To complement the smooth and delicate flavor of cheesecake, a frequently-used mixture combines sour cream for a little tang with a bit sweetness and is probably the cheesecake topping most similar in consistency to frosting. A sweetened fruit puree or chocolate ganache are also suitable frostings. Like any cake frostings, they look their best on an uncracked surface. Most frostings intended for cheesecake tend to be on the thin or runny side, so you don't need to press down hard with a knife to spread them.

Cracks usually happen as a cheesecake cools. Once this process is complete, the first mending step is to chill your cake. Run a knife around the springform pan rim, as you did when you removed the cake from the oven, just to make certain the cake is not sticking to the rim. Then remove the rim. If the crack appears deep or worsens as you remove the pan rim, you might oil a strip of parchment or folded waxed paper, wrap it around the edge of the cake and clip or tape it in place. Oiling will keep the paper from adhering tightly to the cake while letting it support the sides. Some cooks routinely line their pans with an oiled-paper collar before baking. Leave the cake on the spring form pan bottom and chill it in the refrigerator for one to several hours.

Boiling water and a narrow, offset spatula are all the mending tools you will need. Fill a bowl or heatproof mixing cup with the water and warm the spatula. Gently move the spatula across the crack, smoothing the edges together. Rinse the spatula in the water, wait until it is warmed again and repeat. It can take just a few or over a dozen gentle strokes to pull the surface of the crack together.

Chill the cake again. If you plan to transfer it from the springform pan bottom to a cake plate or stand, now is the time. Some cooks run a piece of fine string under the entire cake before removing it, so that no stuck parts are left behind. If you made a paper collar, remove it gently once you have the cake settled on its serving dish. Your cake should be completely smooth on top and ready to frost. The mended area may look slightly lighter than the rest of the top, but this disparity will be covered with frosting. Pour and spread your frosting over the cake, using a light touch. Chill it for an additional half-hour to an hour, allowing the frosting to set.