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

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