Best Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe, Whats Cooking America (2024)

FAQs

What does adding an extra egg to cheesecake do? ›

Adding richness and a smooth texture, the proteins in the eggs set up during the gentle baking process, solidifying the dense network of dairy and sugar into a sliceable whole. Too many eggs will create a cracked and sunken cheesecake with an overly firm texture. Too few eggs and the cheesecake won't set well.

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.

Overmixing may lead to cracks and a grainy texture

With a batter mainly composed of cream cheese, sugar, and egg yolks, you can quickly form cracks in your cheesecake with the excess air that comes from overmixing (via Cheesecakes World).

Cheesecakes are egg based, and they need low heat. Position baking rack in center of oven and place cheesecake in center of middle oven rack. Place a shallow pan full of water on the lower rack in the oven. The water will also help minimize cracking in the top of the cheesecake.

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.

Serve when fully chilled (at least 4 hours in the refrigerator, or overnight). Before serving, carefully remove cheesecake from the springform pan by running a blunt knife along the sides of the cheesecake to release it from the sides of the pan.

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.

Generally, leaving a cake out overnight increases the risk of bacterial growth and spoilage. If the cake contains perishable ingredients like cream, custard, or fruits, it's best to err on the side of caution and discard it to avoid foodborne illness.

What happens if you put too much sour cream in cheesecake? Sour cream adds tanginess and moisture, so if you use too much, it can make the cheesecake too tangy and the additional moisture can make it runny.

How do you get air out of cheesecake batter? ›

After you've poured the batter in to the cake tin, drop the tin on the kitchen counter a couple of times to force the air in the mixture to come to the surface. Make sure you pop the cake in the oven straight away as letting it sit will cause the ingredients to interact differently than they should.

This will help the cheese cake cook evenly across the middle and the outside–preventing the outer edges from over-baking too quickly! Third, don't open the oven! Cook it the full initial 52 minutes without opening the oven. Fourth, become a pro at judging bake time through the “wobble” method.

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

Baking the cheesecake in a water bath makes it extra creamy. Don't overbake. You'll know it's ready when the outer ring is slightly puffed, but the inner circle jiggles like barely set Jell-o. Let it cool slowly.

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.

Why is my cheesecake not fluffy? The airy texture comes from the folding of whipped egg whites through the batter. However, if the egg whites are not folded properly it can result in a dense cake. If you under-mix the egg whites into the batter you will have a cake with a dense bottom and light top.

Can I Fix A Sunken Cheesecake? Yes, there are several ways to fix a sunken cheesecake, including filling it with whipped cream or fresh fruit, making a whipped cream topping, and chilling it before serving.