Hello World!
Well, sort of – as Budget Earth’s editor and IT support, what I occasionally do write isn’t usually visible. I can’t compete with Susan for unusual, fancy, or really unique recipes, most of the time, but I do have one thing that no one else makes in our family, or at my parents’ house – cheesecake! I’ve been making and toying with this recipe for the better part of 15 years, and it has been a hit with pretty much everyone who tries it.
It is a simple base, but it lends itself spectacularly to a multitude of flavors: Amaretto is a perennial family favorite for us, by itself or with chocolate, coconut, or other liquers; straight Kahlua or other ‘coffee’ liquers add a flavor that goes naturally with the smooth, creamy base; and fruit-based liquers or liquors perform wonderfully as well I’ve used Grand Marnier, coconut rum, and a few others. If the recipe seems too easy, for added flair and flavor you can mix the filling as below, then divide it in half, mix a half-cup of melted chocolate chips into one side, and finally pour them together and get a chocolate swirl recipe to die for!
PrintThe Last Cheescake Recipe You’ll Need
Looking for a yummy, homemade cheesecake recipe with a lot of flavor? See why we think this is the last cheesecake recipe you’ll ever need!
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 mins
- Yield: 10 1x
- Category: Dessert
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1 stick (4 oz.) butter
- 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
Filling:
- 2 pounds cream cheese, allow to warm to room temp.
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 2 eggs
Flavorings – choose a set:
- 2 Tbsp vanilla
- 1–2 oz Amaretto
- OR
- 2–3 oz. Kahlua OR other flavored alcohol(s), as desired
Other needs:
- Springform or pie pan (make sure it’s large and deep, this cheesecake will fill two ordinary 8″ or 9″ by 3/4″-1″ pie plates!)
- Cookie sheet with raised edges – optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Crust:
- Melt the butter.
- In your pie plates or springform pan, mix the butter and graham cracker crumbs, then press down to form the crust.
- Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then pull out and set aside. While this bakes, start the filling.
Filling:
- Mix cream cheese, eggs, sugar, and flour.
- Add flavoring (vanilla and amaretto, or other liquors/liquers)
- Blend until almost smooth, but no longer than 6 minutes.
- Pour into the pie plate(s)/springform pan.
Baking:
- For a perfect look at the end, fill a cookie sheet/baking tray with water, and put it on the rack below the pan(s). Without this, the surface of the cheesecake will crack and cool unevenly – same great taste and texture inside, but it won’t be picture-perfect.
- Place the cheesecake pan(s) in the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. It will likely not look ‘done’ in the center, but that’s just fine.
- After baking finishes, allow to cool outside of the refrigerator for ~1 hour. (Grab a book and a metal spoon, with the scent of this you may need to deter prowling children, siblings or parents during this time!)
- Chill for at least 4 hours, or overnight if possible.
- Enjoy with a good coffee!
This looks absolutely Amazing! Cheesecake is my husbands all time favorite. I am always looking for a good recipe that is easy and taste great. This looks like it will do the job. Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
I will definitely try this…I love just plain old cheesecake…
★★★★★
I have a weakness for cheesecakes and apple pies. They put everything else to cheesecakes these days that it is refreshing to see a recipe like this one. Thanks. This will reduce the pain of paying $12 just for one slice of cheesecake in NY the other day, and it was a carry-out order. Thanks a bunch, I am bookmarking this page.
I have always had difficulty making cheescake, but this recipe looks very easy and yummy.
★★★★
I love cheesecake and this recipe sounds wonderful.
This is my daughter’s favorite dessert. This one sounds like a very straight forward recipe. Simple. My daughter doesn’t have a lot of cooking experience, so the easier the better for now. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thanks for the recipe. I needed ideas for Thanksgiving Sounds like this is a good one
I have to admit, when I saw the title I thought, yeah right! Cheesecake is cheesecake. Then I read the ingredients. This sounds delicious. I pinned it to try later. I’m looking forward to it!
★★★★★
Yum, it certainly looks delicious. I cannot wait to give this a try. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
How many times can I say Delicious! This really is an excellent cheesecake recipe. It’s going to be a regular holiday dessert form now on. Thanks again for the recipe!!!
★★★★★
You are very welcome! This is made almost every holiday in our household 🙂
I have tried this recipe and want to warn your readers that they really should make TWO because one will quickly disappear. It is delicious and exactly what a cheesecake should be. Love it. Especially like that it goes to show…real men make cheesecake!
Forgot to rate it. It is a five star recipe. No one I know that has tasted this recipe has disliked it (and in our family, that is saying something).
★★★★★
I have a weakness for Kahlua. I remembered that there was a good recipe here so I was looking through. I have to pin it again to make this weekend. It also gives me an excuse to have a mud slide.
★★★★★
Just looking at the finished result makes me hungry for cheesecake. Read the ingredients and instructions and it seems tasty and simple to make. Will have to try this.
I like the simple list of ingredients
Love, love and LOVE! I will have to make this for our first SPRING BBQ this upcoming weekend.
I’ve said it before, this is the best cheesecake. I love it! This is the last cheesecake recipe that I need.
★★★★★
Yum, I do love cheesecake, I must try this. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Never again will I eat a plain cheesecake. I’m very picky so, I don’t know what else to say. If you haven’t tried it, what are you waiting for?
★★★★★
Can’t wait to try it.
Yummy! This cheesecake looks delicious! I already pinned it. I will be trying this for sure. I’ve never made a cheesecake because they have always looked too hard. This one looks like one I can handle. Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
I’m thinking about all of the toppings I’d like to try on this. Maybe a mocha or Irish cream flavoring.
WOW! We are definitely a Cheesecake Loving Family! Thanks so much for sharing this delicious recipe! I absolutely love it! I’ve saved your recipe and I do plan to make this! When we used to occasionally went out to dinner, we’d all get a piece of cheesecake for dessert (if we have room, if not we may order one to take home). We haven’t been out to eat in a very long time due to our financial situation. Once I can get all the ingredients together, I’m positively making this! Thanks again for sharing your delicious recipe with all of us! I definitely do appreciate it! Thanks Again! Michele 🙂
I always find good recipes here. I haven’t tried one that I didn’t like.
★★★★★
Love the simple recipes. Thank you for sharing this. We love cheesecake, especially one that can be changed up so easily.
★★★★★
I either get my cheesecake from my German friend (best cheesecake of my life!!) or from the grocery store…
I think I’ll experiment with different crust flavors. Make it taste like a mudslide. I’ll think about it.
★★★★★
I look forward to trying this with Amaretto in it. Thanks for the recipe.
★★★★★
I always look forward to seeing new recipes here. Especially for desserts. I may not be able to make them all but they sure do look good. I pin them for people that can cook.
This looks so delicious, and easy to make. Too bad it’s only me and the hubby at home. 🙂
Diana C
I love cheese cake special one with cherry topping
Love cheesecake, especially with berries, any kind! My only problem is if I make it I end up eating it all myself. Hubby does not do sweets. I will keep this one for holiday gatherings.
I’m passing this along to a relative cause I don’t know how she does her cheese cake but it’s the best I’ve ever had and I don’t eat sweets
I have pinned this one a couple of times to share with those that may not have seen it the first time. I can’t wait for the next dessert recipe.
★★★★★
This looks delicious!
★★★★★
Looks very delicious. May have to try this one out.
I Don’t Really Know What to say but, WOW! We are definitely a Cheesecake Eating Family! Thanks so much for sharing this delicious recipe! I absolutely honestly love it! I’ve saved your recipe and I plan to make this! Once I can get all the ingredients together, I’m positively making this! Thanks again for sharing your absolutely delicious recipe with all of us! I definitely positively do appreciate it! Thanks So Very, Very Much!!!! I love this!!!! Thanks again! Michele 🙂
★★★★★
that cheesecake sure looks taste. I am going try this
This looks amazing. Thanks for sharing. I can always use another good recipe in my collection.
Diana C
Looks so yummy! I LOVE cheesecake and will pin this so I can try it for sure!
★★★★
I love cheesecake its my favorite I could eat it every day I never saw a recipe with alcohol in it I will try this
★★★★
You’ve been toying with this recipe for the better part of 15 years?? It has to be GOOD!! We’re a big fan of Kahlua for flavoring. My husband’s favorite dessert. I’m pinning this so I can surprise him! Thank you so much!!!
★★★★★