05/01/2025
Happy New Year from Junior's! Our gift to you to bake with your family... our classic cheesecake recipe, adapted by The New York Times.
Ingredients
For the Sponge Cake Layer
1teaspoon unsalted butter, for greasing pan
2large eggs, yolks and whites separated
2tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons sugar
½teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¼teaspoon pure lemon extract
¼cup/32 grams all-purpose or cake flour
½teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
For the Cream Cheese Filling
4(8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1⅔cups/333 grams sugar
¼cup/30 grams cornstarch
1tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2large eggs
¾cup/177 milliliters heavy cream
Step 1
Make the sponge cake layer: Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with the butter, leaving the sides ungreased. Wrap the outside of the bottom and sides of the pan with foil to prevent water from seeping into the cheesecake as it cooks in a water bath.
Step 2
In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and the extracts, and keep whisking until the mixture is pale yellow and a little more voluminous. Sift in the flour, baking powder and salt. Switch to a flexible spatula, and stir just until the white flecks disappear.
Step 3
In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until frothy. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons sugar and keep whisking until soft peaks form. Add one-third of the whites to the bowl with the yolks and stir until fully incorporated. Add the rest of the whites, then gently fold together by dragging the spatula under and over the mixture, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl as you go, until mostly homogenous. A few white streaks are fine.
Step 4
Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and spread to the edges, then tap on the counter, once or twice, to pop any large bubbles throughout the cake.
Step 5
Bake until set and matte in the center but still blonde, about 10 minutes. Cool slightly on a wire rack.
Step 6
Heat at least a liter of water to a boil, ideally in a kettle.
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