The BEST Strawberry Cheesecake

This strawberry cheesecake is pure perfection: my with my perfect, creamy and luscious cheesecake that hundreds of you have tried and loved, this version is topped off with a simple strawberry compote that perfectly complements the flavor and adds a freshness that is much desired in summer months. If there's one recipe of mine you try this summer, let it be this one!

What makes my cheesecake the absolute BEST in the world? Well....

• It is easy and no fuss. There are no fancy ingredients or steps. All you need is precision and patience
• The flavor is DIVINE. It is perfectly balanced: the cream cheese flavor shines without being over-powering, it isn't too sweet, and it has a touch of sourness that adds a beautiful freshness
• The texture is to DIE FOR. Seriously! Most baked cheesecakes have a dry, crumbly and eggy texture which I do not like. But this is a baked cheesecake that feels almost unbaked, without being too heavy. It is ultra creamy, silky smooth, and just melts in your mouth

The freshness, sweetness and tanginess from the strawberry compote works beautifully with the cheesecake. Described in just one word, this strawberry cheesecake is luxurious.

INGREDIENTS REQUIRED

Here's everything you will need for this strawberry cheesecake (exact quantities are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this post).

Cheesecake crust:

• Graham crackers or wheat digestives
• Granulated sugar
• Unsalted butter, melted

Cheesecake:

Tip: It is critical to make sure all ingredients are fully at room temperature! Take them out 1-2 hours before you start baking.

• Full fat cream cheese - I strongly recommend Philadelphia, and try to find the cream cheese which comes in blocks, not tubs! Block cream cheese has a higher percentage of fat which makes the cheesecake much more rich and creamy
• Sugar - this recipe has been carefully crafted so it is not too sweet, therefore, I don't recommend reducing the sugar furter
• Salt
• Vanilla
• Eggs
• Heavy cream
• Sour cream - if you don't have access to store bought sour cream, you can make your own. See FAQs below for more details
• Cornstarch (or corn flour depending on where you live)
• Lemon juice

Strawberry compote:

• Fresh strawberries, quartered or cut into large chunks
• Sugar
• Lemon juice
• Cornstarch

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE

Let's walk through the steps to make this incredible strawberry cheesecake. I strongly suggest reading my blog post on making the best cheesecake, too, as I have shared many tips and tricks in it.

Also, check out this video:

1. Bake the crust

Preheat the oven to 350F (conventional) and prep a 9" springform pan by brushing butter or nonstick oil spray on the bottom.

Blitz graham crackers, sugar and melted butter in a food processor until a fine crumb is formed. I like to first pulse with just the graham crackers as it ensures they are properly grinded.

Press the crust into the pan very tightly, using a spoon and / or a measuring cup. I like to take a thin layer of crust up the sides of the pan, too, but you can keep it all on the bottom for a thicker crust. The tighter you pack the crust, the crispier it will be.

Bake the crust for just 8-10 minutes, then let it cool down.

2. Prepare the cheesecake batter

Turn down the oven temperature to 325F. Make sure all ingredients are fully at room temperature.

Add the cream cheese to the bowl of your stand mixer, and use the paddle attachment to mix it on medium speed until it looks creamy. Scrape the edges and bottom of the bowl and mix again. Add the sugar and whip for 3-5 minutes until the sugar is dissolved.

This point forward, it is important not to overmix the batter. We want to minimize how much air is added to the batter, as we want it to be creamy, not airy. Break the eggs in a separate bowl and lightly whisk them. Add to the batter in 2 additions, and mix until just combined. Then add the remaining ingredients, making sure you sift the cornstarch, and whisk until just combined. Scrape the bowl again to ensure everything is well combined.

3. Bake the cheesecake

Boil 2-3 cups of water. Take 2-3 large sheets of aluminum foil, and wrap them tightly outside the pan with the baked crust (only on the bottom and edges, not the top). I like to overlap the sheets in different directions to help ensure water cannot get into the pan.

Pour the batter into the pan, and tap it on your counter 30-40 times to encourage any large air bubbles to escape. You can also use a skewer or toothpick to get rid of air bubbles.

Place a larger pan in your oven (10" or more) and carefully pour in the boiling water so you have 1-2" of water. Place the cheesecake pan inside this pan, and close the oven door.

Bake for 75-80 minutes depending on how creamy vs set you want your cheesecake to be. Do not open the oven door during baking. At the 75 minute mark, open the oven door and gently shake the pan to see how jiggly the cheesecake is. The sides should be firm but the center should be quite jiggly.

Carefully remove from the oven and rest at room temperature for 2-3 hours. The cheesecake should become flat during this time. Then transfer to the fridge (uncovered) and chill overnight.

Tip: It is critical to refrigerate the cheesecake overnight, otherwise it will leak everywhere and will not be set.

4. Make the strawberry compote

The next day, remove the cheesecake from the pan and transfer to a serving stand.

To make the strawberry compote, mix all the ingredients in a nonstick sauce pan and cook for 5-7 minutes on medium low heat until a thick and saucy compote forms. It will thicken more as it cools. Let cool completely.

When ready to serve, pour the compote onto the cheesecake, and decorate with fresh strawberries. Serve, and enjoy!!

Tip: You can replace the strawberries with any berry of your liking!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

RELATED RECIPES

If you enjoy this strawberry cheesecake recipe, I also suggest checking out the following:

• The best chocolate cheesecake with an ultra rich and creamy center, an oreo crust and a ganache topping
• My perfect Burnt Basque (San Sebastian) cheesecake
• Cheesecake Croissant Buns inspired by Buns From Home London with a delicious no bake cheesecake filling
• The best cheesecake French toast

THE BEST STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE RECIPE

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★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews

• Author: Zoha
• Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Yield: 12-14

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Description

This strawberry cheesecake is pure perfection: my with my perfect, creamy and luscious cheesecake that hundreds of you have tried and loved, this version is topped off with a simple strawberry compote that perfectly complements the flavor and adds a freshness that is much desired in summer months. If there's one recipe of mine you try this summer, let it be this one!

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Ingredients

Cheesecake Crust:

• 190g graham crackers
• 35g sugar (about 3 tbsp)
• 75g melted unsalted butter (about 5 tbsp)

Cheesecake Batter:

• 32 oz full-fat cream cheese (4 8oz blocks), at room temperature
• 325g granulated sugar (1 ½ cups)
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 4 large eggs, room temperature 
• 120g heavy cream (½ cup), room temperature
• 240g sour cream (1 cup), room temperature
• 1 tbsp cornstarch 
• 2-3 tablespoon lemon juice

Strawberry compote:

• 1 lb strawberries, roughly chopped in large chunks
• 55g sugar (¼ cup)
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• ½ lemon juice
• Fresh strawberries for decoration (optional)

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Instructions

Cheesecake:

• Bring all ingredients to room temp 
• Preheat oven to 350F (conventional)
• Grind your Graham crackers, sugar and butter in a food processor until really smooth
• Butter the bottom of a 9” springform pan and add the crust ingredients. Pack very tightly using a measuring cup. You can push a little up the edges. Bake the crust for 8 min, then set oven temp to 325F
• For the cheesecake batter, first cream the cream cheese for 2-3 min until creamy. Keep scraping the sides of the bowl to ensure everything combines evenly. Add the sugar and mix again for 3-5 min until well combined
• Break your eggs in a separate bowl and whisk lightly. Don’t overbeat because if the eggs get airy they will give a spongy texture to the cheesecake. Add them to the batter slowly and mix at a low speed until JUST combined
• Add the cream, sour cream, lemon juice, salt, vanilla and cornstarch and mix at low speed until just combined. Keep scraping sides of the bowl
• Pour the batter into the crust. Seal your pan tightly with aluminum foil on the outside (not on the top)
• Place a large tray in your oven and fill it with 1-2 inches of boiling water. Place the pan in the water and bake for about 75-80 min. Don’t open the oven. When done, the cheesecake should have firm edges but be very jiggly inside
• Cool at room temp for 2-3 hours. After this, place in the fridge and chill overnight

Strawberry Compote: 

• Mix the strawberries, sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice in a nonstick saucepan. Stir and cook on low heat for 5-7 minutes until the mixture becomes saucy and thick (it will thicken up more as it cools). If you like compote to be very soft, you can cook for longer. If you want the strawberries to have a bite, you can cook for less time. Let the compote cool down fully
• Transfer the cooled cheesecake to a serving stand, and cover with the strawberry compote
• Decorate with fresh strawberries, serve, and enjoy!

Notes

• Use full-fat ingredients for best results
• If graham crackers aren't available where you live, look for wheat digestive biscuits
• Make sure to use a tight springform pan to ensure water doesn't leak in. You can also use a water bath pan that is made for cheesecakes!
• Make sure you let your cheesecake fully cool down overnight before serving - otherwise it won't be set and the texture will not be ideal
• You can replace the strawberries with other berries of choice, too

• Prep Time: 1 hour
• Cook Time: 75 min
• Category: Desserts
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: Best strawberry cheesecake