This recipe for making a lemon cheesecake is very simple. But there are so few ingredients that making the best cheesecake is all about using the very best ingredients.
Table of contents
TRADITIONAL CHEESECAKE
Cheesecake is a classic and timeless dessert that has been around for centuries and is enjoyed by many around the world. It consists of a creamy texture from a combination of cream cheese, sugar, eggs and other ingredients to add flavor. It usually has of a crust made of crushed graham cracker or cookie crumbs and butter. It is cooked in a springform pan at a low temperature and often set in water to keep the temperature low. This gives it its signature dense texture. It is served chilled, as the combination of cream cheese and eggs create a smooth, silky texture that is enhanced when cold. Traditional cheesecake is often topped with sour cream or fruit like strawberries and blueberries or chocolate for a hint of sweetness. The creamy, sweet and tangy flavors of cheesecake make it a favorite among both children and adults alike.
UPDATED METHOD FOR MAKING THE BEST LEMON CHEESECAKE RECIPE
This cheesecake recipe skips the traditional crust. This makes the recipe quicker and easier to make. It also makes the cheesecake gluten free. And it can be made ahead of time without worrying if the crust will get soggy, which can happen with a cheesecake that has a crust.
Additionally, this recipe is baked in ramekins instead of a springform pan. Baking in ramekins doesn’t change the taste or texture, just the presentation. There is no crust on the bottom, so it is not as important to bake it in a pan that can be removed to show the layers. Baking in a water bath with ramekins is easier than using a springform pan, because there is no worry of leaks making the cheesecake soggy. The cheesecake is served in the ramekins, so they are easy to prepare ahead of time, store and serve. They are individual servings which makes serving easy.
One of the keys to making cheesecake with a perfect, creamy texture is to use a water bath. There is no substitute. This will keep the cheesecake from getting a curdled, crumbly texture. The other key is to remove the cheesecake from the oven while slightly undercooked. It will finish cooking with residual heat instead of being overcooked and dry. And then refrigerating it overnight to develop the correct texture.
INGREDIENTS FOR THE BEST LEMON CHEESECAKE RECIPE
There are very few ingredients in cheesecake, so making the best lemon cheesecake recipe is all about using the very best ingredients.
HORIZON ORGANIC CREAM
We think Horizon products taste better than any other dairy products we have tried. This is probably because the products are organic and from family farming partners. Just as important, Horizon is acertified B corporationthat has committed to becomingcarbon positive across their entire supply chain by 2025. We save money by buying this by the half gallon at a big box store.
HOMEMADE CREAM CHEESE FROM HORIZON CREAM
Cheesecake is all about cream cheese, so we start with the very best cream cheese by making it ourselves. It is real cream cheese, made with a culture. It is made with the best cream, a culture, and nothing else, unlike other cream cheese. It’s easy because we make it in theInstant Pot.
LEMONS
The only real flavor in this recipe is coming from the lemons, so it’s important to use lemons that have a lot of flavor. Produce sold at a grocery store is often picked early and chosen for it’s ability to survive transportation and storage instead of for it’s flavor. Lemons from a neighbor’s tree or from the farmers’ market may have a lot more flavor. Local growers have the advantage ofgrowing varieties for tasterather than for shipping and shelf life, and the difference can be enormous.
HEILALA PURE VANILLA PASTE
Heilala produces the best tasting vanilla we have ever tried. Plus, it is ethically produced. We use the paste in recipes like ice cream and cheese cake where the texture is very important and the vanilla bean seeds will be visible. It is also much easier than using the actual bean, soaking it and scraping the seeds.
WHOLESOME ORGANIC CANE SUGAR
Produced from organic sugar cane fields that are green cut and are not burned or treated with herbicides or synthetic fertilizers. Burning sugar cane fields contributes to air pollution and climate change, and is a major cause of the destruction of the rain forest. Buying sugar from fields that are green cut helps prevent this destruction. The sugar also has a better taste. We save money by buying this in bulk direct from the company.
DIAMOND CRYSTAL KOSHER SALT
Salt not only varies greatly in taste and texture, but it measures differently depending on the size and structure of the crystal. It’s very important to use the same brand as the original recipe to achieve the same results. Don’t use iodized salt because the taste of iodine can be off putting.
TOPPING
The cheesecake can be eaten plain or served with any number of toppings. Especially good are French lemon cream, sweetened homemade sour cream, and whip cream flavored with Limoncello.
No Affiliates Statement
We call this our “no affiliates” statement because we accept no advertising, have no affiliates and accept no payment. We are not paid to mention brands – we just love buying the best, sharing that information and saving the planet at the same time. The effort put into writing and photographing the blog is solely based on our dedication to the cause.
Equipment
- food processor
- ramekins
CHOOSING BRANDS:
For certain products, the choice of brand will make a big difference in the outcome of the recipe and in your carbon footprint. So, for those products, we have listed the brand. We are not paid to mention a brand and have no affiliates.
Ingredients
- 650 grams cream cheese homemade from Horizon cream
- 250 grams Wholesome organic sugar
- lemon zest of one lemon
- 85 grams lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Heilala pure vanilla paste
- ¼ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 150 grams Horizon cream
- 4 large eggs
Instructions
PREHEAT THE OVEN
- Preheat the oven to 325° F., with the rack in the middle of the oven. Boil water to put in the roasting pan.
MEASURE THE INGREDIENTS
- Use a kitchen scale to measure the ingredients – zeroing the scale between measurements. Into the bowl of the stand mixer, measure the cream cheese.Into a small bowl, measure the sugar and lemon zest.Into a small bowl, measure the lemon juice, vanilla bean paste and salt.Into a small bowl, measure the cream.
MAKE SUPERFINE SUGAR
- In the food processor, using the blade attachment, grind the sugar and lemon zest together for about a minute, creating a superfine sugar.
MIX THE INGREDIENTS
- In a stand mixer on low, using a paddle attachment, soften the cream cheese for about a minute and then slowly add the lemon sugar. Increase the speed to medium and beat the mixture for 3 minutes, occasionally stopping to scrape down the sides.
- Reduce the speed to low, and add the eggs, one at a time, waiting until each egg is incorporated before adding the next, occasionally stopping to scrape down the sides.
- With the mixer on low, add the lemon juice, vanilla bean paste and salt, mixing just until the ingredients are incorporated.
- With the mixer on low, add the cream, mixing just until incorporated, scraping down the sides if needed.
- Pour the mixture into the ramekins, stopping 1/2 inch from the top. The number of ramekins this will fill will depend on the size of the ramekins you choose. Set the ramekins into a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with boiling water until the water is halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Place the roasting pan in the preheated oven.
- Bake until a one inch area in the center still jiggles a little. Remove the roasting pan from the oven. Remove the ramekins and allow to cool on a rack. Place in the refrigerator overnight.
- Top with French lemon cream, whipped cream, or sweetened sour cream to serve.
- Keep refrigerated. Can be stored for up to four days.
Nutrition
WHY THIS RECIPE IS SUSTAINABLE:
Check out the chart on the blog post to see how food choices affect climate change. This recipe uses responsible brands and items that are lower on the chart and the production creates less greenhouse gas.
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Photos by Tony Fitzgerald Photography