• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • ALL RECIPES
  • Dinner
  • Dessert
  • Pumpkin Recipes
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
Self Proclaimed Foodie
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT ME
  • SUBSCRIBE
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • RECIPES
    • ABOUT
    • CONTACT ME
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Granny's Homemade Cheesecake

    Published: February 3, 2019 · Updated: December 5, 2020 · By: Krissy · 13 Comments
    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    recipe for the best classic cheesecake with cherry topping

    Granny's Homemade Cheesecake with a sweet cherry topping is a super rich classic step-by-step dessert recipe that turns out perfectly every time. A tender graham cracker crust is topped with a dense, rich, creamy, and perfectly sweet cheesecake filling. Serve as is or make a quick show stopping bing cherry topping to add great color and intense flavor!

    classic cheesecake recipe with easy cherry topping

    Why this recipe works:

    Granny's Homemade Cheesecake is the absolute best New York style cheesecake recipe made from scratch that you will find.

    The texture of the cheesecake is super creamy yet dense enough to hold together well.

    The graham cracker crust is super simple to make and yields the perfect amount.

    The cherry topping is totally optional, but worth every calorie!

    What is NY cheesecake?

    You will find a ton of different cheesecake recipes out there. Some are "cheat" recipes that use part mix. Some will be homemade recipes that use ingredients like sour cream or cottage cheese in addition to the cream cheese.

    A true New York cheesecake is a perfectly dense and sweet cheesecake that uses:

    1. heavy cream
    2. cream cheese
    3. whole eggs
    4. egg yolks

    If you see a recipe for New York cheesecake that doesn't include all four of these ingredients, the recipe you're looking at is not a true reflection of the original NY cheesecake.

    The only way my cheesecake deviates from the original is that I made my cheesecake in a 9" spring form pan, where as the original NY cheesecake is typically made in a 5" or 6" spring form pan.

    classic new york cheesecake recipe

    Do you need to use flour as a thickener?

    Cheesecake does need some kind of thickener and I have seen cheesecake recipes that call for flour.

    For this particular homemade NY cheesecake recipe, however, I chose to use corn starch as the thickener.  The corn starch gets mixed with salt, vanilla extract, heavy cream and lemon juice before it is mixed into the cream cheese mixture.

    Why is it called cheesecake?

    Okay. I totally assumed cheesecake was called cheesecake because it's main ingredient is cream cheese. End of story.

    Turns out there's an entire history behind this epic decadent dessert! According to cheesecake.com, the original cheesecake didn't originate in a deli in New York. It started in ancient Greece over 4000 years ago.

    Their idea of cheesecake was quite a bit different than the recipe we know and love today. The original cheesecake recipe used the simple ingredients of flour, wheat, honey and cheese that were formed into a cake and baked. Sort of similar to this cheesecake recipe, but not really.

    How to make homemade cheesecake with graham cracker crust

    How to ensure a super smooth texture:

    Ever make cheesecake and find yourself asking "Why is my cheesecake lumpy?".  Been there. Done that. Trust me - I've had plenty of failed cheesecake attempts in my day.

    The trick to an ultra smooth, opposite-of-lumpy cheesecake lies within the cream cheese.

    • Be sure to use full fat cream cheese. The regular stuff. Do not buy the low fat cream cheese. Not for this cheesecake recipe. Not for your bagel. Gross.
    • The cream cheese must be softened before you whip it. Whether that means you set it out for at least an hour before whipping it, or you gently warm it in the microwave in order to soften it, cold cream cheese will create lumps in your cheesecake.
    • Whip it. Whip it good. Scrape. Repeat. I cannot stress how important it is to whip your cream cheese to a smooth consistency. The whipped cream cheese will stick to your bowl, even after you add the sugar, so be sure to scrape the entire bowl as well as the paddle attachment or beaters multiple times.

    How to make this classic cheesecake:

    Not gonna lie. This recipe takes some time, special kitchen tools, a little technique, and a fair amount of time. Is it worth it? Heck yes. Any any cheesecake lover who's lucky enough to get a slice of your homemade cheesecake will thank you too!

    Start by making the crust:

    • I'm sure you can buy graham cracker crumbs, but I just buy graham crackers and run them through the food processor until they're a fine crumb. Combine those with melted butter and sugar. It will look like sand from the beach.
    • Dump that crumb mixture into a spring form pan. The bottom of a glass is the perfect tool to flatten out the bottom of the crust as well as push it up the sides.
    • The butter will leak out of the pan, so you need to loosely wrap aluminum foil around the bottom. Bake the crust by itself for about 8-9 minutes.

    step by step process photos for how to make homemade cheesecake

    Next make the filling:

    • Like I said above, mix the cream cheese mixture really well. You really can't over mix the cream cheese with the sugar. Then you'll stir in the eggs. You want this to be fully combined, but once those eggs are in, take care not to over mix.
    • You'll add in the heavy cream mixture that has the corn starch, salt, vanilla and lemon juice. Once all of that is mixed together, pour it into the crust and bake.
    slice of homemade classic cheesecake with cherry topping

    Cooking tips:

    There are two tricks to ensuring a perfectly cooked homemade temperature:

    1. Be sure to have all cheesecake ingredients at room temperature prior to mixing.
    2. Start off with a very high heat and then reduce the oven temperature without opening the oven door. The high heat is important because it helps the cheesecake set but then the temperature is dropped to cook the entire cheesecake consistently. You don't want to open the oven door because you'll loose all of your heat and don't want the oven ramping back up. Resist the temptation to open the door and peek!
    3. Cheesecakes need moisture to prevent cracking, so a water bath is the ultimate solution. I use the large baking dish I make my Texas Sheet Cake in and fill it with about ¾" water. The aluminum foil covered spring form pan fits in that bath. The added moisture in the oven along with the consistent temperature of the bottom of the pan prevents the cracking.

    The best cheesecake toppings:

    I included a recipe for an easy cherry topping that I quickly threw together with some frozen bing cherries I had on hand. You can always enjoy a slice of plain cheesecake, but you also won't run out of options when it comes to toppings!

    • Fresh fruit: You just can't go wrong with cheesecake with fresh fruit. Strawberries would be my fruit of choice, especially if they're as red and delicious as they were when I made my homemade strawberry shortcake recipe (you gotta check that recipe out). Other fresh fruit options that would work well are blueberries, raspberries, sliced peaches, etc.
    • Chocolate sauce: A little drizzle of chocolate always makes it better.
    • Caramel sauce: Ever make your own salted caramel sauce? You should. It would take this cheesecake to the next level.
    • Homemade preserves: I make strawberry rhubarb jam every year and can it in a water bath so I can enjoy all year long. It doesn't get much better than a slice of homemade NY cheesecake with some homemade strawberry rhubarb jam on top!
    homemade cheesecake on plate with cherry topping

    Other cheesecake recipe recommendations:

    Love everything about cheesecake? Then you'll definitely love these recipes:

    • Perfect Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake
    • Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins
    • No Bake Lemon Ladyfinger Cheesecake
    • Cookie Butter Cheesecake
    • Marbled Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake
    • Cheesecake Fruit Dip
    • German Chocolate Mini Cheesecakes

    Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave me a comment below to let me know what you think!

    classic cheesecake recipe with easy cherry topping

    Granny's Homemade Cheesecake Recipe with Cherry Topping

    Granny's Homemade Cheesecake with a sweet cherry topping is a super rich classic step-by-step dessert recipe that turns out perfectly every time. 
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!

    CLICK TO PLAY RECIPE VIDEO

    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 1 hour
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 2 hours
    Hover to scale: 16 slices
    Chef: Krissy Allori

    Ingredients

    Crust:

    • 10 ounces graham cracker crumbs (about 2 ½ cups)
    • 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
    • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)

    Cheesecake:

    • 24 ounces cream cheese
    • 1 ⅓ cup sugar
    • 3 eggs (whole)
    • 3 egg yolks
    • 3 teaspoons cornstarch
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice

    cherry topping:

    • 4 cups bing cherries (frozen or fresh)
    • 4 tbsp sugar

    Instructions

    To make the crust:

    • Prepare 9" spring form pan by lining bottom with a 9 inch parchment round. Use two sheets of heavy duty aluminum foil to line the bottom of your spring form pan.
    • To make the graham cracker crumbs, pulse in food processor until you only see fine crumbs, about 1 minute.
    • Thoroughly combine crumbs with sugar and melted butter. Use the bottom of a glass  to press an even layer firmly into bottom of pan. 
    • Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 8-9 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Meanwhile, prepare the filling.

    To make the cheesecake filling:

    • In a stand mixer bowl, beat cream cheese on medium high speed with the paddle attachment until completely smooth and fluffy, scraping occasionally, about 3 minutes.
    • Add the sugar and cream mixture until well combined. Scrape again and be sure to scrape entire bowl to release any cream cheese that is stuck.
    • Add whole eggs and egg yolks. Mix until combined. Scrape bowl again to release everything that is sticking.
    • In a separate bowl mix cornstarch, salt, vanilla extract, heavy cream and lemon juice. Stir very well to get any and all cornstarch lumps out. Combine well with the cream cheese mixture. 

    To bake cheesecake:

    • Maintain oven temperature of 350 degrees F. Pour cheesecake batter onto crust in the parchment lined spring form pan.
    • Set foil lined pan on baking sheet or large casserole dish and fill baking sheet with enough water so that it is about ¾ inch deep. This water bath will help prevent cracking.
    • Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Without opening the oven door, reduce heat to 275 degrees F and bake and additional 90 minutes or so until the top starts to turn golden brown. The edges should be set and the center should be slightly jiggly but not liquid. Turn off oven, open the oven door to let in cold air, and leave the cheesecake in the oven for 60 minutes. This will help prevent the cake from cracking and the cake will remain creamy. Transfer the cake to a wire rack and allow it to cool to room temperature. 
    • Cover the cake with plastic wrap and chill at least 12 hours or overnight before removing from spring form pan.

    To make the cherry topping:

    • Combine cherries and sugar in small sauce pan and heat over medium heat. Remove some of the whole cherries and set aside, if desired, or they can all go into the sauce. Cook until slightly thickened while stirring, about 10-15 minutes.
    • Blend sauce until smooth in blender or with immersion blender in pan. Press through fine mesh strainer to create a super smooth sauce and discard solids (or feed them to your chickens like I did). Add reserved whole cherries back into sauce. Allow sauce to fully cool before serving.

    Notes

    Cooking tips:

    There are two tricks to ensuring a perfectly cooked homemade temperature:
    1. Be sure to have all cheesecake ingredients at room temperature prior to mixing.
    2. Start off with a very high heat and then reduce the oven temperature without opening the oven door. The high heat is important because it helps the cheesecake set but then the temperature is dropped to cook the entire cheesecake consistently. You don't want to open the oven door because you'll loose all of your heat and don't want the oven ramping back up. Resist the temptation to open the door and peek!
    3. Cheesecakes need moisture to prevent cracking, so a water bath is the ultimate solution. I use the large baking dish I make my Texas Sheet Cake in and fill it with about ¾" water. The aluminum foil covered spring form pan fits in that bath. The added moisture in the oven along with the consistent temperature of the bottom of the pan prevents the cracking.
     

    NUTRITION INFORMATION

    Calories: 512kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 143mg | Sodium: 348mg | Potassium: 110mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 42g | Vitamin A: 2070IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 1.6mg
    SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTERSign up to have my recipes emailed to you. Free!
    « Ultimate Breakfast Burritos
    Hawaiian Ham Skewers »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Maj Maullon

      September 16, 2020 at 8:53 am

      Hello! when you say" open the door to let the cold air in," should it stay open for 60mins or you mean open it and close it afterwards just to let the cool air in. Also my next question, I want to use your recipe for a 4inch sping pans, (i have 4 small pans which is good for 1-2 servings of these cheesecakes. What is the right temperature for these pans? or cooking time perhaps? appreciate your response. thank you!

      Reply
      • Krissy

        September 17, 2020 at 7:35 am

        Hi Maj, You open the door with the oven off and let the cheesecake sit in the hot oven with the door open. This creates a much slower rate of cooling which prevents cracking. I would cook at the same temperature (higher at first and then lower), however the time it takes to cook will most likely be shorter. Just keep an eye on them and look for when the edges should be set and the center should be slightly jiggly but not liquid.

        Reply
    2. luna

      November 13, 2019 at 8:14 pm

      Is there a way to adjust this recipe for cupcakes, rather than a full cake?

      Reply
      • Krissy

        November 19, 2019 at 10:05 am

        Hi! You can certainly make this in muffin cups but you would need to reduce the cooking time.

        Reply
    3. Chloe

      November 13, 2019 at 8:26 am

      I am making this for my boyfriends birthday. How long does this keep? Would it be okay if a put the cherry topping on before, and let it set overnight?

      Reply
      • Krissy

        November 19, 2019 at 10:09 am

        Hi! The cheesecake should last for at least 3-5 days if refrigerated. I like to add the topping just before serving. Don't want to risk making the crust soggy!

        Reply
    4. Carolyn Bradford

      November 10, 2019 at 7:31 pm

      OMG! THIS IS THE ABSOLUTELY BEST CHEESECAKE THAT I HAVE EVER HAD! YES, IM USING ALL CAPS BECAUSE I AM SCREEMING TO WHO EVER WILL LISTEN!Y, THAT YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS BECAUSE THERE IS NO BETTER! OMG!!!

      Reply
    5. Sara

      May 27, 2019 at 2:23 am

      5 stars
      What a classic cheesecake recipe. Plus cherries scream summer. Such a great looking dessert, so glad you shared this recipe.

      Reply
    6. Tayo Oredola

      May 27, 2019 at 1:17 am

      5 stars
      This is such a great recipe. Thanks for the tip about not opening the oven door. I know I'm always guilty of that!

      Reply
    7. Natalie

      May 26, 2019 at 9:19 pm

      5 stars
      I love homemade cheesecakes! Looks so delicious and perfect for upcoming Shavuot!

      Reply
    8. Veena Azmanov

      May 26, 2019 at 8:31 pm

      5 stars
      I am a lover of cheese and this cheese cake is so moist , delicious and yummy. Granny's cheese cake is truly special too.

      Reply
    9. Beth Pierce

      May 26, 2019 at 7:07 pm

      5 stars
      This was such a decadent cheesecake! Definitely better than anything I've had in a restaurant! Delicious!

      Reply
    10. Laura

      February 05, 2019 at 10:22 pm

      5 stars
      Oooh I will definitely trade calories for that cherry topping! What a stunning cheesecake, can't wait to try my hand at it!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Krissy

    A close up of a woman

    I love to create the BEST versions of your favorite recipes. If you love to cook, love to eat, or just have a deep appreciation for good food, you're in the right place! Stick around... I have hundreds of recipes for you to make. more about me...

    SUBSCRIBE to my newsletter

    Strawberry Recipes!

    • How to Make Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
    • Old Fashioned Strawberry Ice Cream
    • Classic Strawberry Shortcake
    • Strawberry Pretzel Salad {Strawberry Pretzel Dessert}
    online publications that have featured self proclaimed foodie

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Salmon Patties (Salmon Cakes)
    • Granny's Monkey Bread Recipe
    • Beef and Noodles
    • Cajun Shrimp Pasta
    • Country Sausage Gravy
    • Absolutely Perfect Filet Mignon
    • Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe
    • Granny's Classic Meatloaf Recipe

    Footer

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    Contact

    Privacy Policy

    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Check Out Ten Acre Baker

    Meet Krissy

    Social

    Pinterest

    Facebook

    Instagram

    You Tube

    Sign Up for free emails

    Recipes

    • Dinner
    • Dessert
    • Breakfast
    • Drinks
    • Appetizers

    Self Proclaimed Foodie is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

    COPYRIGHT © 2022 SELF PROCLAIMED FOODIE®