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When it comes to mastering one of the most traditional dessert menu staples, it’s all in the details! As dessert connoisseurs, using our guide of top cheesecake tips is sure to have your cheesecake the perfect consistency.  

• Keep it room temp

The key to a perfect cheesecake is the consistency and temperature of the cream cheese. You’ll want to keep the cream cheese out of the fridge until it’s a perfect room temperature. Avoid lumps and bumps, and create a stunningly smooth consistency. When it comes to cheesecake ingredients, we abide by ‘go hard or go home’ and so it’s important to select a cheesecake that’s relatively full fat to ensure you can whip up some creamy goodness. Texture is crucial to ensuring your cheesecake is a winner. If you’re opting for a dairy free option, there are various vegan-friendly cream cheese products on the market that are able to produce just as mouth-watering results when it comes to a layer of cream-cheese goodness! 

• Add a bit of tang

Cheesecake always tastes better with an element of tang, contrasting nicely with the sweetness and creaminess. That’s why we recommend adding sourcream to your cream cheese mix. It really is a secret ingredient to ensuring your cheesecake has its own flavoursome flair. You can always substitute sour cream with greek yoghurt, which gives just as nice texture, yet may lack the zing which makes sour cream so ideal. 

• Stop the cracks 

Using flour, or cornstarch as a gluten-free substitute, makes all the difference when it comes to ensuring a smooth and creamy texture that doesn't crack when spread onto the biscuity base. If you do opt for a gluten intolerant-friendly option, then you’ll only need half the cornstarch as your flour. Both will work nicely to ensure that. A little flour or cornstarch will give your recipe the hit of starch it needs to ensure egg proteins don’t become a lumpy mess. 

Be patient and precise when it comes to mixing 

When it comes to making the perfect cheesecake, air bubbles are your worst enemy. This comes from mixing too powerful of a speed, or over mixing the batter when done by hand. The problem with air bubbles is that they’re the cause of cracking in the batter. Unlike other popular cake recipes, You don’t want the cake to rise. It’s all about finding balance, as you’ll want a smooth texture, without lumps, bumps or any cracks. So keep mixing speed and strength to a minimum, and you’ll see some really great looking results.

Be sure not to over bake!

There’s nothing worse than ruining your perfect cheesecake by leaving it to bake too long. It instantly leads to cracking of your beautiful cream cheese layer. To prevent overbaking, keep an eye on the timer. You’ll know your cheesecake is perfectly baked when the edges are firmly set, but the inner part is a little on the wobbly and soft side. 

Keep it Cool

A really good hack when it comes to perfecting your cheesecake, is using a gradual cooling process that avoids cracking at the final stage. After it’s baked enough, crack the door of the oven and let the cheesecake sit there for another 30 minutes, with the heat turned off. The cool air will perfectly set the cake whilst allowing it to fully bake. After the half an hour is up, get your cheesecake out and pop it into the fridge after ensuring the sides aren’t stuck to the tin. 

And that rounds up Little Dessert Shops’ top tips for newbies when it comes to perfecting a traditional cheesecake. We also love adding some summer fruits or drizzled berry compote to the final result, which gives it that extra special look.