• 1 and 1/2 cups (150g) graham cracker crumbs (about 10 full sheet graham crackers)
• 5 Tablespoons (70g) unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar

Cheesecake

• four 8-ounce blocks (904g) full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (240g) full-fat sour cream, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (optional, but recommended)
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature

Cooling & Chilling Cheesecake

Another way to help prevent cheesecake cracks is to initially cool it inside the oven. You can see me do this in the video above. When the cheesecake is done, turn the oven off, crack open the oven door, and leave the cheesecake inside for 1 hour. A drastic and sudden change of temperature isn’t ideal for cheesecake– from hot oven to cool counter– so do your best to control the environment by leaving the cheesecake inside. Does this make sense?

After the cheesecake cools in the oven for 1 hour, place it on the counter to cool. After it’s cool, chill it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or even overnight. There’s no greater test to your willpower than those several hours you’re forced to wait as the cheesecake cools down and then chills in the refrigerator. But every minute is completely worth it when you take that first luscious bite.

How to Freeze Cheesecake

1. Cool the cheesecake on the counter before freezing. No need to chill it in the refrigerator
2. Freeze on springform pan: Remove the outer rim from the springform pan. Wrap the cheesecake with the bottom of the pan with a few layers of plastic wrap, then a final layer of aluminum foil.
3. Freeze without springform pan: After the cheesecake has completely cooled, run a sharp knife underneath the crust to release it from the bottom of the pan. Carefully slide it onto a parchment paper lined piece of cardboard or use a plate. Wrap it all in a few layers of plastic wrap, then a final layer of aluminum foil.
4. Freeze for up to 3 months, then thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
5. Do not freeze cheesecake with any toppings. Add toppings when serving cheesecake.