Get the best of two dessert worlds with this luscious creme brulee cheesecake!

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Cheesecake is a favorite dessert in my family.

I mean, whats not to love about a dessert made of cheese?

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with brittle sugar topping on a slate board wtih a slice cut out and fruit and forks nearby.

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Theres just something about tapping the sugar shell and listening for that crack of brittle, caramelized sugar.

Alison Bickel

What Is a Water Bath?

If you dont have a roasting pan, a large, wide-bottomed Dutch oven will also work.

Creme Brulee Cheesecake batter in a springform pan wrapped in foil and set in a roasting tin.

Alison Bickel

How To Keep Water Out of Your Cheesecake

What If I Dont Have Sour Cream?

If you dont have sour cream for this cheesecake, you’re free to leave it out.

The cake wont be quite as fluffy, but it will still be rich and delicious.

A knife slicing through the brittle topping of the best creme bruelee cheesecake

Alison Bickel

you’re able to also replace the 1/2 cup sour cream with 1/3 cupheavy whipping cream.

How To Tell When Cheesecake Is Done

Cheesecake is basically a custard.

It likes slow, even cooking, and time.

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with brittle sugar topping on a slate board wtih a slice cut out and fruit nearby.

Alison Bickel

If theres too much sugar, the crust will start to burn before it melts evenly.

Too little, and you will toast the top of the cheesecake.

Culinary torches are really the best route.

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with brittle sugar topping on a slate board wtih fruit and caramel nearby.

Alison Bickel

They are easy to use, affordable, and take up little space in your kitchen.

Its worth the investment.

The one I like is thisMicro Butane Torchfrom JB Culinary.

Slice of Crème Brûlée Cheesecake

Alison Bickel

Can You Make This Cheesecake Ahead of Time?

Once you’ve bruleed the sugar topping, cheesecake is at its best served within 20 minutes.

If you wait longer, you risk the sugar absorbing moisture and the brittle top softening.

Graham Crackers crumbs in a food processor

Alison Bickle

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work well to torch the top again to try crisping it back up.

If you’ve waited longer than 20 minutes, all is not lost!

How Long Does Cheesecake Last?

Graham Cracker crust in a food processor.

Alison Bickle

Cheesecake lasts about 3.7 seconds after you cut the first slice.

I find that the crust begins to weep after about day 3.

Its still fine to eat, but the crust isnt what it used to be.

Pressing a graham cracker crust into a springform pan.

Alison Bickle

Just see to it you keep it in the fridge.

Can You Freeze Cheesecake?

You absolutely can freeze cheesecake.

Eggs in a liquid measuring cup.

Alison Bickle

When its completely thawed and youre almost ready to serve it, add the sugar, and torch it.

Looking for More Cheesecake Recipes?

Pulse until they are ground fine like sand; you should have 1 1/4 cups.

Whipped cream cheese in a standmixter.

Alison Bickle

Add the sugar, salt, and nutmeg (if using).

Pulse 3 or 4 times until combined.

Pour melted butter around the bowl in a circle; pulse 4 or 5 times to combine.

Woman scraping the seeds off a vanilla bean pod.

Alison Bickle

The mixture should clump a little bit but may still look a little dry.

Dump the mixture into the bottom of your springform pan.

Place the crust in the oven and bake for 10 minutes.

Woman adding sugar to cream cheese to make the best creme brulee cheesecake.

Alison Bickle

Remove from oven to cool.

Once the crust has baked,reduce the oven temperature to 300F.

In a small bowl, gently beat the eggs, vanilla extract, and salt together with a fork.

Woman adding eggs to creamcheese to make creme brulee cheesecake batter

Alison Bickle

Beat the cream cheese on low speed until creamy, about 2 minutes.

Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.

Add the vanilla bean seeds and beat again on low for about 1 minute.

Creme Brulee cheesecake with granulated sugar dusted over the top. waiting to be bruleed.

Alison Bickle

Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.

Slowly add the sugar.

Scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl.

A Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with a brittle sugar creme brulee topping.

Alison Bickle

Beat for another minute or 2 until light and fluffy.

Add the egg mixture in 2 additions, scraping down the bowl between each addition.

Beat on low until fully combined.

A Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with a brittle sugar creme brulee topping.

Alison Bickle

Wrap the outside of your springform pan in 3 layers of aluminum foil.

Be careful not to tear or puncture the foil.

Bring the foil all the way up the sides.

A woman transferring a Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with a brittle sugar creme brulee topping.

Alison Bickle

Set it inside a roasting pan or a large Dutch oven.

Pour the filling into the springform pan.

Fill the roasting pan with hot water about halfway up the sides of the springform pan.

Be careful not to splash any water into the cheesecake pan or inside the foil.

It will still jiggle slightly, but shouldnt slosh in the center when moved.

Remove the roasting pan from the oven.

Remove the cheesecake from the springform pan.

About 10 minutes before serving, sprinkle 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar evenly across the surface of the cake.

Use a culinary torch to caramelize the sugar on the surface.

Place the torch flame about 4 inches above the cake and apply direct heat to the sugar.

Constantly move the torch in small circles until it takes on an even, golden color.

Serve the cake within 20 minutes once the top has been bruleed.

Then slide it carefully to your serving platter.