Sometimes you don’t want to make things too complicated with cardamom pods or matcha tea dust. This is the perfect crowd-pleasing, middle-of-the-mall dessert you can bring to a dinner party with people you don’t know very well and still come off like a hero.
FOR THE CRUST
1 cup graham cracker crumbs (6 to 7 graham crackers)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
FOR THE CHEESECAKE
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 cups cream cheese, softened
3 large eggs
1 cup crème fraîche
1. Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9½-inch springform pan.
2. Mix together the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter until the crumbs are moist. Press the crumbs into a layer that covers the bottom of the prepared pan.
3. Bake the crust for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
4. Make the cheesecake: Add the sugar and vanilla to the cream cheese and mix until smooth.
5. Add the eggs and crème fraîche and mix until smooth.
6. Pour the batter over the cooled graham cracker crust.
7. Bake the cheesecake for 1 hour. It should move like a good burlesque dancer—a little jiggly.
8. Let cool to room temperature. Then refrigerate for at least 5 hours before serving.