I went to London for my fortieth and came back with an Art Deco sapphire and diamond ring and a new Louis Vuitton bag!
For Robert’s fortieth, he got a cheesecake.
His birthday, his call… he likes to spend it with his kids. That’s sort of limiting on the grand gestures front, so I have a tradition of letting him choose his own ‘made from scratch by his adoring wife’ birthday cake.
Fortunately Robert is a man of simple, elegant tastes so I didn’t have to make anything ridiculous, just a classic cheesecake.
Cheesecake is always a crowd pleaser with the non-vegan, non-lactose intolerant, non-dieting set, and I have a simple quick and easy cheesecake recipe in my arsenal. Robert thinks it’s the best cheesecake ever : -)
Simple Quick and Easy Cheesecake Recipe
I’m not a fan of fussy recipes. I don’t like cheesecake recipes that call for a complicated filling, a waterbath bake, or fancy topping. I like simple, classic cheesecake… a butter, sugar and graham cracker crust filled with cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and eggs.
Simple Quick and Easy Cheesecake Recipe: The Crust
1/3 cup melted butter
When I lived in the States, like most people, I used a crushed graham cracker crust in my simple quick and easy cheesecake recipe. But I’ve never seen graham crackers in Denmark and I wasn’t motivated to try to make my own, so I used digestive biscuits, which are the American expat go-to substitute in s’mores and pretty much all graham cracker situations.
Making the crust is simple and quick… mix together the crushed biscuits and sugar, add the butter, stir to combine, then press the mixture into the bottom of a greased spring-form pan thats been lined with parchment.
Simple Quick and Easy Cheesecake Recipe: The Filling
600g cream cheese (approx. 24 oz)
3/4 cup sugar
1 t vanilla
3 eggs
It’s best to start with room temperature ingredients. Use an electric mixer on the lowest possible speed to cream together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. If you whip too much air into the filling, it will crack during baking/cooling. Mix in the eggs by hand just until they’re incorporated, then spread the filling into the cooled crust.
Bake the cheesecake at 175 degrees (350 fahrenheit) for about 40 minutes. It’s done baking when there’s a 2-3 inch bit in the middle that’s unset. At that point, turn off the oven, open the door and leave the cheesecake to cool in the open oven. Cooling it gradually will make it less likely to crack or sink.
I’ve always made my cheesecakes a day ahead of time so they can chill overnight for the best texture. I take it out of the fridge 15 minutes or so before serving.
I’ve never been a fan of cherry topping, so I make one with strawberries : -)
Simple Quick and Easy Cheesecake Recipe: Strawberry Topping
350g hulled strawberries
1/3 cup sugar
1 t vanilla
Put all three ingredients into a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally. The strawberries will eventually begin to break down and form a syrup.
Mash some or all of the berries (your call) with a potato masher, and keep cooking and stirring until you’re happy with the consistency. If it’s not thickening as much as you’d like, add a bit of cornstarch to some water and stir it in to thicken… I find this is necessary if I’m using frozen berries.
Serve the cooled topping over your delicious simple quick and easy cheesecake : -)
Pin it for later : -)
With this post, Robert and I are off to London… a birthday is a perfect excuse for a trip out of Denmark, and where better to go than London?
I’m looking forward to hotel breakfasts, picnics with Marks & Spencer goodies, dinner at Govinda’s, checking out the antique jewels on offer in Hatton Garden, stocking up on Boots products, meeting my in-laws for lunch, and spending a few blissful days away with my favorite guy in my favorite city!
I will be Instagramming : -)
P.S. Bloglovin’ is having a contest to see who can get the most new followers in the coming month, so if you’re not already following me, please consider helping me out by following me here : -)
grace says
yes, it’s basic, but cheesecake doesn’t need a lot of frills to be delicious! lovely post. :)
Sage says
Thanks, Grace : -) You’re right… simple things are often the best things.
HonestAndTruly says
Have fun in London! What a great present :) And yum – what a fun and easy cheesecake recipe. It looks delicious!
Sage says
Thanks : -)
A Chat Over Coffee says
I found you through Inspire Me Monday over at Mostly Blogging. Pinned!
Sage says
Cool, thanks : -)
Amy says
Oh my how I love cheesecake! Looks so good Sage :) Especially with the strawberries on top! (They are my favorite too)
Sage says
You have excellent taste :-)
Joanne T Ferguson says
Cheesecake has always been a favorite dessert of mine, even from childhood! Your quick and easy recipe I’ve bookmarked, it looks delicious! I wish I could try some now! Love the strawberries on top too!
Sage says
Thanks Joanne… I hope you like it!
rochkirstin says
Cheesecakes is one of my favorite desserts! This recipe looks so easy and quick to do. We also make it a day ahead so we can refrigerate it for over 3-5 hours.
Melissa says
I love that men can be so simple sometimes. :) This is such a easy recipe even for someone like me that does’t like making desserts as they never turn out right. I think I can handle this one, thank you!
Sage says
Me, too, it’s quite sweet! You’ve totally got this one, it’s practically foolproof, and it looks and tastes legit : -)
Kita Bryant says
I have never seen a cheesecake recipe that was this easy and trust me I have made a few that were difficult. I love how simple this is and I know it tastes good. Guess what our dessert will be this weekend?
Sage says
I hope you love it as much as we do… I could easily make one every week, and Robert could easily eat one every week : -)
Nancy says
Your new ring reminds me of Kate Middleton’s engagement ring! :) I love the royal blue colour, I bet it looks so pretty on too. By the way, cheesecake is my second favourite dessert, ever First being lemon meringue. My mother-in-law makes a freaking amazingly delicious chocolate cheesecake for my husband and I when we visit. I can’t wait for the next trip home haha!!
Sage says
Thanks… I love that it’s so old. I also have a pair of vintage sapphire and diamond earrings that were made by the same jewelers who made Kate’s ring… my birthstone is diamonds, but I’ve adopted sapphires :-) And I bet your MIL’s chocolate cheesecake is to die for!
tammileetips says
I love it when husbands want simple things! This sounds like a great cheese cake recipe! I hope your husband had a great birthday celebration with you and his kids the perfect way to spend a birthday!
Linda Grant says
I love cheesecake and would never think to make it at home because it looks too complicated but boy oh boy does your recipe look super simple. Cant wait to try it.
Sage says
This recipe isn’t much more involved than a boxed cake mix… and so much more impressive : -)
LaShawn Wiltz says
I love Cheesecake!But I never make it. I tried one time and the results were not pretty! Or edible LOL Your recipe looks super easy! Will have to try this recipe out!
Ali A says
Looks great! I’m a huge cheesecake fan and I LOVE simple ones – to me those are the best. And easy to make? Can’t beat that!
chbernard says
O my, I absolutely LOVE cheesecake! This recipe looks pretty easy! I am gluten free but I think I could make some easy substitutions and make this great dessert. Thanks for sharing :)
Sage says
You could probably even go crustless with this one, the filling sets very nicely.
Winter White says
I love that your hubby has simple requests yet still honors your verbose ones lol. Happy wife happy life :) this cheesecake looks divine! It must be pretty amazing if he takes it over anything else lol
Sage says
He definitely got the memo…lol! He calls my jewels, bags, shoes, etc. my ‘children’… he has his, I have mine :)