Are Cheesecake Factory Cheesecakes Baked?

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Short answer: yes, they are baked. The Cheesecake Factory bakes its cheesecakes in the traditional way, in ovens, and no, they are not no-bake desserts that simply set in the fridge.

Now, this question comes up a lot, and we think we know why. Their cheesecakes are unusually smooth and dense, with none of the cracking or browning you often get at home. That finish makes people wonder whether there is some other trick involved.

How Does The Cheesecake Factory Make Its Cheesecakes?

The basics are the same as any baked cheesecake. Cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla go into the batter, and then whatever gives each one its character. Chocolate, strawberries, caramel, pumpkin in the autumn, and so on.

But, there is one thing that surprises people. The cheesecakes are not baked in the restaurants at all. They come from two company bakeries, one in Calabasas Hills in California and one in Rocky Mount in North Carolina. Once they are baked, they are frozen and shipped out to the restaurants, where they are thawed before serving.

So, that is exactly why they are so consistent. A slice in one city tastes the same as a slice three states away, which is very hard to pull off if every kitchen bakes its own.

Why Are They So Smooth?

Well, mostly it comes down to equipment and practice. Commercial bakeries use very gentle, even heat and precise timing, and that is what keeps the surface from drying out and cracking.

At home, the closest you will get is a water bath, a low oven, and letting the cake cool down slowly instead of pulling it straight out into a cold kitchen. If yours splits anyway, we wrote about why cheesecakes crack on top. So, if your cheesecakes crack and theirs never do, it is not that you are doing something wrong. They simply have better ovens than the rest of us!

Can You Buy Them To Take Home?

You can. Most locations sell whole cheesecakes to go, and you will usually need to order a day ahead for the more popular flavors. They also turn up frozen in some grocery stores, though the selection there is much smaller than in the restaurants.

And, one last thing worth knowing. Like any cheesecake made with cream cheese and eggs, a whole one will keep in the fridge for a good few days, so you do not have to finish it in one sitting, however tempting that might be. Just do not leave it sitting out on the counter for more than about two hours.

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