Foolproof New York Cheesecake

for the crust

1. 1

   Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 325 degrees

1. 2

   🍪ASmall prep bowl A6 wholes graham crackers, broken into pieces

   • 🍬⅓ cup dark brown sugar

   Process cracker pieces and sugar in food processor until finely ground, about 30 seconds

   00:30

   Start timer

1. 3

   • 🌾½ cup all-purpose flour
   • 🧂¼ teaspoon salt

   Add flour and salt and pulse to combine, 2 pulses

1. 4

   • 🧈6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

   Add 6 tablespoons melted butter and pulse until crumbs are evenly moistened, about 10 pulses

1. 5

   • 🧈½ tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

   Brush bottom of 9-inch springform pan with 1/2 tablespoon melted butter

1. 6

   Using your hands, press crumb mixture evenly into pan bottom

1. 7

   Using flat bottom of measuring cup or ramekin, firmly pack crust into pan

1. Stay at the stove
   8

   Place pan on rimmed baking sheet and bake on lower-middle rack until fragrant and beginning to brown around edges, about 13 minutes

   13:00

   Start timer

1. Stay at the stove
   9

   Set aside to cool completely

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   10

   Reduce oven temperature to 200 degrees

for the filling

1. Stay at the stove
   11

   🧀BMedium bowl B2 ½ pounds cream cheese, softened

   • 🍬¾ cup granulated sugar
   • 🧂¼ teaspoon salt

   Using stand mixer fitted with paddle, beat cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar, and salt at medium-low speed until combined, about 1 minute

   01:00

   Start timer

1. Stay at the stove
   12

   • 🍬¾ cup granulated sugar

   Beat in remaining 3/4 cup sugar until combined, about 1 minute

   01:00

   Start timer

1. Stay at the stove
   13

   • 🍶⅓ cup sour cream
   • 🍋2 teaspoons lemon juice
   • 🍦2 teaspoons vanilla extract

   Scrape beater and bowl well; add sour cream, lemon juice, and vanilla and beat at low speed until combined, about 1 minute

   01:00

   Start timer

1. Stay at the stove
   14

   • 🥚2 larges large egg yolks

   Add egg yolks and beat at medium-low speed until thoroughly combined, about 1 minute

   01:00

   Start timer

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   15

   Scrape bowl and beater

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   16

   • 🥚6 larges large eggs

   Add whole eggs two at a time, beating until thoroughly combined, about 30 seconds after each addition

   00:30

   Start timer

1. Stay at the stove
   17

   Pour filling through fine-mesh strainer set in large bowl, pressing against strainer with rubber spatula or back of ladle to help filling pass through strainer

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   18

   • 🧈½ tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

   Brush sides of springform pan with remaining 1/2 tablespoon melted butter

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   19

   Pour filling into crust and set aside for 10 minutes to allow air bubbles to rise to top

   10:00

   Start timer

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   20

   Gently draw tines of fork across surface of cake to pop air bubbles that have risen to surface

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   21

   When oven thermometer reads 200 degrees, bake cheesecake on lower rack for 45 minutes

   45:00

   Start timer

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   22

   After 45 minutes, remove cake from oven and use toothpick to pierce any bubbles that have risen to surface

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   23

   Return to oven and continue to bake until center registers 165 degrees, 2 1/4 to 2 3/4 hours longer

   165:00

   Start timer

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   24

   Remove cake from oven and increase oven temperature to 500 degrees

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   25

   When oven is at 500 degrees, bake cheesecake on upper rack until top is evenly browned, 4 to 12 minutes, placing rimmed baking sheet on lower rack to catch any drips

   12:00

   Start timer

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   26

   Let cool for 5 minutes; run paring knife between cheesecake and side of springform pan

   05:00

   Start timer

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   27

   Let cheesecake cool until barely warm, 2 1/2 to 3 hours

   180:00

   Start timer

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   28

   Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold and firmly set, at least 6 hours

   360:00

   Start timer

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   29

   To unmold cheesecake, remove sides of pan

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   30

   Slide thin metal spatula between crust and pan bottom to loosen, then slide cheesecake onto serving plate

1. Stay at the stove
   31

   Let cheesecake stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes

   30:00

   Start timer

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   32

   To slice, dip sharp knife in very hot water and wipe dry between cuts

1. 33

   Serve