Prep time – 20 minutes
Cook time – 70 minutes

Ingredients

• 85g butter, plus extra for tin
• 140g digestive biscuits, made into fine crumbs
• 1 tbsp sugar, granulated or golden caster
• 900g Philadelphia cheese, or other full-fat soft cheese
• 250g golden caster sugar
• 3 tbsp plain flour
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
• finely grated zest of 1 lemon (about 2 tsp)
• 1 ½ tsp lemon juice
• 3 large eggs, plus 1 yolk
• 284ml carton soured cream
• 142ml carton soured cream
• 1 tbsp golden caster sugar
• 2 tsp lemon juice

Method

1. Position an oven shelf in the middle of the oven. Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan forced).
2. Line the base of a 23cm springform cake tin by putting a square piece of parchment paper or foil on top of the tin base and then clipping the side on so the paper or foil is trapped and any excess sticks out of the bottom.
3. For the crust, melt 85g butter in a medium pan. Stir in 140g digestive biscuit crumbs and 1 tbsp golden caster or granulated sugar so the mixture is evenly moistened.
4. Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan and bake for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack while preparing the filling.
5. For the filling, increase the oven temperature to 220°C (200°C fan forced). In a table top mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat 900g full-fat soft cheese at medium-low speed until creamy, about 2 minutes.
6. With the mixer on low, gradually add 250g golden caster sugar, then 3 tbsp plain flour and a pinch of salt, scraping down the sides of the bowl and the paddle twice.
7. Swap the paddle attachment for the whisk. Continue by adding 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract, 2 tsp lemon zest and 1 ½ tsp lemon juice. Whisk in 3 large eggs and 1 yolk, one at a time, scraping the bowl and whisk at least twice.
8. Stir a 284ml carton of soured cream until smooth, then measure 200ml (just over ¾ of the carton). Continue on low speed as you add the measured soured cream (reserve the rest). Whisk to blend, but don’t over-beat. The batter should be smooth, light and somewhat airy.
9. Brush the sides of the springform tin with melted butter and put on a baking sheet. Pour in the filling - if there are any lumps, sink them using a knife - the top should be as smooth as possible. Bake for 10 minutes.
10. Reduce oven temperature to 110°C (90°C fan forced) and bake for 45 minutes more. If you gently shake the tin, the filling should have a slight wobble.
11. Turn off the oven and open the oven door for a cheesecake that’s creamy in the centre, or leave it closed if you prefer a drier texture. Let cool in the oven for 2 hours. The cheesecake may get a slight crack on top as it cools.
12. Combine the reserved soured cream with a 142ml carton soured cream, 1 tbsp golden caster sugar and 2 tsp lemon juice for the topping. Spread over the cheesecake right to the edges. Cover loosely with foil and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
13. Run a round-bladed knife around the sides of the tin to loosen any stuck edges. Unlock the side, slide the cheesecake off the bottom of the tin onto a plate, then slide the parchment paper out from underneath.

Tips

The way you blend the ingredients is crucial: under-beating can lead to a lumpy mixture, over-beating can whip in too much air. This can result in uneven cooking, bubbles, and cracking.