The Famous New York Cheesecake

Ingredients for New York Cheesecake:

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/4 pound melted butter

1 pound softened cream cheese

1 1/2 cups sugar

6 egg yolks

6 egg whites

1/4 cup sour creamIngredients for Sour Cream Topping:

1 1/3 cups sour cream

1/3 cup sugarInstructions For New York Cheesecake:

Mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter and place evenly in the bottom of a 10 inch round springform pan

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F and bake for 7 minutes and let cool

Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees F

Blend cream cheese, egg yolks, sugar and 1/4 cup sour cream until creamy

In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until firm and then fold into cream cheese mixture

Pour mixture into springform pan over crumbs

Bake at 300 degrees F for one hour to one hour 15 minutes, until top is lightly browned

Let cool in refrigerator for 8 hours
Remember, do not be alarmed if cracks appear on the top after baking. They are characteristic of this recipe.

Instructions for Sour Cream Topping

Combine 1 1/3 cup sour cream and 1/3 cup sugar and beat until smooth

Instructions to Finish New York Cheesecake

Before topping baked cheesecake, place plastic wrap on top of cheesecake and press until cheesecake is flat and smooth

Remove plastic wrap and spread sour cream mixture over the top of the cheesecake

Bake for 10 minutes at 300 degrees F (Do not let brown)

Cool in refrigerator for 2-3 hours

TA-DA! It's ready to serve and enjoy.
To Serve New York Cheesecake:

When ready to serve, loosen edge of cheesecake with knife and push up along the edges of the bottom of pan before removing the side of the pan

Score the top of the New York Cheesecake with a knife by marking it in half with the knife, then into fourths and then each fourth into three servings (wipe the knife each time with paper towels or a kitchen towel

To cut the cheesecake, run the knife under hot water, wipe with paper towels, place tip of knife at the top of the piece you are cutting, push downward and then cut through the rest of the piece, wiping the knife after each cut

Repeat cutting process until all servings are sliced or only slice the number of servings you need immediately.