Description
Sweet layers of Middle Eastern honey pistachio baklava cheesecake merge creamy richness with crisp phyllo pastry. Delicate notes of honey and crunchy pistachios create a Mediterranean dessert that delights your palate with complex textures and harmonious flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz (454 g) cream cheese, softened
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup (240 ml) sour cream
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups (240 g) graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup (60 g) pistachios, finely chopped
- ¼ cup (57 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tbsps honey
- ½ cup (170 g) honey
- ¼ cup (60 ml) water
- ¼ cup (40 g) pistachios, chopped for garnish
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8 to 10-inch springform pan with parchment paper, covering bottom and sides completely.
- Phyllo Foundation: Layer buttered phyllo sheets meticulously, pressing each to create a crisp, golden base that will support the cheesecake’s structure.
- Nut Mixture Creation: Pulverize walnuts, almonds, cinnamon, and salt in a food processor, then blend with melted butter to form a fragrant, textured foundation.
- Batter Assembly: Whip cream cheese until silky smooth, gradually mixing in sugar, salt, vanilla, lemon zest, and juice. Gently incorporate cornstarch and eggs, maintaining the mixture’s delicate consistency.
- Yogurt Integration: Fold yogurt into the cheesecake batter, ensuring a luxurious, creamy texture that will define the dessert’s character.
- Layering and Baking: Spread the nut mixture across the phyllo crust, then pour the cheesecake batter evenly over the top. Bake until the surface turns a delicate golden color with a subtle center wobble.
- Cooling Process: Turn off the oven, leaving the cheesecake inside to cool gradually, preventing cracks and preserving a velvety smooth finish.
- Syrup and Garnish: Craft a luxurious syrup by combining honey, lemon juice, and rosewater. Once cooled, drizzle generously over the cheesecake, allowing the sweet glaze to permeate the layers.
- Final Presentation: Scatter freshly chopped pistachios across the top, adding a vibrant green accent and nutty crunch. Complete with a final honey drizzle just before serving, creating a glossy, inviting dessert that showcases its complex flavor profile.
Notes
- Prevent Phyllo Cracking: Brush each phyllo sheet gently with melted butter to maintain delicate layers and prevent tearing during preparation.
- Master Smooth Cheesecake Texture: Ensure cream cheese is room temperature and mix ingredients at low speed to avoid incorporating excess air and potential cracking.
- Control Baking Temperature: Use water bath method or place a pan of hot water on lower oven rack to create humid environment, promoting even baking and preventing surface cracks.
- Syrup Absorption Technique: Allow cheesecake to cool completely before drizzling honey syrup, enabling maximum flavor penetration and preventing soggy crust.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg