afoona
Lemon Cheesecake
Desserts

Lemon Cheesecake

A baked cheesecake with a bold lemon flavor, on a crisp biscuit base, baked in a water bath. Creamy, and slices cleanly after chilling.

⏱ 2 hr 35 min🍽 12 servings 🌍 Israeli👩‍🍳 Afoona🧩 2 parts

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Crumb Crust

  1. 1
    Grind the biscuits into fine crumbs in a food processor.
    Food processor
  2. 2
    Add the butter (melted) and mix well.
  3. 3
    Press the mixture into the bottom of a 24 cm springform pan and chill 30 minutes.
    Springform panRefrigerator
    💡Press down with the bottom of a glass: a dense, even crust doesn't crumble when you slice the cake.

To assemble

  1. 4
    Preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F) and wrap the outside of the pan in foil.
    ⚙ Preheating the OvenOvenAluminum foil
    💡Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.
  2. 5
    Bake the base in the pan 10 minutes and let it cool.
    OvenBaking pan
  3. 6
    Whip the cheese with the sugar to a smooth cream.
    ⚙ WhippingBowlHand mixerorStand mixerorWhisk
  4. 7
    Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each one just until it is absorbed.
  5. 8
    Add the sour cream, flour, lemon zest and lemon juice and mix on low speed, just until the mixture is uniform.
  6. 9
    Pour the mixture over the base in the pan.
    Baking pan
  7. 10
    Bake in a bain-marie, inside a large pan with hot water, 55–65 minutes, until the edges are set and the center just wobbles slightly.
    ⚙ BakingOvenBaking panDeep roasting pan
    💡Run a knife around the edges halfway through baking and again when it comes out of the oven: the cake shrinks as it cools, and edges that stick make it crack.
    💡Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.
  8. 11
    Turn off the oven, open the door slightly and leave the cake inside 1 hour.
    Oven
    💡Gradual cooling in the turned-off, open oven keeps the top of the cake smooth, without cracks.
  9. 12
    Chill in the fridge at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
    Refrigerator
361calories
6 gprotein
28 gcarbs
26 gfat
● protein 6%● carbs 30%● fat 64%

Per serving (110 g), of 12 servings

For the Crumb Crust · To assemble ·

A button hides that part of the recipe, in print too. Another click brings it back. The choice is kept for this recipe.

⚖ About the ingredients

🔧 Tools needed (8) · 🍳 3 cooking vessels

  • Food processor · Also works: Knife (More time and handwork, less even texture) · Electric mini chopper (Small amounts) · 💡 Workaround, changes the dish: Blender (Needs more liquid)
  • Oven · 💡 Workaround, changes the dish: Toaster oven (Fits one small pan; good for small batches) · Air fryer (Small batches only, no runny batters) · Pot (Only for covered stews on the stovetop, no browning on top)
  • Refrigerator · Also works: Freezer (Chills faster; don't let it freeze) · Ice bath (Ice bath)
  • Baking pan · Also works: Glass / ovenproof baking dish (None) · Disposable pan (None)
  • Deep roasting pan · Also works: Glass / ovenproof baking dish (None) · Disposable pan (None) · Cast-iron pot (None)
  • Springform pan · Also works: Round pan (Line with parchment, leaving overhang to lift out) · Disposable pan (Cut and serve from the pan)
  • Bowl · Also works: Pot (None)
  • Hand mixer or Stand mixer or Whisk · one of them

🧻 Consumables: Aluminum foil

By the steps, as the recipe is built now: another version or addition can change the list.

🛒 Shopping list