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Cream Cheese Cake

This rich and creamy cream cheese cake is the perfect dessert that will impress your friends and family at any gathering. Soft, flavorful, and easy to customize with various toppings and mix-ins, it’s a timeless classic.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert, Party
Cuisine: American, Baked Goods
Calories: 410
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 16 oz cream cheese, softened Make sure it's at room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar Granulated sugar
  • 1 cup heavy cream For creaminess
  • 3 large eggs Room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract For flavor
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest Optional for added flavor
  • 1 cup graham cracker crumbs For the crust

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C).
  2. Prepare a springform pan by lining the bottom with parchment paper and lightly greasing the sides.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
  4. Add sugar and mix until combined.
  5. Add heavy cream, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until fully blended.
  6. If using, stir in lemon zest for extra flavor.
  7. In a separate bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Press this mixture into the bottom of the springform pan to form the crust.
Baking
  1. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the crust in the springform pan.
  2. Bake in the preheated oven for about 60 minutes, or until the middle is slightly jiggly.
  3. Once done, leave the oven door ajar to let the cake cool slowly to avoid cracking.
  4. After cooling, refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.
Serving
  1. Serve as-is or with your favorite toppings (fruit, chocolate, caramel).

Notes

This cake is sensitive to temperature. Always use room temperature ingredients for the best texture. For variations, consider adding jams, using cookie crusts, or adding almond extract to the batter.