Cheesecake takes time. Cheesecake takes patience. Cheesecake is not for the faint of heart. Cheesecake is delicious. A favorite of my husband’s, this classic dessert takes time, but its creamy texture and rich taste make it so decadent, and a perfect Valentine’s treat. A fair warning though—give yourself time to make this recipe. I would recommend making it one day in advance.

Ingredients:

Crust

6 whole graham crackers, broken into pieces

⅓ cup packed dark brown sugar

½ cup all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon salt

7 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Filling

2½ pounds cream cheese, softened

1½ cups granulated sugar

⅛ teaspoon salt

⅓ cup sour cream

2 teaspoons lemon juice

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

6 large eggs, plus 2 large egg yolks

Directions:

1. FOR THE CRUST: Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 325 degrees. Process cracker pieces and sugar in food processor until finely ground, about 30 seconds. Add flour and salt and pulse to combine, 2 pulses. Add 6 tablespoons melted butter and pulse until crumbs are evenly moistened, about 10 pulses. Brush bottom of 9-inch springform pan with ½ Tablespoon melted butter. Using your hands, press crumb mixture evenly into pan bottom. Using flat bottom of measuring cup or ramekin, firmly pack crust into the pan. Bake on lower-middle rack until fragrant and beginning to brown around edges, about 13 minutes. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and set aside to cool completely. Reduce oven temperature to 200 degrees.
2. FOR THE FILLING: Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, beat cream cheese, ¾ cup sugar, and salt at medium-low speed until combined, about 1 minute. Beat in remaining ¾ cup sugar until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape beater and bowl well; add sour cream, lemon juice, and vanilla and beat at low speed until combined, about 1 minute. Add egg yolks and beat at medium-low speed until thoroughly combined, about 1 minute. Scrape bowl and beater. Add whole eggs, two at a time, beating until thoroughly combined, about 30 seconds after each addition. Pour filling through a fine-mesh strainer set in large bowl, pressing against strainer with rubber spatula or back of a ladle to help filling pass through the strainer.
3. Brush sides of springform pan with remaining ½ Tablespoon melted butter. Pour filling into crust and set aside for 10 minutes to allow air bubbles to rise to the top. Gently draw tines of a fork across the surface of the cake to pop air bubbles that have risen to surface.
4. When oven thermometer reads 200 degrees, bake cheesecake on the lower rack for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, remove cake from oven and use a toothpick to pierce any bubbles that have risen to surface. Return to oven and continue to bake until center registers 165 degrees, 2¼ to 2¾ hours longer. Remove cake from oven and increase oven temperature to 500 degrees.
5. When the oven is at 500 degrees, bake cheesecake on upper rack until the top is evenly browned, 4 to 12 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes; run a paring knife between cheesecake and side of springform pan. Let cheesecake cool until barely warm, 2½ to 3 hours. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold and firmly set, at least 6 hours. (Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.)
6. To unmold cheesecake, remove sides of the pan. Slide a thin metal spatula between crust and pan bottom to loosen, then slide cheesecake onto a serving plate. Let cheesecake stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes. To slice, dip a sharp knife into very hot water and wipe dry between cuts. Serve.

Original recipe courtesy of Cooks Illustrated.