Description
A rich, creamy cheesecake meets the crispy caramelized sugar topping of classic crème brûlée in this decadent dessert. This recipe is easy to follow and delivers a smooth, velvety texture with the perfect brûlée crunch!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (or crushed vanilla wafers)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
For the Cheesecake Filling
- 24 oz (3 blocks) cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract (or 1 vanilla bean, scraped)
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour (for stability, optional)
For the Brûlée Topping
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- Kitchen torch (or broiler method)
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Crust
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C).
- In a bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter until combined.
- Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan and bake for 10 minutes. Let it cool while you prepare the filling.
Step 2: Make the Cheesecake Filling
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing on low speed to avoid overmixing.
- Stir in heavy cream, vanilla extract, and flour until just combined.
Step 3: Bake the Cheesecake
- Wrap the outside of the springform pan with aluminum foil and place it in a larger baking dish.
- Pour the cheesecake filling over the cooled crust.
- Add hot water to the baking dish (about halfway up the pan) to create a water bath.
- Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until the edges are set but the center is slightly jiggly.
- Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake cool inside with the door slightly open for 1 hour.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours (overnight is best).
Step 4: Caramelize the Sugar Topping
- Sprinkle granulated sugar evenly over the chilled cheesecake.
- Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar until golden brown and crisp. If using a broiler, place the cheesecake under high heat for 1-2 minutes, watching closely.
- Let the brûlée topping set for a minute before serving.
Notes
- Serve with fresh berries for a refreshing contrast.
- Pair with espresso, coffee, or dessert wine for a gourmet experience.
- Enjoy chilled for the perfect creamy texture!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Cheesecake
- Method: Baking ,Chilling
- Cuisine: French-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/10th of the cheesecake)
- Calories: 450-500 kcal
- Sugar: 34g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
Keywords: Crème Brûlée Cheesecake, Crème Brûlée Cheesecake Recipe, Creme Brulee Cheesecake, Cheesecake with caramelized sugar topping, Vanilla cheesecake with brûlée topping, Easy Crème Brûlée Cheesecake