Classic Cheesecake

One of my friend is interested on the cheesecake that i made on my birthday and here i share this classic cheesecake recipe that i adopted from Philadelphia. 

Am so sorry to have her waited long for this recipe (my apologies, Michelle!)  :(

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups Graham cracker crumbs 
• 3 TBSP sugar
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 4 pkg (8 oz each) softened cream cheese
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4 eggs
• Strawberries (optional - for decoration)
• Foil (to line the cake pan)

Steps:

1. Melt the butter in a pan and let it cool
2. Crush the Graham cracker (about 30 pcs) to make the crumbs
3. Line a 9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides (to ease the cake release from pan later) 
4. Preheat oven to 325F/163C
5. Mix graham crumbs, 3 tbsp sugar and melted butter in a bowl until well combined, then pour and press evenly & firmly onto bottom of prepared pan, set aside
6. Beat cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and vanilla in a mixer bowl with electronic/stand mixer until well blended
7. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended.  Pour over crust.
8. Bake for 55min or until center is almost set 
9. Let it cool down completely and then refrigerate for 4 hours
10. Use foil handles to remove cheesecake from pan before serving.  Top with fruits if desired. 

Notes:

• To make the crumbs, put the crackers in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin/glass bottle
• Reduce oven temp to 300F/149C if using a darker pan
• If using a non-stick springform pan, ignore step 3 of lining the foil.  Release the cake by removing the rim after the cake is cool.  Then refrigerate for 4 hours.