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Lemon Dream Cheesecake

Name: Lemon Dream Cheesecake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Yield: 16 servings.
Ingredients: 2 cups graham cracker crumbs; 6 tablespoons butter, melted; 1/4 cup sugar; FILLING:; 4 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened; 1 cup sugar; 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream; 1/4 cup lemon juice; 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest; 2-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon lemon extract; 10 drops yellow food coloring, optional; 5 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten

52 reviews

Test Kitchen Approved

Total Time

Prep: 30 min. Bake: 55 min. + chilling

Makes

16 servings

Updated: Jan. 11, 2023

Light and creamy, this lemon cheesecake recipe is just the thing for a spring or summer day. —Bonnie Jost, Manitowoc, Wisconsin

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Ingredients

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup sugar
FILLING:
4 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
2-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract
10 drops yellow food coloring, optional
5 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten

Directions

Preheat oven to 325°. In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Press onto bottom and 1 to 2 in. up the inside of a greased 10-in. springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in cream, lemon juice, flour, lemon zest, extracts and, if desired, food coloring. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust. Return pan to baking sheet.
Bake 55-65 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour. Refrigerate overnight. Remove side of pan.

Coconut Cake Tips

Can you make this coconut cake recipe in a 13x9 pan instead of round baking pans?

Yes, you can make coconut cake in a 13x9 pan like in this coconut cream cake recipe. Just increase the temperature to 350°F and bake for about 40 minutes.

Can you make this coconut cake recipe without coconut extract?

You can certainly skip the coconut extract, but it'll definitely downplay the extra coconut-y flavor that this classic cake recipe boasts. Here are a couple of other tasty ways to use up coconut extract.

What other kinds of frostings can you put on coconut cake?

While we definitely recommend using a cream cheese frosting for this coconut cake recipe, we have a few other frosting recipes you could use. Try vanilla buttercream, lemon frosting, white chocolate frosting or chocolate frosting.

—Christina Herbst, Taste of Home Assistant Digital Editor

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 396 calories, 29g fat (18g saturated fat), 150mg cholesterol, 286mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 0 fiber), 7g protein.