Simple French Style Cheesecake You Can Make Without Experience

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Cheesecake can be intimidating, and finicky. However, don’t let that stop you from trying your hand at making cheesecake at home. This is a foolproof cheesecake recipe that you can make even if you’re a beginner!

I was never a big cheesecake fan until I met my husband. He loves cheesecake! Because he is such a cheesecake enthusiast, I wanted to make him a cheesecake for his birthday one year. The first few times I made cheesecake, it definitley wasn’t one for the books. However, this cheesecake recipe has been a winner every single time.

This particular cheesecake recipe is inspired by French style cheesecake, which is more of a mousse type texture, as opposed to a New York style cheesecake that is a bit more dense. This cheesecake is light, airy, creamy, and oh so dreamy. My kids ask me to make cheesecake all the time, and when I do, they are thrilled!

So, Let’s Hop To It! Cheesecake Recipe Perfect For Beginners!

Step One: Gather Ingredients and Supplies for Cheesecake Recipe

Equipment Needed:

• 9″ Round Spring Form Pan – This is the easiest style pan to remove cheesecake from
• Whisk or Mixer
• Rubber Spatula
• Food Processor – optional
• Medium Mixing Bowl
• Large Mixing Bowl

Ingredients For Graham Cracker Crust:

• 2 cups of finely crushed graham crackers
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup salted butter, melted

Ingredients for Cheesecake Recipe:

• 3 large eggs – Room temperature. You can leave them out on the counter for at least 15-20 minutes.
• 1 lb (16 oz) Cream Cheese – Softened at room temperature.
• 1 lb (16 oz) Sour Cream – Room temperature.
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp fine salt
• Zest of one lemon – optional. I have made this with and without the lemon zest. It’s delicious either way!

Step Two: Preheat Oven and Grease the Pan

First you will need to preheat the oven to 350℉.

Next, use a stick of butter to grease the bottom and side of the spring form pan. This is optional, as the crust already contains butter and will not stick.

Step Three: Graham Cracker Crust

First, place the graham crackers in a bowl or zip bag and finely crush them. You can use your hands or a potato masher.

*Cooking with kids tip: Crushing graham crackers is a great step for kids to do! The zip bag method is best for kids, to help contain the mess.

Second, transfer crushed graham crackers to a bowl. Then add the sugar and melted butter. Stir until well combined.

Alternatively if you are using a food processor, simply place graham crackers, sugar, and butter inside the food processor. Securely place the lid on and pulse until graham crackers are finely crushed, and ingredients are well combined.

Finally, pour the graham cracker mixture into the bottom of the spring form pan. Use your fingers or a rubber spatula to spread the crust mixture and press down to form the crust.

Place the pan with crust in the refrigerator to set while you make the cheesecake.

Step Four: Separate Eggs and Beat The Egg Whites

Start by separating the egg whites from the egg yolks, and putting the egg whites in a medium mixing bowl.

I have always done this with the egg shell (as my grandma taught me).Simply crack the egg and gently pull the shell apart. Be careful to keep the egg contents in one side of the egg shell. Then with a bowl under your hands, gently transfer the yolk back and forth between the shells. While you transfer, the egg white will drop into the bowl below and the yolk will stay in the shell.

Put the egg yolks in a small bowl, and set aside.

Next, use a mixer or whisk to beat the egg whites until they form a soft peak. Basically, this means that when you lift the whisk from the bowl, the egg white will stick and start to form a “peak” and then fall back down after a second.

Once you’ve gotten the egg whites to this point, set them aside until later. If you have a stand mixer, you can beat the eggs while you do the next steps.

Step Five: Make the Cheesecake Batter

First, combine the softened cream cheese and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Cream them together until they become light and fluffy.

Second, add the egg yolks, vanilla extract, lemon zest, salt, and sour cream to the bowl with cream cheese mixture. Mix until you have a smooth, and uniform texture.

*Cooking with kids tip: If you have a hand mixer, this is another great step for kids to do!

Third, use a rubber spatula to mix in a third of the beaten egg whites.

Then, very gently fold in another third of the egg whites. Just before they are completely folded in, add the final third of the egg whites and finish folding them in. Work as gently as you can to prevent deflating the batter.

Finally, pour the batter into the crust lined pan.

Step Six: Bake The Cheesecake

CAREFUL OVEN IS HOT!

Place prepared cheesecake pan on the middle rack of the preheated oven. Bake about 40-60 minutes.

You can tell when your cheesecake is done by doing the “jiggle” test.

Jiggle Test:

1. Use a wooden spoon, or something similar to tap the side of the cheesecake pan.
2. If the middle of the cheesecake “jiggles” on it’s own, the cheesecake is not done.
3. If the top of the entire cheesecake moves together, your cheesecake is done!

Step Seven: Cooling Your Cheesecake

It may be tempting to skip this step the cheesecake recipe, but it is very important not to! Cooling cheesecake slowly will help prevent your cheesecake from cracking or collapsing, and help to keep it nice and fluffy!

The first cooling step is to turn the oven off when your cheesecake is done. Crack the oven door a little, and let the cheesecake cool in the oven for at least an hour.

Next, use oven mitts to remove the cheesecake after an hour of cooling inside the oven. Let the cheesecake cool at room temperature for another hour.

Finally, cover the cheesecake with foil or plastic wrap and cool in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours before serving. However, for best results I recommend leaving it in the refrigerator overnight.

Step Eight: Serve, Enjoy, and Celebrate Making This Cheesecake Recipe!

With Easter coming up, this cheesecake would be a great dessert to bring to a family gathering. And on the other hand, you can wow your friends and family with your new cheesecake skills. Add a little extra pizzaz with a berry or chocolate topping you can drizzle on top when it’s time to serve.

What are your thoughts on cheesecake? Love it? Are you going to try making this cheesecake recipe? Let me know how it goes in the comments below!

You’re doing a great job!