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Vanilla Bean Brown Butter Cheesecake Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 53 reviews

This Vanilla Bean Brown Butter Cheesecake is a decadent dessert featuring a nutty brown butter crust made with graham cracker crumbs and ground pecans, and a rich, creamy cream cheese filling enhanced with browned butter and vanilla bean. Finished with a light whipped cream topping, this cheesecake offers a perfect balance of creamy, buttery, and subtly sweet flavors. Baked in a water bath for a silky texture, it’s a show-stopping dessert suited for special occasions or indulgent treats.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust

  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 cups graham crackers (digestive or golden Oreo cookie crumbs, 240g, cream removed if Oreo)
  • 1 cup pecans, ground (115g)
  • ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon browned butter (120g)
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Filling

  • 2 packages cream cheese (452g, room temperature, softened)
  • ¼ cup brown butter (57g, mostly browned bits)
  • ½ cup labne or sour cream
  • 1 cup brown sugar (210g)
  • 1 vanilla bean, scraped
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 large eggs

Whipped Cream Topping

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

Instructions

  1. Brown the Butter: Melt the butter over medium heat, then increase to medium-high as it begins to sputter and foam. Cook until you see brown bits forming on the bottom and it emits a nutty aroma. Immediately pour into a heatproof bowl, scraping to get all the browned bits. Let cool slightly.
  2. Prepare the Crust: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a tall 8 or 9-inch cake pan with parchment paper, securing with metal clips if needed. In a bowl, mix ground pecans, graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, and ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon of the yellow browned butter liquid (reserve browned bits for the filling). Press this mixture evenly onto the bottom and halfway up the sides of the pan.
  3. Bake the Crust: Bake the crust for 10 minutes at 350°F, then reduce oven temperature to 325°F (162°C).
  4. Make the Filling: Beat softened cream cheese, brown sugar, sea salt, 3-4 tablespoons of the reserved browned butter bits, and vanilla bean scrapings until smooth and lump-free, scraping sides as necessary. Add labne or sour cream and blend until smooth. Incorporate the eggs and beat just until combined. If lumps remain, strain the filling through a fine mesh sieve into the cooled crust.
  5. Bake the Cheesecake: Place a 13×9-inch pan filled halfway with warm water on the oven rack. Set the cheesecake pan into this water bath and bake for about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes at 325°F. The cheesecake is done when the center is no longer jiggly and the top appears matte. Turn off oven, prop the door open with a wooden spoon, and let cheesecake cool inside for at least 30 minutes. Remove and leave at room temperature for another 30 minutes, then refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours.
  6. Prepare the Whipped Cream: Using a food processor, whip heavy cream, brown sugar, pinch of salt, and vanilla extract until thick but not overwhipped—cream should hold soft peaks and be scoopable.
  7. Serve and Store: Top the chilled cheesecake with the whipped cream and serve immediately. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Notes

  • Use either graham crackers, digestive biscuits, or golden Oreo cookie crumbs with the cream removed for the crust.
  • Browning the butter adds a nutty flavor and depth to both crust and filling; try to separate the browned bits from the liquid.
  • Water bath baking (bain-marie) ensures a creamy, smooth cheesecake texture and prevents cracks.
  • Cooling the cheesecake gradually in the oven helps prevent cracking.
  • Chill cheesecake at least 8 hours, preferably overnight, for best texture and flavor.
  • The whipped cream topping is optional but adds a light finish that balances the richness.
  • Store any leftovers refrigerated and consume within one week for optimal freshness.

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

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