Classic American Cheesecake

Ingredients
Crust
 * 2 lbs cream cheese, room temperature
 * 1 cup sugar
 * 1 teaspoon vanilla
 * 1/2 teaspoon salt
 * 4 large eggs
 * 1 lemon, zest of, of finely grated
 * 1/3 cup unsalted butter
 * 1 1/2 cups dry cookie crumbs, such as gingersnaps or graham crackers
 * 3 tablespoons sugar
 * melted butter, for brushing pan

Directions
For crust: For the cheesecake:
 * Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
 * Brush a 9-inch springform pan generously with melted butter.
 * Melt butter, stir in cookie crumbs and sugar.
 * press the mixture into the bottom of the pan, spreading evenly with the back of a spoon.
 * Bake until lightly toasted- about 13-15 minutes.
 * Remove from oven and cool.
 * In an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, beat cream cheese until soft
 * Add sugar, vanilla and salt
 * Add eggs one at a time, beating until smooth and scraping down the sides after each addition.
 * Stir in zest.
 * Pour batter into springform pan and bake until done.
 * Turn oven off and leave door slightly open for 1 hour.
 * Transfer to refrigerator and chill overnight.
 * Remove sides of springform and cake on pan base.