Description
Silky Basque cheesecake from Spain offers a rustic, cracked-edge dessert with intense cream cheese flavor. Creamy interior and caramelized exterior make this simple yet elegant treat irresistible for home bakers seeking European culinary delight.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) full-fat cream cheese, room temperature
- 5 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 ¾ cups (420 g) heavy cream
- 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (33 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preparation: Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line with parchment paper, ensuring edges extend above the rim to create a dramatic border.
- Mixing Base: Blend cream cheese and sugar using an electric mixer on low speed, creating a smooth, luxurious foundation without incorporating excess air.
- Incorporating Eggs: Add eggs one at a time, fully integrating each while blending in vanilla extract to enhance the flavor profile.
- Liquid Integration: Gently fold in heavy cream at a low mixer speed, maintaining a silky smooth texture without risk of curdling.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Softly sift flour and salt over the mixture, delicately folding to combine without deflating the airy batter.
- Baking Process: Pour batter into prepared pan, smoothing the surface. Bake in a preheated 400F (200C) oven for 60-65 minutes until the top achieves a deep bronze color with a subtle center jiggle.
- Cooling and Setting: Allow cheesecake to rest at room temperature for one hour, then carefully remove from springform pan, peeling back parchment paper edges.
- Serving: Refrigerate for a few hours to enhance flavor and texture, then slice into wedges that showcase the cake’s rustic, intentionally imperfect appearance.
Notes
- Butter Pan Carefully: Use room temperature butter for smooth, even coating and ensure parchment paper extends higher than pan edges to prevent overflow.
- Mix Cream Cheese Gently: Avoid overbeating to prevent incorporating too much air, which can cause cracking during baking.
- Add Eggs Systematically: Introduce eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next to maintain a smooth, lump-free batter.
- Control Baking Temperature: Watch for deep bronze surface with slight center wobble, indicating perfect doneness without overbaking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 65 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Basque
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 392
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 21 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 147 mg