Dairy-Free Brown Butter Vanilla Cheesecake

Jul 31, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Cheesecakes Origin: Ugandan Vanilla: Beans Medium

Dairy-free brown butter vanilla cheesecake made with Madagascar vanilla

Dairy-free brown butter cheesecake flavored with a whole vanilla bean. An intermediate recipe: 40 minutes of prep and 60 minutes of cooking, plus cooling and chilling; serves 12. Best vanilla for this: Ugandan (bold, chocolatey, smoky), or Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic). Any pure vanilla works.

Prep 40 min

Cook 60 min

Cool & Chill 9 hr

Total 10 hr 40 min

Servings 12

Diet Dairy free

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

Crust

1 ½ cups (150.0 g)graham cracker crumbs
6.0 tbsp (85.0 g)browned dairy-free butter, melted

Filling

32.0 oz (900.0 g)dairy-free cream cheese, softened
1.0 cup (200.0 g)granulated sugar
4.0large eggs
½ cup (120.0 ml)dairy-free sour cream
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped

Make it at home

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Wrap the outside of a 9-inch springform pan in two layers of foil and bring a kettle of water to a boil for the water bath.
Brown the butter: melt it in a light-colored skillet over medium heat, swirling, until it turns golden and smells nutty (dairy-free butter browns faster, so watch closely), 5 to 7 minutes.
Stir the graham crumbs and melted butter together until evenly moistened, then press firmly into the bottom of the pan and chill while you make the filling.
Beat the softened cream cheese on medium speed until completely smooth, then beat in the sugar and vanilla until creamy.
Add the eggs one at a time on low speed, mixing just until each disappears, then blend in the sour cream; avoid overbeating to keep the texture dense and crack-free.
Pour the filling over the crust, set the pan in a roasting pan, and pour in hot water to come 1 inch up the sides. Bake at 325°F (165°C) for about 60 minutes, until the edges are set but the center still jiggles slightly when nudged.
Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake cool inside with the door cracked for 1 hour, then chill overnight before slicing with a warm, clean knife.

Tips

Brown the butter in a light-colored pan so you can see the color change; it turns from golden to burnt in seconds.
Don't toss the scraped pods: tuck them into a jar of sugar for homemade vanilla sugar.
No vanilla bean? Use 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon vanilla powder instead. Add it where the recipe adds the seeds; if the bean is steeped in hot milk or cream, stir the swap in after cooking, off the heat.
Choosing vanilla: Ugandan vanilla (bold, chocolatey, smoky) suits this recipe best; Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic) is a great alternative, and any pure vanilla works.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make vanilla cheesecake?

Plan on 40 minutes of prep and 60 minutes of cooking, plus 9 hr cool & chill. The recipe makes 12 servings.

How should I store vanilla cheesecake?

Refrigerate, covered, for up to 5 days, or freeze well-wrapped slices for up to 1 month.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This version uses 1 split vanilla bean. You can swap in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon of vanilla bean paste, or 1 teaspoon of vanilla powder instead; they're interchangeable at these amounts. Beans give the most visible specks and the fullest aroma.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

456 Calories / serving

35.4g Fat

30.9g Carbs

6.4g Protein

23.2g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~5472 cal · 425g fat · 371g carbs · 77g protein · 278g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 456 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 86 min·5.0 mi·~10050 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 62 min·3.1 mi·~6200 steps
Moderate cycling 46 min·9.2 mi
Swimming laps 64 min
Jogging 45 min·3.8 mi·~7200 steps
Stair climbing 42 min·~3800 steps
Dancing 74 min
Bodyweight circuit training 46 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 106 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.