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Vanilla Bean Brown Butter Cheesecake Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 122 reviews

This Vanilla Bean Brown Butter Cheesecake combines the rich, nutty flavor of brown butter with creamy cheesecake and a crunchy pecan cookie crust. The crust is made with cookie crumbs and ground pecans baked to perfection, while the filling features velvety cream cheese blended with browned butter bits and vanilla bean for a decadent aroma. The cheesecake is baked in a water bath to ensure a smooth texture and topped with lightly sweetened whipped cream infused with vanilla for the perfect finishing touch.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust

  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter
  • 2 cups (240g) cookie crumbs (graham, digestive, or golden Oreos with cream removed)
  • 1 cup (115g) ground pecans
  • ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon (120g) browned butter (yellow part only)
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Filling

  • 2 (8 oz) blocks cream cheese (452g total), softened
  • ¼ cup (57g) browned butter (mostly brown bits)
  • ½ cup (120g) labneh or full-fat sour cream
  • 1 cup (210g) brown sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean, scraped (or 2 tsp vanilla paste/extract)
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 large eggs

Topping

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean scrapings

Instructions

  1. Brown the Butter: In a medium saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the butter foams, sputters, then quiets down. Watch for brown bits forming on the bottom and a nutty aroma. Once browned, pour the butter into a heatproof bowl, scraping all the brown bits off the pan. Let it cool to use in the crust and filling.
  2. Make the Crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, combine cookie crumbs, ground pecans, powdered sugar, and ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon of the yellow part of the browned butter. Mix thoroughly, then press this mixture into the bottom and halfway up the sides of a greased and parchment-lined 8 or 9-inch round cake pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then remove and let it cool. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F (163°C) for the cheesecake baking.
  3. Prepare the Filling: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with brown sugar, fine sea salt, vanilla bean scrapings (or paste), and the reserved brown butter bits until smooth and creamy. Add the labneh or full-fat sour cream and mix until fully incorporated. Finally, add the eggs one at a time and mix just until blended to avoid overmixing, which can cause cracks in the cheesecake.
  4. Bake the Cheesecake: Pour the prepared filling evenly into the cooled crust. Place the cake pan inside a larger roasting pan and pour hot water into the outer pan until it reaches halfway up the side of the cake pan, creating a water bath. Bake at 325°F (163°C) for 60 to 75 minutes, until the center jiggles slightly but the edges are set. After baking, turn off the oven and crack the oven door open, allowing the cheesecake to cool inside for 30 minutes. Then remove the cheesecake and let it cool to room temperature on the counter for an additional 30 minutes. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours, preferably overnight, to fully set.
  5. Whip the Topping: Combine heavy whipping cream, brown sugar, vanilla extract or vanilla bean scrapings, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Beat until soft peaks form. Spread this whipped cream topping evenly over the chilled cheesecake just before serving for a light, sweet finish.

Notes

  • Use full-fat cream cheese and sour cream (or labneh) for the creamiest texture.
  • Scrape the brown bits from the browned butter for maximum flavor in both crust and filling.
  • The water bath is essential to prevent cracks and ensure even baking.
  • Letting the cheesecake cool gradually reduces risk of cracking.
  • Chilling overnight improves texture and flavor melding.
  • For a nut-free crust, omit the ground pecans and increase cookie crumbs accordingly.
  • Vanilla bean can be substituted with high-quality pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste.

Keywords: brown butter cheesecake, vanilla bean cheesecake, pecan crust cheesecake, creamy cheesecake, homemade cheesecake, baked cheesecake, dessert recipe

Find it online: https://dishedbydana.com/vanilla-bean-brown-butter-cheesecake-recipe/