The Best Homemade Cheesecake

By Pattywak

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 5 Tbsp sugar
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 3 (8oz) cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs, separated
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Crust: Combine all ingredients and press against sides and bottom of 9-inch springform pan. (I use a measuring cup to do this - works great!)

Filling: In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix together cream cheese, sugar, 4 egg yolks, lemon juice and vanilla.

In another bowl, beat 4 egg whites until stiff and creamy. Fold egg whites into cream cheese mixture. Pour into crust in springform pan.

I do out the cheesecake in the freezer while it is slightly warm. I have always frozen it, so I think it is required. You can eat it without freezing and see how it goes. I can't make any promises since I've never done it that way.