If you follow my blog, you may remember that I have a thing for cheesecake. It’ s textural thing for me. The thick and creamy filling and crunchy, buttery crust is just a magical combination. Since I was announcing the givewaway winners in this post, I wanted to provide you with another recipe that utilizes vanilla beans.
I made an orange version of this cheesecake back in April for the Daring Bakers Challenge and the results were absolutely delicious. This recipe uses heavy cream in the cheesecake base which imparts a fluffier texture than my other recipe that uses sour cream. The added Beanilla vanilla bean takes the cheesecake into the realm of pure foodie bliss due to it’s amazing taste, aroma and gorgeous black flecks.
If you are looking for an amazing cheesecake, look no further and give this one a try! I topped this with a homemade blueberry sauce.
Now for the winners…
The 40 vanilla beans goes to Smitten Sugar!
The 5 vanilla beans and vanilla paste goes to Megan of Delicious Dishings
Congratulations, Smitten Sugar & Megan!!!! I want to personally thank Beanilla for providing this awesome giveaway and also thanks to each and every one of you for entering and tweeting! I was so impressed with all of your recipes and comments that I am going to try a few out and post them on my blog. If I choose your recipe recommendation, I will send you 5 Beanilla Vanilla Beans, so stay tuned for the recipes!
Remember, even if you didn’t win, you can still save 10% at Beanilla’s website by entering the code “bakingaddiction” at checkout. Check out the site, I am certain you will be surprised how affordable these amazing beans are in comparison to grocery store beans!

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake

Ingredients:
For the Crust
2 cups / 180 g graham cracker crumbs
1 stick / 4 oz butter, melted
3 tablespoons / 24 g sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used Beanilla Vanilla Paste)
For the Cheesecake
3 sticks of cream cheese, 8 oz each (total of 24 oz) room temperature
1 cup / 210 g sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup / 8 oz heavy cream
1 tablespoon vanilla extract (or the innards of a vanilla bean)
1 tablespoon liqueur, optional, but choose what will work well with your cheesecake
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (Gas Mark 4 /180°C). Begin to boil a large pot of water for the water bath.
2. Mix together the crust ingredients and press into your preferred pan. You can press the crust just into the bottom, or up the sides of the pan too – baker’s choice. Set crust aside.
3. Combine cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of a stand-mixer (or in a large bowl if using a hand-mixer) and cream together until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Make sure to scrape down the bowl in between each egg. Add heavy cream, vanilla, and alcohol (if used) and blend until smooth and creamy.
4. Pour batter into prepared crust and tap the pan on the counter a few times to bring all air bubbles to the surface. Place pan into a larger pan and pour boiling water into the larger pan until halfway up the side of the cheesecake pan. If cheesecake pan is not airtight, cover bottom securely with foil before adding water.
5. Bake 45 to 55 minutes, until it is almost done – this can be hard to judge, but you’re looking for the cake to hold together, but still have a lot of jiggle to it in the center. You don’t want it to be completely firm at this stage. Close the oven door, turn the heat off, and let rest in the cooling oven for one hour. This lets the cake finish cooking and cool down gently enough so that it won’t crack on the top. After one hour, remove cheesecake from oven and lift carefully out of water bath. Let it finish cooling on the counter, and then cover and put in the fridge to chill. Once fully chilled, it is ready to serve.
Notes:
When I make cheesecakes I always try to use a waterbath; however, I have had issues with water seeping into my foil wrapped pan. This seepage has really pissed me off on a couple of occasions, so I decided to remedy the issue by placing the foil wrapped cheesecake pan in an oven bag before placing it into the water. I have also used crock pot liners and they worked just as well. I also let the cheesecake completely cool in the oven, this really seems to help with the cracks - in fact I have not gotten a crack since.
adapted from Abby’s Infamous Cheesecake
All images and text ©Follow Jamie on Instagram. We love to see what you're baking from MBA! Be sure to tag @jamiemba and use the hashtag #mbarecipes!
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Jennifer
Tuesday 23rd of May 2017
I happened across this recipe and needed it for a banana bread cheesecake I was making for my husband's coworker. (Basically using banana bread as the crust.) I had some leftover cheesecake mix so I used it to make a small cheesecake for myself since I wouldn't get to try my other creation. This cheesecake is AMAZING!! It's creamy yet dense. Absolutely love it. This will be my new go to!
Jamie
Thursday 25th of May 2017
I'm so glad you liked it, Jennifer!
Debra
Wednesday 8th of February 2017
Rather late to the party in discovering your blog, but boy, I'm glad I did! I made this cheesecake for my boyfriend (his favorite dessert) and his parents. It turned out awesome! My very first cheesecake and no cracks. I made your blueberry sauce to go along with it and we all raved about it! It was so good! thank you so much!
Jamie
Thursday 9th of February 2017
I'm so happy to hear that, Debra!
Baking betty
Thursday 26th of November 2015
I made this. My first cheesecake ever. And it was absolutely delicious. Thank you for this recipe.
Jamie
Tuesday 12th of January 2016
You are very welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Pig
Tuesday 14th of April 2015
Your instructions says to put in preferred pan... but what size of pan should it be? I don't normally bake cheesecake, so I am totally new here, but absolutely love the pictures!
Jamie
Wednesday 15th of April 2015
Pig- I hope you get the chance to try it. I would recommend a 10 or 12- inch springform pan. I hope this helps.
-Jamie
Natasha
Thursday 24th of October 2013
I made this cheesecake for a potluck thanksgiving at my boyfriends parents house and it was loved by everyone. The first trial run I noticed the base was slightly soggy (although I used a baking bag and am sure no water seeped through) and so for the final run I decided to put the graham cracker base in for 10 min prior to baking the entire cheesecake and the cheesecake was DELICIOUS. This recipe is to die for and everyone was surprised I made it at home. Bake it exactly without modifying any ingredients and you won't be disappointed.