Step 7 appears to be missing the direction to pour the hot water into the baking dish that surrounds the cake. Can it be added?

Question

How much water should surround the cheesecake while it bakes?

Erin J. · Answer

Thanks for the lovely replies below, all! My usual rule is about halfway up the side of the cheesecake pan, as Nancy suggested below! Happy Baking!

drbabs · Answer

Yes, thanks for the specifics, Nancy

Nancy · Answer

Drbabs - after I saw your 2" recommended depth I worried my 1" wasn't enough or the two answers would confuse readers.
Checked and found both depths recommended in recipes.
But a third rec was even better - halfway up the cheesecake pan or to the depth of aluminum foil wrap (if you've wrapped a pan to prevent water seeping in).

drbabs · Answer

I have a similar recipe on this site (cannoli cake). Here are the water bath instructions for that recipe: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and place it in a large roasting pan inside the oven. Pour boiling water into the roasting pan to about 2 inches high. Bake for one hour until the top is brown and the cake begins to pull away from the sides of the pan.

Nancy · Answer

Until Erin Jeanne replies, common method is to fit one baking pan (with the cake ingredients) inside another and pour boiling water into the larger pan, so it surrounds the smaller one (and buffers the heat from the oven).
Usual recommended depth of water is 1 inch. If your pans only allow lower depth, check during baking and add more water if needed.

Step 7 appears to be missing the direction to pour the hot water into the baking dish that surrounds the cake. Can it be added?

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