"Mimi gave this recipe to my mother, who then gave it to me. This is my Papa's cake of choice for his birthday. A sour cream topping makes this cheesecake unique. Garnish with almonds if you like."
2Beat cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes.
3Beat egg whites in a separate bowl on high speed until stiff peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes. Blend in 1 1/2 cups sugar. Fold egg whites into cream cheese, and stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Pour cream cheese filling into crust.
4Bake in the preheated oven until filling is set, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven; set aside.
5Increase oven temperature to 475 degrees F (246 degrees C).
6Combine sour cream, 2 tablespoons white sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract together in a large bowl. Spread evenly on top of the filling.
7Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature, about 45 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until firm, at least 2 hours.
Footnotes
Cook's Note:
Coat the bottom of the baking pan with finely chopped walnuts or almond slices instead of using a graham cracker crust if preferred.
Tip
Aluminum foil helps keep food moist, ensures it cooks evenly, keeps leftovers fresh, and makes clean-up easy.