New York Style Cheese Cake

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Ingredients

CRUST

• 2 c finely ground graham crackers (about 30 squares)
• 1/2 c unsalted butter, melted (1 stick)
• 1/2 c sugar

FILLING

• 4- (8) oz blocks cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 c sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 lemon zest 
• 1 c sour cream

Directions

1 To prepare crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the crust ingredients together with a fork until evenly moistened. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of a 9-inch spring form pan with non-stick cooking spray. Firmly press the mixture over the bottom and 1-inch up the sides of the pan, use your finger or the smooth bottom of a glass. Refrigerate the crust while preparing the filling

2 To prepare filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese on low speed for 1 minute just until smooth and free of any lumps. Gradually add the sugar and beat until creamy, 1 to minutes. Periodically scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to slowly beat until combined. Stir in the vanilla and the lemon zest. Blend in the sour cream. The batter should be well mixed, but not over beaten. (Over beating incorporates to much air and will cause the cake to puff when baking, then fall and crack when cooling.) Pour filling into the crust-lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

3 To prepare water bath: Set the pan on a double piece of aluminum foil and fold up the sides. This will prevent water from seeping into the seams of the spring form pan. Carefully set the cake pan in the large roasting pan. Pour boiling water into the roasting pan until the water is about halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan.

4 Preheat oven 325, decrease oven to 300 bake for 1 hour 20 min. The cheesecake should still  jiggle when shaken in center, it will firm up after chilling. Be careful not to overcook! Do not do a toothpick test in the cakes center, this will make a crack. Loosen the cheesecake from the sides of the pan by running a thin metal spatula around the insides of rim. Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator, loosely covered, for at least 4 hours to set up. De-mold and transfer to a cake plate. Slice the cheese cake with a thin non-stick knife that has been dipped in hot water and wiped dry after each cut.