Description
Smoked cheesecake brings a delightful twist to your dessert game, turning a classic treat into a conversation-starting showstopper. Creamy, smoky, and utterly unexpected, this recipe will have your friends begging for seconds and wondering how you pulled off such culinary magic.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 24 oz cream cheese
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Crust Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- 6 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Crush 1.5 cups graham cracker crumbs and combine with 6 tablespoons melted butter in a mixing bowl until the texture resembles wet sand.
- Transfer the crumb mixture into a 9-inch springform pan, pressing firmly and evenly across the bottom to create a compact base.
- Position the pan in a 350°F oven and bake the crust for 9 minutes until lightly golden. Remove and allow to cool completely.
- Lower your oven temperature to 325°F and prepare the filling by beating 24 ounces softened cream cheese with 1 cup granulated sugar until completely smooth.
- Incorporate 4 large eggs into the cream cheese mixture, adding them one at a time and mixing thoroughly after each addition.
- Gently fold in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 cup sour cream until the filling becomes uniform and silky.
- Fire up your smoker and stabilize the temperature at 250°F, ensuring consistent heat distribution.
- Carefully transfer the springform pan with the cooled crust onto the smoker rack.
- Delicately pour the prepared filling over the crust, spreading it evenly to the edges.
- Smoke the cheesecake at 250°F for 75-90 minutes, watching for a set perimeter with a subtle center wobble.
- Carefully remove the cheesecake from the smoker and let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Refrigerate the smoked cheesecake for a minimum of 4 hours, preferably overnight, to achieve optimal texture and flavor melding.
Notes
- Let the cream cheese soften completely at room temperature to ensure a smooth, lump-free filling that blends perfectly.
- Wrap the springform pan’s exterior with aluminum foil to prevent any smoke or moisture from seeping into the crust.
- For a gluten-free version, swap graham cracker crumbs with almond flour or gluten-free cookie crumbs.
- Choose a mild wood like apple or cherry for smoking to complement the creamy cheesecake without overpowering its delicate flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 to 1.5 hours (smoking), 8-10 minutes (crust baking)
- Category: Cheesecakes
- Method: Smoking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 to 10
- Calories: 448
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 21 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg