To prepare the crust, melt the butter by microwaving in 30-second increments. In a mixing bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and granulated sugar.
Press the crust mixture into the bottom of a springform pan, covering the bottom and up the sides of the pan just slightly. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, until smooth. Add in the sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract, and mix until well combined.
Pour the cheesecake mixture into the springform pan. Smooth out evenly. Move the cheesecake to the freezer to chill for 8 hours or overnight. When you are ready to serve the cheesecake, remove it from the freezer and allow it to thaw for 20-30 minutes on the countertop. If desired, top the cheesecake with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Notes
Make sure you whip your filling mixture until everything is smooth.
This cheesecake needs to chill, so do not skimp on the time. Trust me it is worth the wait.