Making cheesecake? Water bath baking can help you prevent cracks and create the gorgeous dessert of your dreams. One of our Test Kitchen experts explains the ins and outs of the bain-marie.
What Is a Water Bath and Why Do I Need It for My Cheesecake?
Updated on Apr. 10, 2024
Not all cheesecake recipes are the same. Some are rich and chocolatey, some are fresh and fruity and others are just plain good like this New York cheesecake. But there’s one thing that all these Taste of Home recipes have in common: They’re all baked in a water bath.
New bakers or folks that don’t bake many cheesecakes might be asking what is a water bath? and why do I need to use one? We’ll answer all those questions and more!
What is a water bath?
A water bath is simply a pan of hot water that you place in the oven. Also called a bain-marie, a water bath helps more delicate bakes—particularly cheesecakes—bake more evenly.
Our prep kitchen manager and cheesecake baker extraordinaire, Catherine Ward, explains that to make a water bath, all you need is a large pan and hot water. A high-sided roasting pan works great for cheesecake, but you can use any large, deep dish you have. Fill the pan with hot water just about an inch up the side because the pan you fit inside will displace a lot of water.
What does a water bath do for cheesecake?
A water bath is crucial for the success of a good cheesecake. The hot water surrounds the pan and bakes the filling gently and evenly—exactly what slightly fussy bakes like cheesecake need.
But the water bath has other benefits when it comes to cheesecake. According to Catherine, “The water bath creates a moist atmosphere that keeps the cake from drying out and cracking.” And we all know that a crack in a gorgeous cheesecake can be disappointing, so using a bain-marie is a good way to avoid that common problem.
Cheesecake water bath tips
Using a water bath in baking is fairly straightforward, but Catherine has a few tips to ensure successful cheesecakes:
- Always, always, always use hot water in your water bath. “Using cold water will change your oven temperature and bake time,” Catherine warns.
- Don’t overfill the pan. An inch or so of hot water should be plenty. Large cheesecake pans displace a lot of water. (Or you can fill the pan after you’ve set in your cheesecake, too.)
- Be careful not to splash! You don’t want any water getting into your perfect cheesecake batter, so be careful as you fill.
- Protect your cheesecake by either setting your springform pan inside a slightly larger cake pan before placing in the water bath or wrapping your pan in foil—yes, even if it’s “leak-proof.” You don’t want any water seeping inside.
Be sure to check out even more cheesecake tips here.
What else can I use a water bath for?
Water baths are commonly associated with cheesecakes, but they do come in handy for plenty of other tasty recipes. Baked custards like flan and creme brulee benefit from a water bath. The same goes for souffle.
 Try These Tips with These Contest-Winning Cheesecake Recipes
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Red Velvet Cheesecake
Festive and oh, so good, this cheesecake will become a fixture on your party dessert menu. The red velvet filling is spiked with cocoa, topped with cream cheese frosting and baked in a chocolate cookie crumb crust. —Karen Dively, Chapin, South Carolina
Dulce de Leche CheesecakeThis decadent dulce de leche cheesecake features rich cream cheese filling with swirls of dulce de leche atop a spiced gingersnap and walnut crust.
Ricotta CheesecakeIndulge in the rich, velvety texture of this classic ricotta cheesecake, featuring a crisp cinnamon-spiced crust and tangy sour cream topping.
Blueberry CheesecakeThe swirls in this blueberry cheesecake are made with a couple tablespoons of simple blueberry sauce. Save the rest of the homemade sauce for serving.
Chocolate Chip Cookie CheesecakeThis chocolate chip cookie cheesecake recipe ticks all the right boxes. It's easy to make and definitely grown-up, but still taps into your childhood cookie nostalgia.
Layered Mocha CheesecakeIn my search for the perfect mocha cheesecake, I ended up combining a few of my favorite recipes to create this delicious version. It’s as much a feast for the eyes as for the palate! —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Cinnamon Apple CheesecakeAn attractive topping of cinnamon-spiced apple slices and a homemade oat-and-walnut crust make this creamy dessert a definite showstopper. —Emily Ann Young, Edmond, Oklahoma 
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough CheesecakeIf you love to nibble the cookie dough while you’re baking, this cookie dough cheesecake is for you. It’s studded with (eggless) cookie dough in every slice!
S’more CheesecakeThis luscious dessert is just as wonderfully tasty as the campfire snack that inspired it. It's a great way to savor a summer classic anytime of year. Our 4-year-old daughter likes it so much that she's requested it for her next birthday! —Robin Andrews, Cary, North Carolina
Pineapple Pie with Coconut CreamYou’ll find pineapples and coconuts everywhere in the South Pacific, so we play them up in this creamy cool pineapple pie, dolloped with coconut cream. Divine! —Karen Naihe, Kamuela, Hawaii
Honey Pecan CheesecakeBirthdays and holidays are great times for cheesecake. In our annual church bake-off, it won first place! —Tish Frish, Hampden, Maine
Tiramisu Cheesecake DessertLayers of vanilla wafers soaked in coffee-infused syrup, creamy cheesecake filling, and a finishing touch of whipped topping and cocoa—this tiramisu cheesecake combines simplicity and sophistication in every bite.
Pistachio Cardamom CheesecakeCardamom has a sweet and warm taste that makes you think of clove, allspice and pepper all wrapped in one spice. Mix it with pistachios and add to cheesecake for a dessert that suggests the exotic flavors of India. —Carolyn Harkonnen, Loomis, California
Turtle CheesecakeWith rich layers of chocolate and caramel cheesecake, crunchy pecans and a silky chocolate ganache topping, this turtle cheesecake is a showstopping dessert that's a labor of love. But they'll love you for it!
Cannoli CheesecakeWith all the key elements of a classic cannoli, this creamy, chocolatey, cannoli cheesecake will please any dinner crowd.
Chocolate Malt CheesecakeMy mother-in-law loved chocolate malts and cheesecakes, too. Can you guess who passed this recipe on to me? Sometimes, I substitute pretzel crumbs for the graham cracker crumbs. They make a surprisingly good crust! —Anita Moffett, Rewey, Wisconsin
Banana CheesecakeChilled, creamy banana cheesecake is the perfect summer treat. It's a classic dessert that is bursting with banana flavor and topped with tangy sour cream. For a beautiful presentation, garnish with fresh cherries, raspberries, or citrus slices.
Chocolate Truffle CheesecakeIf you delight in the taste of chocolate, then this is the cheesecake for you. Every creamy bite melts in your mouth. It's so impressive yet not difficult to prepare—I whip up this dessert each time I want a yummy treat for my family, friends or co-workers. —Mary Jones, Cumberland, Maine
Coconut Cheesecake & Rhubarb CompoteI took my daughter’s love of cheesecake plus my mom’s love of coconut and rhubarb and ran with it. Try it with a smidge of chocolate sauce, too. —Wendy Rusch, Trego, Wisconsin
Salted Caramel Cappuccino CheesecakeAfter spending years living in Seattle, I’ve become a coffee junkie! I had to relocate across the country for a time, so I created this cheesecake with the flavors of salted caramel, coffee and espresso. It lifted me up on days when I felt blue about leaving one of the world’s amazing coffee destinations. —Julie Merriman, Seattle, Washington
Spiced Apple CheesecakeWhen you live in apple country, you get the privilege of selecting the apples and recipes you want for year-round enjoyment. Granny Smith apples are tart and crisp. Combined with cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg, they make a delightful topping for a cheesecake of the Pacific Northwest. —Grace Hughes, Oroville, Washington
Luscious Almond CheesecakeI received this recipe along with a set of springform pans from a cousin at my wedding shower 11 years ago. It makes a heavenly cheesecake. My son Tommy has already told me he wants it again for his birthday cake this year. —Brenda Clifford, Overland Park, Kansas
Caramel Fudge CheesecakeIt's hard to resist this chocolaty cheesecake with its fudgy crust, crunchy pecans and gooey layer of caramel. I combined several recipes to create this version that satisfies both the chocolate lovers and the cheesecake lovers in my family. —Brenda Ruse, Truro, Nova Scotia
Winning Cranberry CheesecakeThe holidays wouldn't be complete without cranberries and eggnog. I use them both in this flavorful cheesecake that's the perfect finale for a special dinner. Set it out at the start of the meal, not just to solicit "oohs" and "aahs," but to remind folks to save room for dessert! —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey
