Best Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe, Whats Cooking America (2024)

FAQs

What does adding an extra egg to cheesecake do? ›

Eggs: Three whole eggs hold the cheesecake together. I also add an extra yolk, which enhances the cake's velvety texture. (Whites tend to lighten the cake, which is actually fine — if you don't feel like separating that fourth egg and don't mind some extra airiness in the texture, just add in the whole egg.)

Place your cheesecake on the middle oven rack. Immediately place the large oven-safe pan you're using on the bottom oven rack. Pour hot water into the empty pan on the bottom rack, so that it's about 1 inch deep. Quickly shut the oven door, and bake the cheesecake.

For serving: Remove the sides of the springform pan. Make Ahead: The cheesecake can be made and stored in the springform pan in the fridge, tightly covered with plastic wrap, up to two days ahead of time. Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cheesecake can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Line the pan with parchment paper, which should come 2 inches above the top of the pan. This keeps the batter from spilling out—the cheesecake rises quickly. Start by spraying the pan with nonstick cooking spray. This will act as the glue for the parchment paper to stay in place.

Avoid Overcooking

DON'T overbake. Overbaking a cheesecake can cause cracks on the surface. The center of the cheesecake should still be a little wobbly, the filling still pale, and the outer ring slightly puffy and firm. It will continue to cook as it cools and maintains that smooth and rich texture.

Sour cream supports the underlying tang of the cream cheese, but, if overdone, it takes over as the dominant flavor. You need a little of each -- cream for texture and sour cream for flavor. With our ingredients settled, we focused in on how to keep the cheesecake from baking up grainy and cracked.

A water bath, also known as a bain marie, is our secret to the perfect cheesecake. It produces steam that wafts throughout the oven, helping to ensure that the cheesecake cooks evenly and stays nice and creamy. It also moderates the heat on the sides of the pan so that they edges don't cook much faster than the center.

For best results, an oven heated to 170°C / 150°C fan-forced is ideal.

A bain-marie, or water bath, is the preferred method for baking cheesecakes because it gently cooks the eggs in the filling.

For the best and tastiest results, place your baked cheesecake in the refrigerator for at least four hours, but overnight is best.

Can I eat 2 week old cheesecake? ›

Eggs and milk have high protein and moisture content, and they're the primary ingredients in cheesecake, so when cheesecake is left at room temperature, conditions are ripe for bacteria to multiply. According to the USDA's Food Keeper App, cheesecake should be consumed within 5 to 7 days of refrigeration.

If you place a hot or warm cheesecake in the fridge, it may not set properly and the heat can also have a negative impact on other items in your fridge. The USDA says to avoid the “danger zone” you must place a cooled cheesecake in the fridge within two hours.

Generally, you do not grease the sides of the springform pan. The delicate batter rises higher if it can cling to ungreased sides of the pan. However, some recipes direct that you need to lightly grease the side of the springform pan. Be sure to follow those specific directions.

You want to be sure you set up your pan by spraying the sides with non-stick baking spray and lining the bottom of the pan with parchment paper before you ever even begin making the crust. It also helps if your cheesecake has crust that isn't soggy from your water bath leaking.

Eggs are responsible for giving baked goods structure, which means the amount you use directly affects the resulting texture. Using too few eggs will make your desserts dense, but using too many will make them rubbery. The explanation for this lies in the fact that eggs are made up of protein.

When eggs are balanced with liquids and fats like water, oil, and butter, they ensure that your cake doesn't turn into a soupy mess, but adding too many of them adds too much structure, leaving you with a cake that's rubbery and dense.

Use an extra egg: Most boxed mixes will call for three eggs. Use four for a cake that's richer-tasting and moister. This tip is one I use practically every time I make a boxed cake mix. Substitute dairy: Replace the water called for on the package with dairy.

You can mix a tablespoon or two of cornstarch into your cheesecake filling mixture before baking. Another option is to use a little bit of flour or arrowroot powder. These ingredients will also help to thicken your filling and give it a more consistent texture.