Cheesecake Recipe

Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Mix Crust Ingredients

In a medium bowl, combine 1.5 cups of graham cracker crumbs, 0.5 cups of granulated sugar, and 0.5 cups of melted unsalted butter. Mix until well combined.

Form the Crust

Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan to form the crust.

Bake the Crust

Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes, then remove and let cool while you prepare the filling.

Prepare the Filling

In a large mixing bowl, beat 24 oz of softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy.

Add Sugar and Sour Cream

Gradually add 1 cup of granulated sugar and 0.5 cups of sour cream to the cream cheese, beating until well combined.

Add Vanilla and Eggs

Mix in 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Then, add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition until the mixture is smooth.

Pour into Crust

Pour the filling into the cooled crust, smoothing the top with a spatula.

Bake the Cheesecake

Bake in the oven for 50-60 minutes, or until the center is set and the edges are lightly browned. Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake cool in the oven with the door slightly ajar for 1 hour.

Chill the Cheesecake

After cooling, refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours, or overnight for best results.

Prepare the Berries

Wash and dry 2 cups of fresh berries (your choice of strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries).

Dust with Powdered Sugar

In a small bowl, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar over the berries and gently toss to coat.

Serve

Once the cheesecake is chilled, remove it from the springform pan and top it with the prepared berries before slicing and serving.