Cheesecake is a rich, creamy dessert with a sweet filling made mostly from soft cheese (usually cream cheese), eggs, and sugar, all sitting on top of a crust made from crushed graham crackers or cookies. The filling bakes into a smooth, dense layer that's somewhere between a custard and a cake. Some cheesecakes are topped with fruit, chocolate, or caramel sauce.

Despite its name, cheesecake isn't really a cake at all. It doesn't rise like a birthday cake and usually has little or no flour.

Making a good cheesecake takes patience: it bakes slowly at a low temperature and needs to cool for hours. Rush the process, and the top might crack. But when done right, a slice of cheesecake is incredibly smooth and satisfying, with that perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors.