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Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Cheesecake

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  • Author: Lidia
  • Prep Time: Approximately 15 minutes active (plus cooling/browning time)
  • Cook Time: 55–65 minutes baking + 1 hour in oven off
  • Total Time: Approximately 4+ hours (including chilling)
  • Yield: About 10 servings (slices)
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

A decadent vanilla-bean cheesecake enriched with nutty brown butter and a buttery graham-cracker crust—smooth, rich, and perfect for special treats.


Ingredients

  • For the crust: 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • For the filling: 3 tbsp unsalted butter, browned and cooled
  • 4 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste or seeds from 1 vanilla bean
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup sour cream

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 °F (163 °C). In a bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and brown sugar; press into a 9″ springform pan and bake for 10 minutes. Let cool.
  2. Meanwhile, brown the butter in a saucepan over medium heat until golden and fragrant; remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  3. In a mixer, beat softened cream cheese and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla bean paste (or scraped seeds) and beat to combine.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, mixing just until incorporated after each addition.
  5. Stir in sour cream and the cooled brown butter until fully incorporated.
  6. Pour filling over the crust and smooth the top. Bake for 55–65 minutes, until the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly.
  7. Turn oven off and leave the cheesecake inside, undisturbed, for 1 hour.
  8. Remove from oven and cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.

Notes

  • Use room-temperature ingredients for a smooth, lump-free filling.
  • Cool slowly by leaving in the turned-off oven for an hour to prevent cracks.
  • Chill thoroughly before slicing for best texture and cleaner slices.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice (1/10 of cheesecake)
  • Calories: 480 kcal
  • Sugar: 22 g
  • Sodium: 260 mg
  • Fat: 38 g
  • Saturated Fat: 22 g
  • Carbohydrates: 28 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 7 g
  • Cholesterol: 160 mg