Gluten Free Classic Cheesecake with Almond Crust

You guys are going to love today’s Gluten Free Classic Cheesecake! Smooth and creamy, it is a dreamy dessert you’ll crave all year long. 

For this recipe, I chose to work with almond flour for its flavor, natural oils, and flexibility. As long as you don’t have nut allergies, it is a great option. Today I used it as the base for my cheesecake – yes folks, you do not have to use graham crackers! As a matter of fact, The Artist prefers this crust and gladly enjoys it as the base for all of my cheesecakes.

The thing I love about subbing almond flour for graham crackers is that all the ingredient measurements stay the same – it is a 1:1 swap. Any cheesecake can be made with this crust!

To be honest it is a touch more delicate than a regular crust, but the flavors are outstanding and I think it is worth it to be able to offer a fully gluten-free dessert that everyone loves.

When you read the recipe, you will see that I do not use a water bath with my cheesecakes. I am one of those people who can never get my springform pan covered tightly enough with foil to stop the water from leaking in. I know, blasphemy, but it is a hassle, and if I have to fuss with it, it is enough to keep me from regularly baking cheesecakes all year long. So, I bake mine naked and if needed, use a sour cream layer or fruit sauce on top to cover any cracks – voila! Perfection!

You definitely need a springform pan, so don’t try this recipe without one. If you don’t already own one, this is one item I would not buy from Goodwill or a similar place. You need a really tight seal and the older models are likely not as strong as a new one. Also, you need to be sure it isn’t harboring any microscopic bits of gluten … new is better!

Be sure you don’t make the same mistake I did … I grabbed my 9-inch springform instead of the 10-inch and wound up overfilling the pan by mistake. It puffed up really tall and stood at least an inch over the top of the pan. To try to get it cooked all the way through and not jiggle, I overcooked mine. It still tastes great, but if I had used the correct size pan, it would have been perfect.

The mistake I made was to start making this too late in the day. By the time it came out of the oven The Artist was starving and I needed to make dinner. That meant that the center of the cake sank and it cooled off too much by the time I could make the sour cream topping. So, I poured the topping into the center and put it in the refrigerator, hoping it would firm up as it cooled. It didn’t exactly work the way I wanted.

The Artist told me to embrace my mistakes, so I am sharing shots of the lava flow that happened when I cut the first slice of this classic cheesecake. Yep, the topping never fully set so it was very soft and flowed down as I pulled the piece from the cheesecake. Oh well, it may not be beautiful in the traditional way but it still tastes great!

Head to the grocery store, buy some cream cheese and sour cream, pull out your springform pan and dive in. This Gluten Free Classic Cheesecake is an indulgence that is worth every bite! Enjoy this non-traditional cheesecake with almond crust. You may just find that you prefer it like The Artist does! 

Did you enjoy this recipe? Let me know in the comments, I love hearing from you!

 

Key Ingredients for Gluten Free Classic Cheesecake:

• Crust: Almond meal, brown sugar, lemon zest, butter
• Filling: Cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, eggs, egg yolks, lemon rind, lemon juice, vanilla

• Sour Cream Topping: Sour cream, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla

 

PRO Tip:

Be sure to use a 10-inch springform pan and nothing smaller. You’ll need every inch to hold all the filling and topping.

 

How to make Gluten Free Classic Cheesecake:

1. Make the Crust: Mix together the almond meal, sugar, and lemon zest then stir in the melted butter and press into the bottom of a 10-inch springform pan; bake 10 minutes then set aside to cool
2. Make the Filling: Beat the cream cheese until fluffy then add the sour cream, sugar, eggs, yolks, lemon juice, and zest, beating until smooth and just combined
3. Pour into cooled crust and bake about 1 hour at 325°F until just the center jiggles slightly; transfer to a rack to cool slightly
4. Make the Topping: Increase oven to 425°F; in a bowl combine the sour cream, sugar, and vanilla until smooth; when the cheesecake has cooled about 10 minutes, pour the topping over the cheesecake and use an offset spatula to gently nudge it to the edges, smoothing the top
5. Bake 10 minutes to set the topping, remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack; cool to room temperature, about 3 hours, then wrap in plastic (still in its pan) and refrigerate at least 4 hours or better still, overnight
6. To Serve: Carefully release the springform clamp, run an offset spatula around the edges of the pan and carefully ease the sides away from the cake; let it sit out at room temperature about 30 minutes before slicing and serving

 

PRO Tip:

If you or your family members cannot have almonds, you can use hazelnut meal or any ground nut that you love in place of graham crackers for a gluten-free crust. You can also use gluten-free cookie crumbs with a little sugar and melted butter, just like you would graham crackers.

 

Recommended Tools (affiliate links; no extra cost to you):

• Citrus zester/grater
• Citrus reamer
• 10-inch springform pan
• Stand mixer
• Offset spatula

 

Gluten-Free Tips:

The almond crust is tasty with a lovely texture – the perfect substitute for a traditional graham cracker crust which contains gluten. This creates a totally gluten-free cheesecake!

 

 

 

 

 

Create a New Tradition Today!

 

Welcome! The suggestions here are not intended as dietary advice or as a substitute for consulting a dietician, physician, or other medical professional. Please see the Disclaimers/Privacy Policy page for additional details. Unauthorized use, distribution, and/or duplication of proprietary material from The Heritage Cook without prior approval is prohibited. If you have any questions or would like permission, please contact me. We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This page may contain affiliate links. This post was first shared in May 2017. The article was updated in 2021.