This New York Baked Cheesecake is thick, creamy and silky smooth, the kind of dessert that goes quiet at the table.
If you're building a dessert table, my Lemon Baked Cheesecake and Raspberry Baked Cheesecake are just as easy and just as popular with my readers.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: New York Baked Cheesecake
🕒 Ready In: 7 hours 45 minutes (mostly chilling time)
👪 Serves: 16
🔥 Calories: 498kcal per serve
🥣 Main Ingredients: cream cheese, sour cream, eggs, sweet biscuits
🌿 Dietary: vegetarian, can be made gluten-free
⭐ Why You'll Love It: a dense, bakery-style cheesecake that's genuinely foolproof, no fancy water bath required, and it freezes brilliantly for later.
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Never, ever fails. Do not change any of the method and do not substitute or alter amount of ingredients. An absolute winner in my office and for special occasions. I often get requests to make this for parties. Love it.
- Amelia Scott
Amelia's far from the only one who makes this on repeat; it's clocked up over 120 five-star reviews.
If you love a crowd-pleasing bake, my Passionfruit Cheesecake and Mars Bar Cheesecake are both just as loved, and if you want the full lowdown on baked cheesecakes generally, my Ultimate Baked Cheesecake Guide is worth a read.
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Why You're Going To Love This Recipe
- Rich And Creamy - a proper dense New York style cheesecake, not a light and fluffy imposter.
- Genuinely Foolproof - full conventional and Thermomix instructions, no fancy pastry chef skills needed.
- Proven Favourite - over 120 five-star reviews and counting.
- Make-Ahead Friendly - it needs an overnight chill anyway, so it's perfect for getting done the day before a party.
- Freezer-Friendly - slice it up and freeze for whenever a craving hits, see my Variations below.
Cheesecake Ingredients
Most of this is basic fridge and pantry stuff, but here are the ones worth a mention:
- Full-fat cream cheese & sour cream - don't be tempted to grab the light versions. They hold more water, and that means a softer, less stable cheesecake that won't slice cleanly.
- Lemon zest & juice - just enough to cut through the richness, it won't taste lemony, it just stops the cheesecake feeling heavy.
- Plain sweet biscuits - I use Arnott's Nice or Marie biscuits for the base. Graham crackers or digestives work too if that's what you've got.
Variations
- Gluten-free - swap in gluten-free sweet biscuits for the crust; everything else stays the same.
- Mini cheesecakes - bake the filling in a lined muffin tray for individual serves; just cut the baking time right down and watch them closely.
- Fruit swirl - swirl through raspberry or passionfruit puree before baking. My Passionfruit Cheesecake is a good place to steal the puree idea from.
- Chocolate marble - fold melted dark chocolate through half the batter and swirl it through for a marbled look, a bit like my Toblerone Cheesecake but baked.
- Freezing leftovers - slice it first, wrap each piece tightly in cling film and foil, then freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge overnight before eating.
How To Make New York Baked Cheesecake
This recipe works beautifully both conventionally and in the Thermomix, so pick whichever suits you.
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredient quantities and full detailed method (plus the Thermomix version).
- Step 1: Make the crust. Crush the biscuits finely and mix with the melted butter. Press half into the base of a lined 23cm springform tin, then press the rest firmly up the sides (leave a small gap near the top). Chill for 30 minutes.
- Step 2: Mix the filling. Beat the cream cheese, sugar, lemon zest and juice, vanilla and flour on low speed until just combined, don't over-beat. Add the eggs one at a time, then fold through the sour cream by hand.
- Step 3: Bake low and slow. Pour the filling into the tin and bake at 140°C fan-forced (160°C conventional) for around 1 hour 15 minutes, until just set in the centre with a slight wobble. Don't open the oven door. Turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake inside with the door shut for 2 hours.
- Step 4: Chill and serve. Cool completely on the bench (still in the tin), then refrigerate for at least 4 hours, overnight is best. Remove from the tin, top with blueberries and a dusting of icing sugar, and let it sit at room temperature for an hour before slicing.
Recipe Tips
- Don't rush the cooling - slow cooling in the switched-off oven, then an overnight chill, is the real key to a crack-free, creamy cheesecake. Rushing this step is the number one reason cheesecakes crack or sink in the middle.
- Use room-temperature ingredients - cold cream cheese and eggs won't beat smoothly, and you'll end up with lumps in the batter.
- Don't over-beat - once the eggs go in, mix until just combined. Overbeating adds too much air, which is what makes the top puff up then crack as it cools.
- Get clean slices - run a large knife under hot water, dry it, then slice. Wipe and reheat the knife between each cut for bakery-style clean edges.
- Storage - keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezing - wrap the whole cheesecake (or individual slices) tightly in cling film then foil, and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
New York Baked Cheesecake FAQs
It's extra dense and creamy thanks to the sour cream and whole eggs, baked low and slow for that signature thick texture, rather than the lighter no-bake style.
This almost always comes down to rushing the cooling. Opening the oven early, overbeating the batter, or moving straight from oven to fridge causes a sudden temperature change that cracks or sinks the top. Cool it slowly in the switched-off oven first.
No, this recipe skips the fiddly water bath. Baking low and slow, then cooling gradually in the oven, gets you the same crack-free result without wrapping your tin in foil and praying it doesn't leak.
Run a large sharp knife under hot water, dry it off, then slice. Wipe the blade clean and reheat it between each cut for neat, bakery-style slices.
Yes, I've included a full Thermomix method in the recipe card below; just follow the step-by-step instructions for a smooth, fuss-free filling.
More Cheesecake Recipes
If you loved this one, here are some more cheesecakes worth adding to the rotation.
New York Baked Cheesecake
Ingredients
- 375 g plain sweet biscuits crushed, like Arnott's Nice or Marie biscuits or Graham Crackers
- 250 g unsalted butter melted
- 750 g full fat cream cheese room temp
- 215 g (1 cup) caster sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla essence
- 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons plain flour
- 4 eggs room temp
- 300 ml full fat sour cream room temp
- 125 g fresh blueberries (optional)
- 2 tb sifted icing sugar (optional)
Instructions
Conventional Method
- Preheat oven to 140 degrees celsius or 285 degrees fahrenheit with a fan forced oven (160 degrees celsius or 320 degrees fahrenheit if using a conventional oven).
- Grease and then line the base and sides of a 23cm springform pan with non-stick baking paper (see recipe tips below).
- Finely crush the biscuits in a food processor and then place into a large bowl.
- Add the melted butter and mix thoroughly until well combined.
- Spoon half of the biscuit crumbs onto the base of the prepared tin. Use a glass to press the mixture down evenly (you will also need to use a spoon to press the edges down firmly).
- Press the remaining half of the mixture firmly up the sides of the pan (leaving a small 1cm gap near the top).
- Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, lemon juice and lemon rind with electric beaters until just combined (don't over-beat).
- Gently beat in the flour followed by the eggs (1 at a time). Beat until just combined.
- Stir through the sour cream until combined.
- Gently pour the cheesecake mixture into the base of the tin.
- Place the the tin onto a baking tray and bake for 1 ¼ hours or until just set in the centre. Do not open the oven during the cooking time or the cheesecake will crack and sink (see recipe tips below).
- Turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door closed for 2 hours.
- Place the cheesecake onto the bench until completely cooled before placing into the fridge (still in the baking tin).
- After a minimum of 4 hours in the fridge (preferably overnight), carefully remove the cheesecake from the baking tin and remove the baking paper.
- Allow to come to room temperature for 1 hour before serving and then top with fresh blueberries and icing sugar (optional).
Thermomix Method
- Preheat oven to 140 degrees celsius or 285 degrees fahrenheit with a fan forced oven (160 degrees celsius or 320 degrees fahrenheit if using a conventional oven).
- Grease and then line the base and sides of a 23cm springform pan with non-stick baking paper (see recipe tips below).
- Place the butter (chopped) into the Thermomix bowl and melt for 3 minutes on Speed 2, 80 degrees (or until melted).
- Add the biscuits and mix for 10 seconds on Speed 8, or until completely combined.
- Spoon half of the biscuit crumbs onto the base of the prepared tin. Use a glass to press the mixture down evenly (you will also need to use a spoon to press the edges down firmly).
- Press the remaining half of the mixture firmly up the sides of the pan (leaving a small 1cm gap near the top).
- Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- In a clean and dry Thermomix bowl, set the Thermomix to 37 degrees, 25 minutes, Speed 3. Note: it will NOT take 25 minutes, but by setting the timer for this long will keep it at the right temperature while you add in the other ingredients). With the blades turning, place the cream cheese into the Thermomix bowl and mix until well combined.
- Slowly add in the caster sugar, followed by the flour and eggs and mix until just combined.
- Place the butterfly attachment into the bowl (with the cream cheese mixture in it). Still on Speed 3 slowly add in the grated lemon rind, lemon juice, vanilla extract and sour cream. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix until completely smooth (don't over mix).
- Gently pour the cheesecake mixture into the base of the tin.
- Place the the tin onto a baking tray and bake for 1 ¼ hours or until just set in the centre. Do not open the oven during the cooking time or the cheesecake will crack and sink (see recipe tips below).
- Turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door closed for 2 hours.
- Place the cheesecake onto the bench until completely cooled before placing into the fridge (still in the baking tin).
- After a minimum of 4 hours in the fridge (preferably overnight), carefully remove the cheesecake from the baking tin and remove the baking paper.
- Allow to come to room temperature for 1 hour before serving and then top with fresh blueberries and icing sugar (optional).
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients to avoid lumps.
- Always choose full-fat cream cheese and sour cream.
- Don't over-beat the batter-mix until just combined.
- Place the cheesecake tin on a tray of water in the oven to prevent cracks.
- Leave the oven door closed while baking and cooling.
- Chill for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freeze whole or sliced cheesecake for up to 1 month (wrap tightly in cling film + foil).
Catherine says
I made this cake for New Year’s Day celebration. I followed all your tips and it turned out perfectly. I’ve never had a cheesecake crack free. It looks just like your picture. Thank you so much for the recipe!!
Lucy Mathieson says
Yay!!! I'm thrilled to hear that! Hope you had a great night!
Paula Reames says
First Thank you for taking the time to write and post your recipes online. I have not tried your recipes yet HOWEVER:
I love to bake, but have to look up weigh conversions every time, could you include the old fashioned ounces and other measurements for those of us over 50 who never learned grams and ml.
Lucy Mathieson says
Hi Paula, thank you for your comment and I hope you get to try some of the recipes! Unfortunately the recipe plugin I use doesn't allow me to use ounces. My apologies!
Karen says
Hi Lucy
I am just about to try your recipe. I have an oven that has the choice between a fan setting or not. Should I bake the cake with the fan or without it?
Lucy Mathieson says
Hi Karen, I have always had fan-forced ovens and that's what I use for my cheesecakes. Good luck! xxx
Nicky says
Hello Lucy
Thank you for this wonderful recipe & the clever top tips! I have followed the classic recipe several times now which always turns out perfectly! You have made me a legend amongst colleagues & friends! However, I do have one question - butter appears to leak from the cake tin every single time! It has never effected the construction or the taste of the cheesecake but I must be doing something wrong for this to happen? I would appreciate your advice as I am making this again on Friday night for a friends birthday party on Saturday?
Nicky
Lucy Mathieson says
Hi Nicky, thank you for the beautiful comment!!!!! Its not you - it's just the fact that the springform pans can leak butter - I recommend popping a tray underneath to catch any drips. xx
Natalie says
Hello Lucy, I made this cheesecake last night, and I just wanted to say thank you for your detailed instructions. It worked perfectly. All my work colleagues were very impressed. I was impressed that firstly, I didn't have to use a water bath to bake a cheesecake and secondly, that it did not crack, split, or sink! I was also running out of time before bed, and I could only let the cake cool down on the bench for an hour (after cooling in the oven for 2 hours) before placing it in the fridge, but still i had no cracks! So that was a relief.
One thing I will point out is that I had quite a large baking dish of water in the oven and then an oven tray underneath the baking dish and I"m glad I did, as a lot of the butter from the base did drip into the dish/tray. While it's not a bad thing it is just something people need to be aware of. I have never had any luck with water baths and cheesecakes, so I think I will adapt this method when baking my cheesecakes from now on! I hope it works as it's so much easier.
Lucy Mathieson says
Thank you so much Natalie - and yes I absolutely agree!! A large tray underneath is a good idea to catch the excess melted butter! So glad you enjoyed the cheesecake! xx