Easy Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping (No Water Bath) (2024)

Easy Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping (No Water Bath) (1)

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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’ssimple 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 wholelargeeggs (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 cupsfrozen blueberries
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup water
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp sugar

Easy Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping (No Water Bath) (2)

What you will need:

A springformpan 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.

Easy Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping (No Water Bath) (3)

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).

Easy Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping (No Water Bath) (4)

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.

Easy Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping (No Water Bath) (5)
4. Reduce speed to low and add 1/4 cup of sour cream and 1 ½ tsp of vanilla.

Easy Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping (No Water Bath) (6)

5. Mix well and pour into crust.

Easy Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping (No Water Bath) (7)

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 and15 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.

Easy Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping (No Water Bath) (8)

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.

Easy Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping (No Water Bath) (9)

Berry Sauce:

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 2 Tbspsugar, 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!)

4.91 from 132 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Easy Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping (No Water Bath) (10)

Our go-to Cheesecake with an easy blueberry sauce topping. This Cheesecake recipe shows up for all of our major holidays.

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Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 hour hr 33 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 48 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 12 slices

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

      Tips for Success:

      • 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.

      Nutrition Per Serving

      603kcal Calories48g Carbs10g Protein43g Fat23g Saturated Fat217mg Cholesterol464mg Sodium229mg Potassium2g Fiber39g Sugar1639IU Vitamin A5mg Vitamin C125mg Calcium1mg Iron

      • Full Nutrition Label
      • Nutrition Disclosure

      Nutrition Facts

      Easy Cheesecake Recipe with Blueberry Topping (No Water Bath Required!)

      Amount per Serving

      Calories

      603

      % Daily Value*

      Fat

      43

      g

      66

      %

      Saturated Fat

      23

      g

      144

      %

      Sodium

      464

      mg

      20

      %

      Potassium

      229

      mg

      7

      %

      Carbohydrates

      48

      g

      16

      %

      Fiber

      2

      g

      8

      %

      Sugar

      39

      g

      43

      %

      Protein

      10

      g

      20

      %

      Vitamin A

      1639

      IU

      33

      %

      Vitamin C

      5

      mg

      6

      %

      Calcium

      125

      mg

      13

      %

      Iron

      1

      mg

      6

      %

      * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

      Course: Dessert

      Cuisine: American

      Keyword: cheesecake recipe

      Skill Level: Medium

      Cost to Make: $$

      Calories: 603

      Easy Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping (No Water Bath) (12)

      Natasha Kravchuk

      Easy Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping (No Water Bath) (13)

      Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the creator behind Natasha's Kitchen (established in 2009), and I share family-friendly, authentic recipes. I am a New York Times Best-Selling cookbook author and a trusted video personality in the culinary world. My husband, Vadim, and I run this blog together, ensuring every recipe we share is thoroughly tested and approved. Our mission is to provide you with delicious, reliable recipes you can count on. Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy you are here.

      Read more posts by Natasha

      Easy Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping (No Water Bath) (2024)

      FAQs

      What happens if you don't use a water bath for cheesecake? ›

      But it's less possible to bake an excellent cheesecake without one. Big, showstopper cheesecakes baked without a water bath are more likely to overbake, which will give them a curdled texture, cracks in the surface, and lopsided tops.

      How do you keep a cheesecake from cracking without a water bath? ›

      Don't overbake your cake.

      It may crack if it's too dry. Many people overbake their recipes to “play it safe”. The golden rule is if it no longer trembles in the center, it will set firmly in the refrigerator. Tap the pan on the sides and if the center has firmed up like jello, remove the cake from the oven.

      What does the water bath do for cheesecake? ›

      A water bath helps cheesecakes cook evenly, ensuring the edges don't bake faster than the center. The process gently bakes the custard slowly, ensuring a smooth and creamy filling. Otherwise, the dessert may get a rubbery texture. It also prevents cracking along the surface and browning on the top.

      What is the difference between a New York cheesecake and regular? ›

      Regular cheesecake relies on heavy cream and sour cream to thin the batter and create a silkier, creamier texture. New York cheesecake is heavy on the cream cheese which is why it's so dense and rich. Extra cream cheese isn't the only thing that makes New York cheesecake so special.

      What is the alternative to a bain-marie? ›

      Alternatives. A contemporary alternative to the traditional, liquid-filled bain-marie is the electric "dry-heat" bain-marie, heated by elements below both pots. The dry-heat form of electric bains-marie often consumes less energy, requires little cleaning, and can be heated more quickly than traditional versions.

      What can you use instead of a 9 inch springform pan for cheesecake? ›

      Two deep-dish pie plates, 9-inch cake pans or 8×4-inch loaf pans would all work well. If you would like to remove the cheesecake from the pan, be sure to line the base and sides with parchment paper first. You could also bake the cheesecake in an aluminum foil pan and cut it away to reveal the cake.

      How to wrap cheesecake in foil for a water bath? ›

      Fold up the sides of the foil, tightly wrapping the exterior of the cheesecake pan on the bottom and up the sides. If you pre-baked the crust, be extra careful if the pan is still hot! This foil wrap prevents water from seeping in through your springform pan. Boil water.

      How do you prevent a cheesecake water bath from leaking? ›

      Once you have 3 or 4 layers of tinfoil laid out, then place your springform pan in the certain and push the tinfoil up the sides of the springform pan. Do NOT cover the top of your cheesecake. Just push the tinfoil up the sides. Again, you are trying to prevent the water from reaching your cheesecake.

      Why is my no bake cheesecake not setting? ›

      The primary reason a no-bake cheesecake is too runny or doesn't set up properly is generally the temperature of the ingredients. If your cream cheese is too warm, the mixture will be too soft and will never set up properly.

      Should you prebake cheesecake crust? ›

      Another common mistake is not pre-baking the crust. Before you add your batter, it's important that your crust has a short 8-10 minute visit in the oven at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). This sets and seals the crust to prepare it for the wet batter. Make sure it's completely cooled before adding the batter.

      Will runny cheesecake set in the fridge? ›

      The cheesecake also needs to be thoroughly chilled before serving and ideally overnight. If it is too runny it could be that it has not chilled for long enough for the cheesecake to set properly, so we suggest making the cheesecake the day before.

      Does cheesecake have to be submerged in water? ›

      You can absolutely make a cheesecake without a traditional water bath. The traditional water bath provides two elements: a steamy, humid oven environment that prevents your cheesecake from drying out on top and insulation for protecting the cheesecake from drastic temperature changes.

      How to prevent cheesecake from cracking without a water bath reddit? ›

      Personally, I just lower the temperature of the oven slowly while baking and leave the oven door open about an inch when it's done and have only ever had one crack.

      Should cheesecake still be wet after baking? ›

      You want the outer 2-3 inches of the cheesecake to look more set and less jiggly, and in the center to be the party that's jiggly. It should wobble a bit, but not too much. If it looks liquid-y still and has kind of a sloshy wiggle, it's not done it. If it's just set and still jiggly, it should be good.

      Can you bake a cheesecake with a cardboard bottom? ›

      I have a great tip for those of you that bring a cheesecake or other torte to a friend's or relatives house and forget to take back the metal bottom of the springform pan. Go to enough parties and you may even forget where you left it. Create your own substitute bottom with a cardboard cake circle.

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