Lemon Cheesecake | Life, Love and Sugar

June 1, 2023

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This Lemon Cheesecake has a thick, creamy lemon cheesecake filling baked right into a candy Graham cracker crust, topped with do-it-yourself lemon curd. A beautiful mixture of candy and tangy, this cheesecake is certain to win you over. Good for summer season!

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

The Greatest Lemon Cheesecake

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

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

Why You’ll Love This Cheesecake Recipe

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

Gentle and refreshing. This cheesecake virtually tastes like summer season. It’s so mild and refreshing. Good on your subsequent sunny outside soiree.
Yolks. Including additional egg yolks to this recipe makes the filling much more creamy and wealthy than my different cheesecakes. It additionally does a phenomenal job of amplifying the lemon taste. Yum!
Not too candy, not too tart. I 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 chunk 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. Be sure you scroll to the recipe card beneath for precise measurements.

Crust

Graham cracker crumbs – You should buy these already in crumbs, or grind up your personal. You might additionally use vanilla wafer cookies.
Butter – The butter should be melted in order that it could maintain the Graham cracker crumbs collectively.
Sugar – You need to use granulated or mild brown sugar right here. Simply be aware 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, supplying you with a creamier texture and serving to you forestall any cracks. You too can 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 must be at room temperature. They’ll combine into the filling extra simply, serving to to stop over-mixing.
Egg yolks – The egg yolks must also be at room temperature with the intention to be certain that they incorporate easily and simply into the filling.

Lemon curd

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

Whipped cream

Heavy whipping cream – Ensure that the heavy whipping cream is effectively 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, however it additionally prevents it from wilting. Your whipped cream gained’t be going wherever.
Vanilla extract – For taste.

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 find out how to make it. Make certain to scroll to the recipe card beneath 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 surface 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

Cut 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 separately, 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 depart the cheesecake inside for half-hour. Crack the door of the oven and depart the cheesecake inside for a further half-hour. Take away the cheesecake from the oven and the water bathtub. Take away the aluminum foil from the pan. Enable 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 consistently 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.
Embellish 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 bathtub. A water bathtub may sound like a ache to make however it’s actually fairly easy. Simply wrap the cheesecake pan in aluminum foil (or one other leak-prook choice from my publish on find out how to bake a cheesecake in a water bathtub), 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 bathtub will create steam in the course of the baking course of, serving to to cook dinner the cheesecake evenly and to stop it from drying out. The water itself in opposition to the pan can even assist defend the sides of the cheesecake from cooking quicker than the middle. Do your cheesecake a favor and take the additional minute to make a water bathtub.

Suggestions for the Greatest Lemon Curd Cheesecake

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

Room temperature components. It is necessary that the cream cheese, the eggs, and the egg yolks are at room temperature earlier than you make the cheesecake filling. They’ll have a better time combining with the opposite components, which is able to assist forestall 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 every part is included.
Use a springform pan. It will make your life a lot simpler when it comes time to take away the cake from the pan. It’s 100% well worth the funding. Take a look at my publish on find out how to take away your cheesecake from the springform pan for extra.
Make a leakproof water bathtub. Making a water bathtub actually does make a distinction. It’ll assist your cheesecake keep moist, be certain that it cooks evenly, and can assist forestall cracks. Take a look at my publish on find out how to bake a cheesecake in a water bathtub to be taught extra.
Cool slowly. Enable 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 an additional 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 contemporary 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.

Retailer Do-it-yourself Cheesecake

Enable the cheesecake to sit back for 4-5 hours, or till agency. Seal it in an hermetic cake service 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 find yourself 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’ll be able to 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 find yourself 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 be taught extra, try my publish on find out how to retailer cheesecake.

Extra Cheesecake Recipes:

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

Watch Make Lemon Cheesecake

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

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