Lemon Cheesecake

This Lemon Cheesecake has a thick, creamy lemon cheesecake filling baked right into a candy Graham cracker crust, topped with do-it-yourself lemon curd. An exquisite mixture of candy and tangy, this cheesecake is bound to win you over. Good for summer season!

Lemon cheesecake on a cake platter with a slice taken out of it.

The Greatest Lemon Cheesecake

There’s simply one thing a couple of recent, shiny pop of citrus that will get me within the temper for heat climate months. This cheesecake is chock-full of lemon taste and excellent to your subsequent summer season gathering. I can’t wait to share it with you.

When you’ve already tried my Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake, you then already know that this lemon one goes to be wonderful. No blueberries this time however I used the identical buttery Graham cracker crust and the same, lemony filling. High it off with a creamy, candy, and tart lemon curd (the identical one in my Lemon Meringue Cheesecake) and also you’ve acquired your self a dessert to be reckoned with. When you love lemon and cheesecake, this one’s for you!

Why You’ll Love This Cheesecake Recipe

It’s onerous to not love this shiny, perfect-for-summer lemon curd cheesecake. Listed below are a few of my favourite issues about it.

Gentle and refreshing. This cheesecake virtually tastes like summer season. It’s so gentle and refreshing. Good to your subsequent sunny out of doors soiree.
Yolks. Including further egg yolks to this recipe makes the filling much more creamy and wealthy than my different cheesecakes. It additionally does an attractive job of amplifying the lemon taste. Yum!
Not too candy, not too tart. I like the juxtaposition of candy and tart on this recipe. It’s cheesecake, so, after all, there’s loads of sweetness occurring however the tanginess from the bitter cream and the tartness from the lemon makes this a wonderfully well-balanced dessert.
Dynamic. There are 4 scrumptious elements coming collectively to make this pleasant cheesecake what it’s. Candy and crunchy graham cracker crust. Thick, creamy, sweet-yet-tart cheesecake filling. Easy, candy lemon curd. Fluffy whipped cream. So many flavors and textures. Each chew is an journey.

Ingredients for lemon cheesecake separated into bowls.

What You’ll Want

Right here’s an inventory of components wanted to make this lemon cheesecake. Make sure you scroll to the recipe card under for actual measurements.

Crust

Graham cracker crumbs – You should buy these already in crumbs, or grind up your individual. You possibly can additionally use vanilla wafer cookies.
Butter – The butter should be melted in order that it will probably maintain the Graham cracker crumbs collectively.
Sugar – You need to use granulated or gentle brown sugar right here. Simply be aware that the sunshine brown sugar will add a deeper, extra molasses-like taste.

Lemon filling

Cream cheese – The cream cheese should be at room temperature. In any other case, it is not going to incorporate as easily with the opposite components and also you would possibly end up with a lumpy filling.
Sugar
All-purpose flour – The starch prevents the egg proteins from over-coagulating, supplying you with a creamier texture and serving to you forestall any cracks. You can too use your favourite 1:1 gluten-free substitute as a substitute, and even cornstarch (half the quantity).
Bitter cream – Provides to a creamy texture.
Contemporary lemon juice – Contemporary is unquestionably greatest for optimum taste.
Lemon zest
Eggs – The eggs ought to be at room temperature. They are going to combine into the filling extra simply, serving to to forestall over-mixing.
Egg yolks – The egg yolks must also be at room temperature with a purpose to be certain that they incorporate easily and simply into the filling.

Lemon curd

Contemporary lemon juice – I extremely advocate recent lemon juice.
Grated lemon zest
Sugar – This not solely sweetens the lemon curd, but it surely additionally provides some quantity.
Egg yolks – These thicken the lemon curd and add to the flavour.
Butter

Whipped cream

Heavy whipping cream – Make it possible for the heavy whipping cream is properly chilled earlier than utilizing. Whether it is too heat, it is not going to whip up and maintain quantity correctly.
Powdered sugar – This sweetens the whipped cream, but it surely additionally prevents it from wilting. Your whipped cream gained’t be going anyplace.
Vanilla extract – For taste.

The right way to Make Lemon Cheesecake

There are 4 elements to this lemon curd cheesecake however don’t let that intimidate you. Simply take it one step at a time and benefit from the course of. Right here’s a fast overview of make it. Make sure that to scroll to the recipe card under for extra detailed directions.

Make the Crust

Prep. Preheat oven to 325°F and line the underside of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Grease the edges.
Mix the crust components and press them into the underside and up the edges of the springform pan.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Leakproof the pan. Wrap the skin of the pan with aluminum foil.

Mixing together Graham cracker crumbles and melted butter for Graham cracker crust.

Graham cracker crust baked into a springform pan.

Make the Cheesecake Filling

Cut back the oven temperature to 300°F.
Beat collectively the cream cheese, sugar, and flour on low pace till clean.
Add and blend. Add the bitter cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Combine till mixed.
Add eggs. Add the eggs one by one, mixing after every addition. Add the egg yolks. Combine till mixed.

Beating together cream cheese, sugar and flour for cheesecake.

Adding sour cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest to cheesecake filling.

Put together to bake. Pour the cheesecake into the crust and unfold evenly. Place the wrapped pan inside a barely bigger pan. Fill the bigger pan with heat water in order that it comes about midway up the edges of the cheesecake pan.
Bake for 1 hour and quarter-hour.
Cool slowly. Flip the oven off and go away the cheesecake inside for half-hour. Crack the door of the oven and go away the cheesecake inside for a further half-hour. Take away the cheesecake from the oven and the water tub. Take away the aluminum foil from the pan. Enable the cheesecake to chill to about room temperature.

Lemon cheesecake batter in a water bath ready to be baked.

Lemon cheesecake baked in a springform pan before being topped with lemon curd.

Make the Lemon Curd

Mix all of the components for the lemon curd in a double boiler.
Warmth whereas continuously whisking till the combination thickens and reaches 170-180 levels.
Unfold the nice and cozy curd excessive of the cheesecake.
Chill. Place the cheesecake within the fridge for 4-5 hours.

A spoon with lemon curd on it. A finger has been traced through the lemon curd to show its thickness.

Make the whipped cream topping

Whip the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract on medium pace till stiff peaks kind.
Enhance the cake. Take away the cheesecake from the pan, set it on a plate, and pipe the whipped cream across the rim of the cheesecake. Garnish the whipped cream dollops with quartered lemon slices for those who’d like.

Does This Cheesecake Want A Water Bathtub?

Sure. All baked cheesecakes can profit from a water tub. A water tub would possibly sound like a ache to make but it surely’s actually fairly easy. Simply wrap the cheesecake pan in aluminum foil (or one other leak-prook possibility from my submit on bake a cheesecake in a water tub), place it inside a barely bigger pan, and fill the bigger pan with heat water till the water reaches midway up the cheesecake pan.

The water tub will create steam in the course of the baking course of, serving to to cook dinner the cheesecake evenly and to forestall it from drying out. The water itself in opposition to the pan may also assist shield the perimeters of the cheesecake from cooking quicker than the middle. Do your cheesecake a favor and take the additional minute to make a water tub.

Suggestions for the Greatest Lemon Curd Cheesecake

Listed below are a handful of helpful suggestions and tips that may assist you obtain the very best lemon cheesecake. In an over-achieving temper? I extremely counsel trying out my submit on make an ideal cheesecake for extra particulars.

Room temperature components. It will be significant that the cream cheese, the eggs, and the egg yolks are at room temperature earlier than you make the cheesecake filling. They are going to have a neater time combining with the opposite components, which is able to assist forestall you from over-mixing.
Combine slowly and never an excessive amount of. Mixing shortly and/or mixing for too lengthy will incorporate air into the cheesecake batter. That air may cause cracks within the cheesecake because it bakes. So combine on low pace and simply till every part is integrated.
Use a springform pan. It will make your life a lot simpler when it comes time to take away the cake from the pan. It’s 100% well worth the funding. Take a look at my submit on take away your cheesecake from the springform pan for extra.
Make a leakproof water tub. Making a water tub actually does make a distinction. It should assist your cheesecake keep moist, be certain that it cooks evenly, and can assist forestall cracks. Take a look at my submit on bake a cheesecake in a water tub to study extra.
Cool slowly. Enable the cheesecake to remain within the closed oven for half-hour after it has been turned off earlier than cracking the door and preserving it within the oven for an additional half-hour. Not solely will the cheesecake end cooking throughout this course of, however it’s a essential step in making certain the cheesecake doesn’t crack.
Use recent lemons. You gained’t remorse it. The flavour of the filling and the curd can be a lot brighter and general higher.
Don’t let the lemon curd cool. Unfold the lemon curd over the cheesecake as quickly because it comes off of the range. It is not going to unfold correctly whether it is left to chill and thicken.

A whole lemon cheesecake on a serving plate.

The right way to Retailer Selfmade Cheesecake

Enable the cheesecake to sit back for 4-5 hours, or till agency. Seal it in an hermetic cake service or wrap the entire cake in a double layer of plastic wrap and retailer it within the fridge for as much as 5 days. That is greatest to do earlier than including the whipped cream however, for those who already embellished the cake, simply prop the plastic wrap away from the whipped cream utilizing toothpicks. To retailer particular person slices, organize them in a single layer in an hermetic container earlier than storing them within the fridge. When you find yourself able to serve, make the whipped cream and pipe it onto the cheesecake, if relevant.

To freeze the cheesecake, enable it to agency up within the fridge for 4-5 hours, then switch it to the freezer for an hour or so to flash freeze it. Wrap it in a double layer of saran wrap and retailer it within the freezer for as much as 3 months. I like to recommend freezing earlier than including the whipped cream, however for those who already added it, it’ll be fantastic. Alternatively, you’ll be able to slice the cake, organize the slices in a single layer in an hermetic container, and retailer it within the freezer for as much as 3 months. When you find yourself able to take pleasure in, enable the dessert to thaw within the fridge. Make the whipped cream and pipe it onto the cake earlier than serving, if relevant.

To study extra, try my submit on retailer cheesecake.

Extra Cheesecake Recipes:

I. Love. Cheesecake. This lemon curd model is ideal for summer season however I’ve no scarcity of cheesecake recipes so that you can check out. Listed below are just a few of my favorites.

Watch The right way to Make Lemon Cheesecake

Learn Transcript

Recipe up to date 6/1/2023. For the earlier model of this recipe, obtain the PDF.

Lemon Cheesecake | Life, Love and Sugar

The Greatest Lemon Cheesecake

Why You’ll Love This Cheesecake Recipe