The invention relates to a method for catalytic cracking to maximize the production of diesel base stocks, comprising a cracking reaction step in an upflow fluidized bed reactor (1), a step of separating the cracked hydrocarbons and coked catalyst, a step of fractionating the cracked hydrocarbons and a step of regenerating said coked catalyst, wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock is injected into the upflow reactor on a catalyst partially deactivated by prior coking of at least part thereof in the same upflow reactor, so that the reaction temperature of the effluents leaving said reactor varies from 470 to 600° C.The invention also relates to a device for implementing the cracking method.