My favorite, and the for real reason, I was 300 lbs… Cheeeeeesecake! I love it!!Over the years I have made 100’s of cheesecakes, and this recipe was given to me by David Despos, an uncle at one time, all around good guy, that never had a care in the world. Since he has passed on, if you choose to use this recipe make sure to lift a fork in his honor as you take the first bite.

The picture over there <<< is a chocolate cheesecake ( I couldn’t find a pic of the regular one) but is based off this same recipe, just add chocolate, and use chocolate graham crackers vs regular. Oh and i used my 2nd favorite… Whipped cream vs the topping below. (fyi, the topping below is a dessert in itself).

Crust:

2 sticks butter melted

1 to 2 packs graham crackers pulverized to oblivion…..

 

Filling Ingredients:

40 ounces (5 (U.S.) packages) full-fat cream cheese at room temperature

1-½ cups white sugar

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ teaspoon grated lemon or orange zest (optional)

5 eggs at room temperature

2 egg yolks at room temperature

½ cup heavy cream at room temperature

1 baked cheesecake crust (see below)

 

Topping:

1 c: Sour Cream

1/2 c: Sugar

2 caps: Vanilla

 

 

DIRECTIONS

For the crust mix the melted butter with the graham  cracker until moist, and cover the bottom and sides of the spring form pan using a cup or measuring cup to pat down and make firm. place in fridge to cool as you do the rest

Bring cream cheese, heavy cream and eggs to room temperature for at least three hours.

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. <<< YES 500!!

In large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until creamy.

Scrape bowl and begin to gradually add in sugar, scraping sides of bowl and beating until smooth and fluffy.

Beat in flour and, and citrus zest.

One by one, add in eggs and egg yolks, beating just until blended after each addition.

Mix in vanilla and cream.

Pour batter into cooled crust

Tap pan against counter top a few times to settle air bubbles in the batter.

Place in pre-heated oven

Bake for 10 minutes

Turn oven down to 200 degrees. Bake for  45-60 minutes longer.

Bake until edges are dry and center looks  jiggly like  Jell-O.

Turn oven off, leave door ajar , and let the cake cool in the oven for at least an hour.

Take out of the over, and use a butter knife and run it around the inside of the springform pan to loosen from the sides. let cool in  fridge for a minimum of 4 hours.

Remove springform sides of pan.

Cover and refrigerate for up to two days.