Julias Lemon Cheesecake Recipes

SIMPLY PERFECT LEMON CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325F (not fan-assisted/not convection)
• Make the Crust: Add graham cracker crumbs to a medium bowl and stir in the brown sugar. Pour the melted butter overtop, then stir until all the crumbs are moistened and have a wet sand texture. Add a pinch of salt if you used unsalted butter.
• *If using an 8-inch springform pan, remove 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture, as you won't need it all for the base. You can reserve to sprinkle on top of the finished cake, if you like (sprinkle around the outside edge in a ring).
• Press the moist crumb mixture into the bottom of your springform pan. Use the bottom of a dry measuring cup to make sure the crust is really pressed down, to make it easiest to cut later on.
• Bake the crust until it is lightly golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. Leave oven on and set at 325F.
• Make the Filling: Combine the room temperature cream cheese, sour cream and granulated sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Process until the mixture is extremely smooth and well blended, a minute or two. Remove the lid of the food processor and scrape down the sides and bottom of the food processor and try to reach under the blades if you can, to fine and incorporate any stubborn chunks of cream cheese. Process again briefly after scraping. (Getting a perfectly smooth batter at this point is important to prevent cracks in your finished cake, so take the time here to make sure it's well blended and smooth).
• Add the eggs, lemon juice and zest and a pinch of salt and keep processing until it's super smooth and creamy, another 30 seconds or so.
• Pour the filling into the baked crust *You may have some leftover filling if you are using a regular cake pan.
• Bake in preheated 325F oven until mostly set, with a little jiggle in the centre 3-4 inches, with the outsides looking set and puffy, about 20 to 30 minutes. The filling should not brown at all. Don't over-cook, as this can cause your cheesecake to crack.
• Turn the oven off and open the door a crack (inserting a wooden spoon in the crack will help it say open). Let the cheesecake sit in the oven for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack on the counter to cool completely.
• Once cooled completely, over the top of the springform pan with plastic wrap, then a layer of aluminum foil. Place the cheesecake in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
• To serve, remove from springform pan. Topping option: citrus slices, a scattering of blueberries or blackberries, a mint leaf and a dusting of icing sugar, if you like.

BEST LEMON CHEESECAKE EVER (SOUR CREAM CHEESECAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Using your hands or the back of a spoon, mix all crust ingredients in a bowl until well combined.
• Press into bottom of an 11 to 12-inch spring form pan.
• Bake for 5 minutes.
• Let cool; refrigerate until needed.
• Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese at high speed until completely smooth.
• Add eggs one at a time, beating until smooth after each addition.
• Beat at medium speed as you gradually add the sugar, then flour, lemon juice and 1 teaspoon vanilla, mixing until well blended.
• Stir in lemon zest.
• Pour into crust; bake at 350°F for 35 minutes.
• Blend sour cream with remaining teaspoon vanilla and 3 tablespoons sugar; set mixture in warm place.
• Remove cake from oven, and gently spread sour cream mixture on top.
• Return to oven and bake for another 12 minutes.
• Cool on rack for 30 minutes.
• Refrigerate until topping is cool, but not completely chilled.
• Combine all glaze ingredients and blend until smooth.
• Bring to a boil, stirring constantly until thickened (3 minutes).
• Chill until cool, but not set.
• Spread on top of cheesecake.
• Chill overnight.