as lengthy. My straightforward cheesecake recipe requires fairly a bit much less baking and cooling time than does a traditional cheesecake. So you may be in your option to delighting your style buds very quickly.
  • Versatile. As a result of that is “simply” a vanilla cheesecake, it is rather versatile within the sense that you may prime it with just about something you’d like. Take a look at the “Toppings Concepts” part beneath for a few of my favorites.
  • It travels nicely. No cake service wanted. This cheesecake comes out of the oven prepared to move to your subsequent gathering (after it cools and chills after all).
Completed easy cheesecake recipe topped with whipped cream and berries.

What You’ll Want

It doesn’t take a lot to make this easy vanilla cheesecake. Right here’s an inventory of what you’ll want. Scroll to the recipe beneath for detailed measurements.

For the crust 

  • Graham cracker crumbs – You would additionally use Nilla wafers and even oreos right here. Check with my Finest Oreo Cheesecake recipe to learn to use Oreos as a substitute.
  • Sugar – Use granulated sugar right here.
  • Butter – Salted or unsalted is ok.

For the filling

  • Cream cheese – It is extremely essential that the cream cheese is at room temperature. Whether it is too chilly, it won’t combine nicely with the opposite components and you’ll find yourself with a clumpy filling. You additionally wish to use brick-style cream cheese, not the sort within the tub.
  • Sugar – Use granulated sugar.
  • All-purpose flour – Be happy to make use of your favourite 1:1 gluten-free flour as a substitute.
  • Bitter cream – Just like the cream cheese, the bitter cream must be at room temperature so as to obtain a clean batter.
  • Vanilla extract
  • Eggs – Begin with room-temperature giant eggs. They are going to incorporate extra simply with the opposite components, providing you with a smoother filling.

Easy methods to Make This Cheesecake Recipe

In a fraction of the time it takes to make a traditional cheesecake, you should have your self a scrumptious dessert that sacrifices nothing within the realm of taste or texture. Here’s a transient rundown on tips on how to make this 9×13-inch straightforward cheesecake. Scroll to the recipe beneath for extra detailed directions.

To make the crust

  • Prep. Preheat oven to 325°F and grease a 9×13 pan with baking spray.
  • Mix the crust components and press the combination into the underside of the pan.
  • Bake for 10 minutes.
Graham Cracker crust in a 9x13-inch baking pan.

To make the cheesecake

  • Prep. Cut back the oven temperature to 300°F.
  • Beat the cream cheese, sugar, and flour on low velocity till clean earlier than including the bitter cream and vanilla extract and mixing till clean.
Beating cream cheese, sugar and flour for my easy cheesecake recipe.
Mixing sour cream and vanilla into a cream cheese mixture for cheesecake filling.
  • Add the eggs separately, mixing till clean after every addition.
  • Bake. Pour the batter over the crust and bake for half-hour.
  • Cool. Flip off the oven and go away the cheesecake within the oven with the door closed for 20 minutes earlier than cracking the door and leaving it for an extra quarter-hour.
Cheesecake batter in a mixing bowl.
The batter for an easy cheesecake recipe poured into a 9x13-inch baking pan ready to be baked.
  • Chill the cheesecake within the fridge for 3-4 hours.
Easy cheesecake baked and ready for topping.

Suggestions for Success

Whereas this hassle-free cheesecake is far much less finicky than its traditional counterparts, there are a number of ideas and tips used to make a conventional cheesecake that must also be utilized right here. I’ve highlighted just a few beneath however be sure that to take a look at my put up on Easy methods to Make the Good Cheesecake for extra.

  • Begin with room-temperature components. As with all cheesecake, it’s essential to begin with room-temperature cream cheese, bitter cream, and eggs. They are going to combine way more easily with one another and the opposite required components than they might in chilled type. So, for a clean cheesecake filling, begin with these components at room temperature.
  • Don’t overmix the batter. Overmixing (or mixing on too excessive of a velocity) cheesecake batter will incorporate air into the filling. The air bubbles work to trigger the cheesecake to crack because it bakes. So combine low and sluggish for a cheesecake that’s not solely tasty but in addition visually interesting.
  • Keep away from over-baking. If you want to keep away from a cracked, dry cheesecake, strive to not overbake. Take a look at my put up on Easy methods to Know When Your Cheesecake is Performed for some pointers.
  • Cool regularly. Permitting the cheesecake to take a seat within the closed oven after which within the cracked oven after baking is a crucial a part of the cheesecake course of. It would permit the dessert to bake totally with the additional benefit of stopping cracks within the cheesecake.
Easy cheesecake on a plate with a bite taken out of it.

Topping Concepts

One in every of my favourite issues about this fast vanilla cheesecake is the truth that it’s so versatile. It boasts a easy, vanilla taste which is the right base for quite a lot of toppings. Right here come a few of my favorites.

Easy methods to Retailer Cheesecake

Within the off likelihood that this creamy cheesecake doesn’t fly out of the pan inside the first couple of hours of being prepared, you possibly can simply retailer it within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Merely wrap the pan in saran wrap and place it within the fridge.

A slice of hassle free, easy cheesecake on a plate with a fork.

Can I Freeze It?

Sure, you possibly can! Simply wrap the pan in saran wrap and place it within the freezer. Alternatively, you possibly can slice the chilled cheesecake, flash freeze the items (pop them within the freezer for a few hours to agency up), and both wrap them individually or retailer them collectively in an hermetic container. If you happen to select to retailer the slices collectively, be sure that to separate any layers with parchment paper to forestall sticking.

In both case, the cheesecake will maintain nicely within the freezer for as much as 3 months. When you find yourself able to get pleasure from, switch the cake or the specified parts to the fridge to thaw earlier than diving in.

Extra Cheesecake Recipes to Strive

I really like cheesecake. I used to be thrilled to share this recipe with you as a result of I feel it makes my favourite dessert a bit extra accessible to the house baker. That being stated, I’ve a myriad of different cheesecake recipes to share with you. Listed below are some which were thrilling me recently.

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A slice of hassle free, easy cheesecake on a plate with a fork.