To make this cheesecake crust, first, preheat the oven to 320°F (160°C). Then, line a 9-inch springform cake pan with a piece of non-stick baking paper, and coat the sides of the pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Then, combine the graham crackers, sugar, melted butter, lemon zest, and vanilla extract in the bowl of a food processor. Blend the ingredients together until a fine uniform crumb forms.
Then, press the crumb into the lined springform cake pan. Make sure you press it so the crumb is tightly packed and even in thickness throughout the bottom of the pan.
Next, bake the crust in your preheated oven for roughly 8 minutes or until it just starts to get some golden colors.
Once baked, remove the par-baked crust from the oven and allow it to cool at room temperature inside of the pan.
First, combine the cream cheese and sugar inside of a large mixing bowl. Cream the ingredients together until they become light in color and aerated.
Then, add in the large eggs. Make sure to beat each egg well before adding another to the cream cheese mixture. Once all of the eggs have been fully incorporated, add the Greek yogurt, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
Mix until all of the ingredients have just been fully incorporated.
Pout the cheesecake batter into the pre-baked crust and make sure to spread it evenly on top. Then, bake it inside of your preheated oven for roughly 40-50 minutes.
Your cheesecake is done baking when only the center 1 to 2-inches are jiggly.
Next, it is crucial that you correctly cool the baked cheesecake to prevent cracks from forming. So, once the cheesecake has been baked, switch off the oven, open the door slightly, and allow the cheesecake to cool for roughly an hour.
Then, remove it from the oven completely and set it on the kitchen counter on a wire rack. Allow it to cool for an additional hour.
And finally, wrap the entire cheesecake inside the pan with saran or plastic wrap to ensure it doesn't dry out in the fridge. Allow the cheesecake to set for at least 4 hours before serving it. We however prefer having it set overnight for the best texture and flavor.
The final step is to remove the cheesecake from the springform pan. To do this, first, use a very thin sharp paring knife to loosen the cheesecake from the cake pan. Carefully slide the knife between them to cut it loose otherwise, the cheesecake will be pulled apart.
Then, slowly open the clasps of the springform cake pan and remove the side part entirely.
We recommend keeping the cheesecake on top of the pans' bottom, as removing it is too risky and may break the entire cake. However, it isn't impossible.
Once sliced, serve this cheesecake made with yogurt within 4 days of making it. You can naturally add loads of sauces, toppings, frostings, and other garnishes for additional flavor.