2½cups(280 grams) finely ground graham cracker crumbs
1½cups(300 grams) plus 3 tablespoons (36 grams) granulated sugar, divided
½teaspoonkosher salt, divided
¼teaspoonground cinnamon
½cup(113 grams) unsalted butter, melted
3tablespoons(24 grams) all-purpose flour
3(8-ounce) packages (680 grams) cream cheese, cubed and room temperature
1vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped and reserved
1teaspoon(2 grams) packed lemon zest
2teaspoons(10 grams) fresh lemon juice
4large eggs(200 grams), room temperature
1cup(240 grams) sour cream, room temperature
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Spray a 9-inch springform pan with baking spray with flour.
In a large bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, 3 tablespoons (36 grams) sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt, and cinnamon until combined. Add melted butter, and stir until well combined; using a small, straight-sided measuring cup, press crumb mixture into bottom and 1 inch up sides of prepared pan.
Bake until set and fragrant, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Wrap bottom and sides of pan in heavy-duty foil; place in a large oven bag, tucking ends so bag is flush with top edge of pan. (If you do not use an oven bag, wrap pan in a double layer of foil.) Reduce oven temperature to 325°F (170°C).
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, remaining 1½ cups (300 grams) sugar, and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese at medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add flour mixture, reserved vanilla bean seeds, and lemon zest and juice; beat at medium-low speed until well combined, about 1 minute, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. With mixer on low speed, add eggs, one at a time, beating just until combined after each addition. Add sour cream; beat until well combined, about 30 seconds, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Pour cream cheese mixture into prepared crust, smoothing top with a small offset spatula. Carefully place springform pan in a large roasting pan. Place roasting pan in oven, and add hot water to come 1 inch up sides of springform pan.
Bake until edges are set, top is lightly golden, and center is still jiggly, 1 hour and 20 minutes to 1½ hours*. Carefully remove cheesecake from water bath, and let cool completely in pan on a wire rack, 1½ to 2 hours. (Once pan is cool enough to handle, carefully remove bag and foil from sides.) Refrigerate in pan on a wire rack overnight, loosely covering with foil only when completely cool to prevent condensation from forming on top of cheesecake.
Carefully remove chilled cheesecake from pan, and transfer to a serving plate. Use a warm, dry knife to slice when ready to serve.
Notes
*If your oven is not browning the top evenly, you can carefully rotate the pan, but wait until after the 1-hour mark to try and rotate the cheesecake.