The Unexpected Method That Will Majorly Upgrade Your Cherry Cheesecake

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The first key to a crack-free cheesecake is all in the baking method. Morone recommends using a steam bath, which is a technique where you place the cheesecake pan on a higher oven rack and a separate pan of hot water on a lower rack. The water creates steam as it heats up, which "makes the environment in the oven humid, similar to if you use a water bath," explains Morone. This promotes a gentler cooking process that "prevents the top of the cheesecake from setting too quickly and cracking."

A second and equally important path to a smooth cheesecake is to allow your dessert to cool slowly. After the baking time is up, Morone recommends cracking the oven door slightly (you can prop it open with a wooden spoon) and leaving the cake in the turned-off oven for about an hour. "Letting the cheesecake cool completely in the oven before removing it also helps to keep the cheesecake from cooling too quickly and cracking," advises Marone.

Finally, if your cherry cheesecake does crack, don't worry — there's still hope for your dessert! It's all thanks to that decadent cherry topping, which Marone says not only tastes tart and sweet, but can also "cover up any imperfections so it will still look beautiful."