The Best Keto Cheesecake Recipe - No Water Bath! (2024)

FAQs

Is a water bath necessary for cheesecake? ›

But it's less possible to bake an excellent cheesecake without one. Big, showstopper cheesecakes baked without a water bath are more likely to overbake, which will give them a curdled texture, cracks in the surface, and lopsided tops.

Set the springform pan (be careful if it's hot from the oven!) on top of the foil, and tightly wrap the foil around the outside of the pan. This will prevent any water from leaking into the cheesecake. *You can also wrap the pan before pre-baking the crust, if you'd like.

To start your water bath, simply bring water to the boil in a kettle. Place your cake tin within a wider dish in the oven, then fill the wider dish with the boiling water. Remove the cake tin and close the oven. Then fill the cake tin with the cheesecake batter and return it to the wider dish in the oven.

A water bath, also known as a bain marie, is our secret to the perfect cheesecake. It produces steam that wafts throughout the oven, helping to ensure that the cheesecake cooks evenly and stays nice and creamy. It also moderates the heat on the sides of the pan so that they edges don't cook much faster than the center.

You can absolutely make a cheesecake without a traditional water bath. The traditional water bath provides two elements: a steamy, humid oven environment that prevents your cheesecake from drying out on top and insulation for protecting the cheesecake from drastic temperature changes.

Don't overbake your cake.

It may crack if it's too dry. Many people overbake their recipes to “play it safe”. The golden rule is if it no longer trembles in the center, it will set firmly in the refrigerator. Tap the pan on the sides and if the center has firmed up like jello, remove the cake from the oven.

And since most springform pans are not airtight and will leak water, you'll need a waterproof barrier. You can use foil, a slow cooker plastic liner bag, or even another slightly larger pan. My preferred method is to put my 9-inch springform pan inside a 10-inch cake pan, but these are all great options.

Springform pans are not designed to hold runny batters or liquids, so be cautious when using them for recipes with high liquid content.

You only need about 2 to 3 inches of water. I like to stop pouring when the water is halfway up the side of the cheesecake pan. Essentially you want enough water that it won't quickly evaporate during the baking process, but not so much that it'll splash up or touch your cheesecake batter.

TIP: It is not necessary to purchase special cookware for water bath canning. A large, deep saucepot equipped with a lid and a rack works well. As long as it is large enough to fully immerse the jars in canning water by 1-2 inches—and allow the water to boil rapidly when covered—the pot is adequate.

Can I use Pyrex for water bath? ›

I've had several people ask about the water bath (or bain-marie) after our Thanksgiving Test Kitchen episode aired. We made my Grandmother's Corn Pudding and put the baking dish inside of a Pyrex that I filled with water. Simply put, the bain-marie helps the pudding cook more evenly.

Alternatives. A contemporary alternative to the traditional, liquid-filled bain-marie is the electric "dry-heat" bain-marie, heated by elements below both pots. The dry-heat form of electric bains-marie often consumes less energy, requires little cleaning, and can be heated more quickly than traditional versions.

Almost every cheesecake recipe calls either gelatin or beaten eggs, which are used as a setting or thickening agents. The cake will not set properly if there is no egg in the preparation, and you will just have a cream cheese pudding.

A water bath, also known as a bain marie, is the baker's secret to creamy cheesecake perfection. It's also a wonderful way to bake custard or bread pudding.

Avoid Overcooking

DON'T overbake. Overbaking a cheesecake can cause cracks on the surface. The center of the cheesecake should still be a little wobbly, the filling still pale, and the outer ring slightly puffy and firm. It will continue to cook as it cools and maintains that smooth and rich texture.

When baking a cheesecake in a water bath, the directions are generally to bake at 325°F for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes. The cheesecake is done when the top looks dry but the center still wobbles and jiggles like jello.

Look no further for a creamy and ultra smooth classic cheesecake recipe! Paired with a buttery graham cracker crust, no one can deny its simple decadence. For the best results, bake in a water bath.