Old-Fashioned Cheesecake

Total Time

Prep: 20 min. Bake: 50 min. + chilling

Makes

12 servings

Updated: Sep. 25, 2022
"For variety, I like to use fresh fruit- strawberries, kiwi, raspberries, blueberries, etc.- on top of this cheesecake," says Marian Levin of Los Altos, California.

Ingredients

  • 1-1/3 cups whole almonds, toasted and ground
  • 3/4 cup crushed vanilla wafers
  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
  • 3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • TOPPING:
  • 2 cups sour cream
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Assorted fresh fruit

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, combine almonds and wafer crumbs; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and 2 in. up the sides of an ungreased 9-in. springform pan. Bake at 350° for 5 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
  2. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Beat in vanilla and lemon zest just until blended. Pour into crust. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until center is almost set.
  3. Combine the sour cream, sugar and vanilla; carefully spread over filling. Bake 10 minutes longer or until edges appear dry. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Cover and chill overnight. Remove sides of pan. Top with fresh fruit. Refrigerate leftovers.

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 582 calories, 45g fat (25g saturated fat), 180mg cholesterol, 268mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (26g sugars, 1g fiber), 11g protein.