Description
Creamy New York-style cranberry cheesecake delivers festive winter dessert perfection. Holiday gatherings become magical when you savor each silky slice of this classic, crowd-pleasing treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lb (0.68 kg) cream cheese
- 12 oz (340 g) fresh cranberries
- 3 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1.5 cups (360 ml) sour cream (room temperature)
- 1.5 cups (300 g) sugar
- 1 cup (240 ml) graham cracker crumbs
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
- 4 tbsps (60 ml) melted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 0.5 tsp almond extract
Instructions
- Preparation Setup: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9-inch springform pan with butter.
- Crust Formation: Mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter and press firmly into pan bottom, creating a compact foundation.
- Cheesecake Batter Creation: Whip cream cheese until silky smooth, gradually integrating sugar and eggs while maintaining consistent texture through periodic bowl scraping.
- Flavor Enhancement: Incorporate vanilla extract, almond extract, and sour cream into the batter, blending thoroughly to develop rich, complex flavors.
- Baking Technique: Pour batter evenly over crust, then place springform pan inside a larger roasting dish filled halfway with boiling water to ensure uniform heat distribution and prevent surface cracks.
- Precision Baking: Cook for 55-60 minutes, monitoring until center remains slightly wobbly yet structurally firm, indicating perfect doneness.
- Cooling Process: Immediately separate cheesecake edges with a thin knife, then allow to cool completely at room temperature before refrigerating for minimum 4 hours.
- Cranberry Sauce Preparation: Simmer sugar and water in a saucepan, then add cranberries and cook until they burst, creating a vibrant, glossy sauce.
- Sauce Refinement: Enrich cranberry mixture with orange zest, cinnamon, and nutmeg, then cool and refrigerate until serving time.
- Final Presentation: Slice chilled cheesecake and top with generous cranberry sauce, optionally garnishing with whipped cream for elegant serving.
Notes
- Prevent Cracking Technique: Use a water bath by placing the springform pan in a larger roasting dish filled halfway with boiling water to ensure smooth, crack-free cheesecake surface.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Bring cream cheese, eggs, and sour cream to room temperature before mixing to achieve smoother, lump-free batter and better incorporation.
- Cooling Critical Steps: Run a thin knife around edges immediately after baking to prevent cracking, then cool completely at room temperature before refrigerating for at least 4 hours.
- Flavor Enhancement Tip: Add orange zest, cinnamon, and nutmeg to cranberry sauce for deeper, more complex taste profile that complements the rich cheesecake.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg