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As my sister put it, “This is better than the Cheesecake Factory!” I’m a huge cheesecake fan and this is the best cheesecake recipe I’ve tried.
The texture is amazingly smooth and the semi-tart blueberry topping is a perfect match! It’s simple to make and difficult to screw up.
This recipe was inspired by Ina Garten’s Cheesecake. I hope you give it a try!
Watch How To Make Cheesecake Video:
Ingredients for The Crust –
1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (I use “Honey Maid” crumbs – it’s cheaper & easier. Or you can use 10 crackers)
6 Tbsp (3/4 stick) melted, unsalted butter
1 Tbsp sugar
Ingredients for The Cheesecake –
2 ½ lb cream cheese (5 blocks – 8oz each) at room temperature
1 ½ cups sugar
¼ cup sour cream
7 whole large eggs (at room temp)
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
Ingredients for Blueberry Sauce:
This is based on our popular blueberry topping recipe (which is so good over breakfast and dessert!)
4 cups frozen blueberries
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup water
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp sugar
What you will need :
A springform pan where the sides loosen and the bottom comes out.
How to Make this Cheesecake Recipe:
Preheat the oven to 350°F
Crust: combine1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs, 1 Tbsp sugar and 6 Tbsp melted butter – mix well. Pour into a 9 or 9 ½ inch springform pan (see picture above). Use a large spoon to press the crumbs evenly into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 8 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
Cheesecake Filling:
Raise oven temp to 450°F and place rack in bottom third of oven.
1. Mix 5 blocks (8oz each) of cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups of sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer on medium-high speed using paddle attachment (or use an electric hand mixer).
2. Mix until light and fluffy (5 minutes), scrape the bowl down as necessary so you don’t get chunks of cream cheese.
3. Reduce the speed to medium and add 7 eggs, one at a time.
4. Reduce speed to low and add 1/4 cup of sour cream and 1 ½ tsp of vanilla.
5. Mix well and pour into crust.
How to Bake the Cheesecake:
Place oven rack in the bottom 1/3. (Put the center rack 1 level lower than the center. In my oven, I had the rack on the third position. If it’s too close to the top, it will brown too quickly). Bake 15 minutes at 450°F.
Without opening the oven door, Reduce oven temperature to 225 °F and bake for 1 hour and 5 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes until the center is almost set. Try not to open the oven door because you will lose heat that way and it won’t bake properly and may crack.
Remove cheesecake from the oven and cool cake to room temperature, then refrigerate until fully chilled.
When ready to serve the cheesecake, carefully run a butter knife around the sides of the cake. Unlatch and remove the springform pan. Serve the cake on the base of the pan.
Berry Sauce:
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 2 Tbsp sugar, 1/4 cup water, 2 tsp cornstarch and 1 Tbsp lemon juice. As soon as it starts to thicken, add 4 cups of blueberries and cook until lightly bubbly. Don’t boil. Let cool to room temp and spread on top of the cheesecake when serving. You can make this sauce ahead of time and serve the next day as well.
This recipe is great for parties and is sure to please. Enjoy!
You also will like this No Bake Cheesecake with Strawberries
Notes: Ina makes her cheesecake recipe by adding 1 tablespoon of grated lemon zest to the cream cheese filling; but I like the original flavor of cheesecake.
Easy Cheesecake Recipe with Blueberry Topping (No Water Bath Required!)
Ingredients
The Crust -
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- 6 Tbsp 3/4 stick melted, unsalted butter
- 1 Tbsp sugar
The Cheesecake –
- 2 ½ lb cream cheese, 5 blocks - 8oz each at room temperature
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 7 whole large eggs, at room temp
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
Blueberry Sauce:
- 4 cups frozen blueberries
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp sugar
What you will need :
- A springform pan where the sides loosen and the bottom comes out.
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F
Crust:
- Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter – mix well. Pour into a 9 or 9 ½ inch springform pan. Use a large spoon to press the crumbs evenly into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 8 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
Cheesecake filling:
Increase oven temp to 450°F. Place oven rack in the bottom 1/3. (Put the center rack 1 level lower than the center. In my oven, I had the rack on the third position. If it's too close to the top, it will brown too quickly).
- Mix the cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer on medium-high speed using paddle attachment (or use an electric hand mixer).
- Mix until light and fluffy (5 minutes), scrape the bowl down as necessary so you don't get chunks of cream cheese.
- Reduce the speed to medium and add eggs, 1 at a time.
- Reduce speed to low and add sour cream and vanilla.
- Mix well and pour into crust.
Baking Instructions:
- Bake 15 minutes at 450°F.
- Without opening the oven door, Reduce oven temperature to 225 °F and bake for 1 hour and 5 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes until the center is almost set. Try not to open the oven door because you will lose heat that way and it won't bake properly and may crack.
- Remove cheesecake from the oven and cool cake to room temperature, then refrigerate until fully chilled.
- When ready to serve the cheesecake, carefully run a butter knife around the sides of the cake. Unlatch and remove the springform pan. Serve the cake on the base of the pan.
Berry Sauce:
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, water, cornstarch and lemon juice. As soon as it starts to thicken, add blueberries and cook until lightly bubbly. Don’t boil. Let cool to room temp and spread on top of the cheesecake when serving. You can make this sauce ahead of time and serve the next day as well. This recipe is great for parties and is sure to please. Enjoy!
Notes
- If you want to remove the cake from the springform pan, you can place a ring of parchment paper on the bottom.
- To prevent leaks from the springform pan while baking, wrap a piece of foil under the outside of the pan.
Hello, I would like to make the berry sauce with a bit more sugar, my son requested this recipe with the blueberry sauce for his birthday cake, but he has a sweet tooth ! Can I maybe add a bit of condensed milk ? Would love your comments please!! thank you Gisèle.
Hi Gisele, I haven’t tested that to advise, but it may work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
I have never made a cheesecake before! Made this for my daughter-in- laws birthday! It turned out perfect!!!
Great job! So good to know that it was a success.
Hi Natasha,
Thanks for all your recipes and for making them so step-by-step so that anyone can follow! I’ve tried this recipe several times, and it comes out great every time! Do you think I can add mini chocolate chips to this recipe?
Hi Dee! You’re very welcome. I’m so glad you love my recipes. I have never tested chocolate chips in this recipe. I think it could work as long as you don’t overwhelm the cheesecake batter by adding too many. Let us know how it turns out if you experiment.
I can only comment on the blueberry topping, but it came out perfectly. I would certainly use it again.
That’s wonderful! I’m so glad you enjoyed the topping! 🙂
I’ve been using this recipe for a while now and when I make and serve everyone can’t stop eating it. It is easy and delicious! I haven’t come across one bad recipe you post. Thank you!!!
That’s wonderful, Renee! Thank you for sharing!
Made this for my Easter dinner this weekend. Wow, absolutely amazing. I didn’t quite have the 4C of blueberries so I added some blackberries. Creamy and delicious! Everyone loved it.
Thanks so much.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Kanen!
Help! I saw a recipes for a lemon loaf cake with a lemon glaze that you featured recently but I can’t find it now. What am I doing wrong?
Thank you! I appreciate your website so much and have never had one of your recipes fail me!!!
Hi Barbara, you can find all of our lemon recipes HERE. Were you possibly referring to our Lemon Blueberry Cake?
Hi, Natasha , what will happen if I forgot to put sour cream in it?Is it ok ?
Hi Dana, the sour cream adds moisture and a softened, smooth texture. I haven’t tested it without the sour cream, so I can’t guess. Sorry I know that’s not very helpful.
I’ve made this several times and it’s always a big hit!! Love this recipe, so easy and delicious!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Sarah!
Hi Natasha! Thanks for this wonderful recipe. I’ve been making it that last couple years. It’s definitely been a big hit! I have a question for you. I baked the cheesecake today and my oven started to smoke (a few drops from previous baking in bottom of oven 😤). I was too worried to open the oven while cheesecake was baking due to getting any cracks. Now the top of the cheesecake has a scent of the chemical smoke, it’s nothing to overwhelming! But it’s still there. Is there a way to get rid of that smell? I tried airing it out by the window. It’s still slightly there. I’m worried you’ll be able to taste it as well. Since I won’t be the one tasting it, Is there anything I can do? I was thinking maybe a little powdered sugar on top will help but can’t figure it out. Thanks so much!
Hi Olgie, oh bummer. I haven’t had that happen before but If your springform pan is loose, it would be a good idea to line the bottom rack with a sheet of foil to catch any butter drips. Usually, I serve this one with blueberry sauce and that should cover it well.
Hi Natasha!
I want to try this recipe out but can I use something else instead of sour cream?
Thankyou
Hi Sanash, I haven’t tested it without the sour cream so I can’t really guess. Sorry I know that’s not very helpful.
Not sure if you’ll see this at this point, but you can use Greek yogurt!
I actually just used Greek yogurt on a different cheesecake recipe, the consistency looked right when taking it out of the oven.
Also, Greek yogurt has a similar thickness to sour cream, so just use plain Greek yogurt and you’ll be good to go. 🙂
Came out perfect! Followed recipe exactly and it was perfect. No crack!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Lisa!
Perfect! Amazing! Made this with my grandaughter. So easy and delicious.
Thanks for your review, Carol. Glad you had a good bonding experience with your granddaughter making this recipe!
Hi. My brother challenged me to do this. It really does taste better than the cheese cake factory. BUT… the middle bit did not harden enough. The outside bit was firm. What did I do wrong?
Hi Rechelle, it could be due to needing a little more time in the oven. I would make sure your oven is calibrated to the right temperature. I wish I could be more helpful, it’s so hard to say without being there.
I don’t think you did anything wrong. The same thing happened to me. I always pull my cheesecakes out of the oven when the center is 150 degrees. I followed these directions to the letter and the center was only at 121. I turned the heat up to 325 to finish mine.
Can I make this with fresh blueberries? Thanks in advance!
Hi Karla, you can definitely use fresh blueberries. You will have to give them slightly more time to release a little juice, but the fresh blueberries will work without any other modifications.
Having my 10 year old grand-daughter over today for a sleepover. It’s her moms birthday and we are going to make this as a surprise birthday cake!
Aww, that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Sharon! I hope you have the best time with your granddaughter! & happy birthday to your daughter!
Hi ms natasha.thank you so much for your easy simple recipe.i have been cooking your cheesecake blue berry recipe.thanks much!!!
Aww, that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Viviane. I’m all smiles
Can I swap the blueberries with strawberries to make a strawberry topping?
Hi Amy, if you wanted to explore with different kind of berries, check out the recipe right here.
I tried a lot of cheese cake recipes and this the best I’ve ever had easy too and no cracks either.
It’s our absolute favorite, and I’m so glad you enjoyed it as well! Thank you for stopping by with your lovely comment, Sandy!
Your Cheesecake looks like the crust goes up the sides of the cake as well as the bottom and just wondering if that’s what you did?
Hi Joanne, we pressed it into the corners and bottom, so it did go up the sides slightly.