Thanks to its beautifully caramelized top, the flavor stands extremely well without toppings. It doesn't take too much skill to make, but pay attention to this recipe carefully! It has a few quirks.
1 1/2ccream cheesethree 8 oz blocks, room temperature
1cupgranulatedwhite sugar
1 1/4cupswhipping creamroom temperature
1/4cupall-purpose flour
1tspvanilla extract
3/4c+ 1 tbsp eggs4 large eggs, room temperature
Instructions
Adjust the rack of your oven to be in the center. Preheat to 425℉
Measure 2 pieces of parchment paper to ensure they will fit in a 9-inch springform pan or pie plate with plenty of extra. Crumple each sheet, then flatten it back out so it's pliable. Place the paper in a t shape in your pan and press into the edges (it's okay if it doesn't go all the way down, the batter will push it down).
In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat softened cream cheese on medium for 2 minutes, then add in the sugar and beat on low for 10 seconds.
Break your eggs into a 1 c measuring cup. Beat lightly with a small fork or whisk. If the eggs go farther than about ¼ inch past the ¾ line, pour small bits out until it is.
In a separate medium bowl, add the flour and ¼ of the cream, and whisk by hand until it's smooth (no lumps!). Slowly add in the rest of the cream, stirring continuously, then vanilla until smooth and uniform.
Turn your stand mixer back to low, then slowly pour in the flour/cream mixture and beat until it's combined. With the mixer still going on low, slowly pour in the eggs. Beat on low until fully combined.
With the help of a rubber spatula, pour your batter into your pan prepared with parchment paper. When all the batter is in, Pick the pan about 2 inches off the counter and gently drop it 3 or 4 times to bring bubbles to the surface. Use the tiny tip of a knife or toothpick to pop the bubbles. Repeat the dropping and popping about 4 times total.
Bake for 45 minutes, or til the top is a deep golden brown, but not black! (Note: in some ovens, this may take up to an hour). The cheesecake will be puffy but a bit jiggly in the middle.
Cool in the cake pan on the counter for 2 hours. If you're worried about outside interference, cover with a kitchen towel. Move to the fridge and cool for another 8 hours at least (uncovered).
Once cooled, simply use the parchment paper to lift it out of the pan. If desired, peel off the paper carefully and plate (however, most people serve it in the paper for a rustic look). Cut with a sharp knife and consume immediately!