This Strawberry Cheesecake features a creamy cheesecake on a graham cracker crust topped with fresh strawberry sauce.
Strawberry cheesecake
It's no secret that I love a silky smooth cheesecake. I've made several of them over the last two years. My most popular one being a luscious Nutella cheesecake and followed by that is my favorite triple chocolate cheesecake.
But today we're celebrating my supremely creamy cheesecake and I've topped it off with a homemade fresh strawberry topping.
You guys, this is one swoon-worthy dessert. I sent one to my husband's new boss and got rave reviews.
There's really nothing fancy with today's recipe. It's simple, light, and fresh. You'll probably be able to enjoy more than one slice without feeling bogged down and heavy.
And with strawberries coming into season soon, I can think of no better way to highlight this bright red, juicy fruit.
If it's too hot to make a baked cheesecake, give this no bake strawberry cheesecake a try! It's just as delightful.
How do you make a cheesecake base?
The base for this strawberry cheesecake is made with graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Mix all this together until the mixture resembles wet sand.
Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and halfway up the sides of a springform pan. Bake it in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes then let it cool completely.
Main ingredients for strawberry cheesecake
Cream cheese - choose a high quality, full-fat cream cheese for the best results.
Sugar - regular granulated sugar works best for baked cheesecakes.
Sour Cream - the secret ingredient to light and creamy cheesecakes.
Strawberries - pick ripe strawberries to use for the sauce. They'll taste much better if they are in season!
How to make strawberry cheesecake?
Step 1: Make the graham cracker crust
Combine cream cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Press the crumb mixture in the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Step 2: Make the creamy cheesecake filling
Beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Beat in the sugar, sour cream, salt, and vanilla until well combined. Gently stir in lightly beaten eggs until well combined.
Pour the filling over the prepared crust and set inside a water bath. Bake in a 300°F oven for 1 hour then turn the oven off and let the cheesecake sit in the oven for another hour with the door closed.
Remove the cheesecake from the oven and set it on a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 3: Make the strawberry topping
Puree fresh strawberries with cornstarch. Add puree and sugar to a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until thickened. This may take anywhere between 10 to 20 minutes.
Once thickened, stir in chopped strawberries and set aside to cool. Top the cheesecake with the strawberry sauce and refrigerate for at least 4 hours but overnight is best.
Tips for this strawberry cheesecake recipe
- Read my post on how to make the best cheesecake recipe for full details on how to achieve a creamy texture and zero cracks.
- Plan ahead. Cheesecakes take time to prepare and must refrigerate for several hours once finished.
More strawberry recipes
- Strawberry Donuts with Lemon Glaze
- Strawberry Cake Donuts
- Strawberry Cheesecake Quesadillas
- Strawberry Cheesecake Mousse
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Strawberry Cheesecake
This Strawberry Cheesecake features a creamy cheesecake on a graham cracker crust topped with fresh strawberry sauce.
Ingredients
For the crust
- 2 cups (200 g) graham cracker crumbs, about 2 sleeves
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the filling
- 32 ounces (904 g) cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 ⅓ cups (266 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (227 g) sour cream, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
For the sauce
- 16 ounces (400 g) whole strawberries, diced
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups (334 g) finely chopped strawberries
Instructions
Make the crust
- Move the oven rack to the lower third position and heat the oven to 350°F. Wrap the outer bottom of a 9-inch springform pan tightly with aluminum foil.
- Combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and about 2-inches up the sides of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool while you make the filling.
Make the filling
- Reduce the oven temperature to 300ºF.
- In a large mixing bowl beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute.
- Add the sugar and sour cream, beat until well combined. Add the vanilla and salt, beat on low speed until smooth.
- Using a silicone spatula, gently stir in the eggs just until combined. Pour the batter over the prepared crust.
- Fill a roasting pan with a few inches of boiling water and place the cheesecake in the center.
- Bake for 1 hour, OR until the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly. Turn the oven off, leave the cheesecake in the water bath in the oven for another hour.
- Remove the cheesecake from the water bath and place it on a wire rack. Run a small knife around the outer edge of the cheesecake to loosen it from the pan and leave it to cool at room temperature for about 1 ½ hours. Meanwhile, make the sauce. Alternatively, you can refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours or overnight after it has cooled and make the sauce about 1 hour before serving. Top the chilled cheesecake with the sauce or top individual slices when ready to serve.
Make the sauce
- Add the diced strawberries and cornstarch to the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. Transfer to a medium saucepan and add the sugar.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened, about 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla, salt, and chopped strawberries. Set aside to cool for about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Spread the topping evenly over the cheesecake and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- Remove the sides of the pan just before serving.
Notes
Oven temps can vary which means your cheesecake may need more time to bake. You'll know it is done cooking when the outer edges of the cheesecake feel firm to the touch while the center looks wet and jiggles when shaken. If the cheesecake doesn't look this way after an hour of cooking, let it cook until it does. Then you can turn the oven off and let the cheesecake rest for another hour in the oven.
Make ahead tip
- The cheesecake will keep for up to 4 days covered and stored in the refrigerator.
- The cheesecake can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20 Serving Size: 20 servingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 366Saturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 267mgCarbohydrates: 36gSugar: 30gProtein: 4g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the values shown are just an estimate.
Watch the strawberry cheesecake web story!
ivana
Tuesday 21st of December 2021
Do i need to put the boiling water ?
Jen Sobjack
Sunday 2nd of January 2022
The cheesecake will turn out best if baked in a water bath. However, you can place a pan of hot water on the lowest rack of the oven to achieve similar results.
Btit
Friday 17th of December 2021
Hi just made this cheesecake and i was wonderingnig the topping can be added later. They wanted it plain because not everyone is a fan of strawberry, would that be okay? And would they have to cool ot before eating it with the strawberries?
Jen Sobjack
Saturday 18th of December 2021
That should be fine but keep in mind the topping will thicken significantly upon refrigeration.
Janie
Thursday 16th of December 2021
This turned out great, However I had to add a half hour to the baking time before it was set enough. I know all ovens are different, but mine is a year old and usually it’s 5-10 minute difference between ovens. Not sure what the issue is?
Jen Sobjack
Friday 17th of December 2021
Hi Janie! Yes, ovens are different and this is noted in the recipe notes. I've moved around a lot and have baked in many different ovens. No oven has ever baked exactly the same. It's not just the oven temperature that can fluctuate, but some ovens have hot spots or they heat unevenly. This is why a good recipe will give you visual cues to accompany approximate times. Also, for my recipe, the oven door should remain closed after it's turned off. The residual heat will continue to cook the cheesecake. My method is to ensure a texture that is creamier than other recipes.
Jackie
Monday 22nd of November 2021
what do I set the temperature at if I am baking two cheesecakes at the same time in the same oven? Do I pick up the temperature from 300 degrees to 400? or what do you suggest is the best way to bake two cheesecakes at the same time.
Jen Sobjack
Tuesday 23rd of November 2021
I actually don't recommend baking two cheesecakes at once. The cheesecakes need adequate airflow or they may be underbaked. I also don't suggest raising the oven temperature to compensate for the extra cheesecake. This will result in uneven bursts of high heat which can compromise the end product. It's just too risky.
Marie
Thursday 18th of November 2021
I’d like to make this for a large family gathering, could I use one of those tin disposable cake pans instead of a springform pan? If so, how would that affect the recipe or water bath?
Jen Sobjack
Friday 19th of November 2021
I've honestly never adjusted the recipe to fit into any other pan before. I could try to help if I knew what size pan you plan to use. The recipe bake time would need to be adjusted since it won't be baked in the original pan size. If you plan to use a larger pan, it may be too big to fit in a roasting pan for a water bath. If you can't bake in a water bath, the next best thing is a pan of hot water on the lower rack of the oven.