Game-Changing Sous Vide Cheesecake in Jars

Sous vide cheesecake in jars is the easiest and most foolproof way to make the perfect cheesecake consistently without cracks or hassle.

Recently, someone asked me what the last meal of my life would be if I got to choose it. I was not able to answer that question right on the spot because…well, there are so many options. Over the following days, I gave the question some serious thought but found myself changing the main course over and over again. The only thing that remains unchanged on the menu of my last meal is dessert—the good old cheesecake!

The classic New York-style cheesecake is a very delicate dessert to make in a traditional way. It requires a lot of practice and experience to get it right when making it at home. Therefore, it is intimidating for a lot of us home cooks. 

However, sous vide cheesecake is a total game-changer. It’s hands-down the easiest and most foolproof way to make the best cheesecake ever! Let me show you why and how along with everything you need to know about these individual-serving cheesecakes. 

Why Sous Vide Cooking Cheesecake Works

Sous vide cheesecake doesn’t just work, it works so darn well that I can’t think of a better way to make infallible cheesecake like this! 

• When you bake cheesecake in an oven, the temperature varies depending on your oven model or even your altitude. That’s precisely why homemade traditional cheesecake often cracks. Sous vide cooking, on the contrary, holds a precise temperature during cooking, which gives you full control. It makes the smoothest and creamiest cheesecake with your desired consistency every single time. No more cracked cheesecake, no more overcooking or undercooking, simply perfect!
• Cooking cheesecake in jars transforms a whole cake into individual servings; you’ll be able to know and track your calorie, cholesterol, and carbohydrate intake on a more granular level. It also means this heavenly dessert is easier to share.
• You can make the cheesecakes ahead of time and let them chill in the fridge until you are ready to serve. 
• It makes a wonderful gift, especially when you have a hard time coming up with a gift idea. Cheesecake will never, ever go wrong! 

Time and Temperature 

You can sous vide cheesecake between 176°F (80°C) to 185°F (85°C). The higher the temperature, the firmer the cheesecake gets. I encourage you to experiment until you find the texture you like the most.

Based on my experience and my preferences, the best temperature for sous vide cheesecake is 176°F (80°C) for 90 minutes. 

What You Need to Make Sous Vide Cheesecake

Ingredients

• Cream cheese. Make sure to use the block of cream cheese. Full-fat cream cheese is recommended as it produces a silky smooth texture. If you use reduced-fat cream cheese, it will work, but keep in mind that the texture will be a little different. Let the cream cheese soften before mixing. 
• Granulated sugar. Use regular granulated white sugar. 
• Large eggs. Room-temperature eggs can blend more easily, but it’s not mission-critical if you use eggs straight out of the fridge.
• Sour cream or buttermilk. Some people use buttermilk, but I personally like to add low-fat sour cream to the filling. 
• Vanilla extract. 
• Salt. Salt enhances flavors and balances the richness and sweetness of the cheesecake.
• Lemon juice. This is optional. I found that adding a splash of lemon juice enhances the tangy flavor nicely.
• Graham crackers. Graham cracker crust is usually everyone’s go-to. But a very good alternative is any kind of digestive biscuits, which is what I used in this recipe. 
• Butter. Melted butter binds the crumbles together. Either unsalted butter or salted butter will work.
• Ground cinnamon. Simply delicious.

Equipment

• A sous vide precision cooker. I used the KitchenBoss G320 Sous Vide Cooker for this recipe. To learn more about this particular product and see if it’s right for you, read my in-depth review here.
• A sous vide container or a large pot. 
• 4-ounce mason jars/canning jars. I used VERONES mason jars to make the cheesecakes. These little jars are perfect for sous vide, and they also come with an extra set of lids. 
• A stand mixer or a hand mixer. If you have a stand mixer, by all means, use that. If not, a hand mixer can do the job just as efficiently. 
• Tongs. This stainless steel kitchen tong set is my favorite.

How to Make Sous Vide Cheesecake Step by Step

Now, let’s get down to business! Follow the steps and watch the recipe video to make the best individual servings of cheesecake.

1. Heat a sous vide bath to 176°F (80°C) or to the temperature you prefer. Set the timer. 
2. Make the cheesecake filling: Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the softened cream cheese with sugar until smooth and slightly fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Then add sour cream, vanilla extract, salt, and lemon juice. Beat until the cheesecake filling mixture reaches an even consistency without any lumps. 
3. Fill in the jars and seal fingertip tight: Scoop the cheesecake batter into 4-oz  jars leaving 1 1/2 inches of room at the top of each jar. Tap the bottom of the jars a few times against your kitchen countertop to shake out as much air as possible from the mixture. Seal the jars tightly with your fingers only. Air needs to come out of the jars while cooking. If you seal them too tightly, they will crack. 
4. Put the jars in the sous vide water bath to cook: Carefully lower the jars in the sous vide bath using tongs and set the timer for 90 minutes. If your water bath hasn’t reached the set temperature by this point, it’s perfectly fine. In fact, it’s preferred since warming up the jars slowly will prevent them from cracking.
5. Make the crust: While the cheesecake is cooking, crumble graham crackers in a food processor or put them in a Ziploc bag and crumble them with a rolling pin. Melt butter over medium-low heat in a skillet. Add the graham cracker crumbs and combine well. Stir in ground cinnamon. Remove from heat and let the crust mixture cool to room temperature. 
6. Make the desired toppings (optional): For ideas, read on.

How to Serve Sous Vide Cheesecake in Jars

Crust on Top or at the Bottom? 

Traditionally, cheesecakes have this lovely layer of crust sitting at the bottom. About half of the sous vide cheesecake recipes on the internet suggest putting the crust ingredients at the bottom of the jars before adding the filling to recreate the traditional cheesecake form. 

However, I vote for the crust on top for sous vide cheesecakes in jars. Here’s why.

• Because the cheesecake is served in a jar, it’s likely that your first couple of scoops with a spoon won’t even reach the bottom of the jar if the crust sits at the bottom, especially if you use bigger jars. 
• When putting the crust, aka the crumbs, on top as you serve, it stays fresh and crunchy, which gives a nice texture contrast. You have the flexibility to add more as you go through the jar. 
• No soggy crust even if you leave the cheesecake in the fridge for a few days.
• Making the crust while the cheesecake cooks saves time. If you want the crust to be at the bottom of the jars, you’d have to make the crust and let it cool before adding it to the bottom of the jars. Then do the cheesecake filling. It’s just less efficient in my book.

Other Topping Ideas

Well, the crust on top sort of serves as a topping already. But we don’t want to stop here, do we? Let’s explore some other topping ideas for your cheesecake jars.

• Fresh fruit with fresh mint leaves for garnishing
• Blueberry toppings. See how to make it in the recipe below and the same method can be used for…
• Strawberry toppings or mixed berry toppings
• Crushed Oreo cookies
• Chocolate sauce
• Whipped cream 
• Crumbled brownies. Oh my lord! This idea reminds me of this Brownie Cheesecake! 

How Long Does Sous Vide Cheesecake Last?

Unopened jars of cheesecake can be stored in the fridge for up to seven days. They’ll most likely be long gone before you know it. 

You can also freeze sous vide cheesecake for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving. 

In both storage cases, make sure the jars are sealed and no toppings are added.

That’s all. I hope the information in this article is sufficient for you to make the best sous vide cheesecake in your own kitchen. It’s a total game-changer! If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below.

Print