Burnt Cheesecake

The ever-trending world-popular Burnt Cheesecake from San Sebastián, Basque is Chef Santiago Rivera's creation for his restaurant, La Viña. I chose to title this post Burnt Cheesecake because I wouldn't know if this recipe is authentic or taste like the real one. Here is my 7-inch burnt cheesecake recipe that I baked for my cheesecake-lover lover's birthday. 😍 

September is my favourite month as we have two reasons to celebrate - F's birthday and our engagement anniversary. I don't have any tradition around this but I try to make a new dish or we eat out. This year, I baked a cheesecake - that didn't fail. 

F loves cheesecake but I have miserably failed in making a perfect one. I am sure we all have been there with a cracked cheesecake or uncooked center, etc. Therefore, I used to resort to small portions of cheesecake and a small batch of tiramisu. 😉 Not any more! Here comes the big 7-inch burnt cheesecake recipe!

I baked this 7 inch Burnt Cheesecake for my F's birthday and put to rest the fear of making cheesecake. On birthday eve, I started the prep when he walked into the kitchen and took over the mixer. Though I was not okay, I pretended to be happy. My heart was in my mouth thinking what if he makes a mess! I had no back-up plan either! But he was standing and holding the mixer like a pro. I let him have his moment. So technically, he made the batter, and the mighty-oven baked the cheesecake - my contribution was procuring the ingredients and adding them to the bowl. 😁 

At this point, let me tell you my man is least interested in his bday celebrations and it was as if he was joining my celebration of his birthday! 🤣The cheesecake was cooled and ready to eat by 10pm! He reluctantly agreed to cut the cheesecake at 12am. Now, every minute seemed like an hour and I was getting restless with excitement. I caught him yawn and took that as a cue and remarked that we need to cut the cake now as he has office the next day! So we commenced his bday celebration at 10.45pm! 😂

Woke up on his bday fully charged because there is the world's best cheesecake waiting for us! 😋I took it out and let it come to room temperature while doing my photoshoot. We then had another share for brunch. We would have had the entire cake but I decided to share it with my friend and his fellow cheesecake lover - Reshmi. She and F always gift each other Cheesecake Factory's cheesecake slices. So, her feedback was truly needed! She mentioned that this was one of the yummiest cheesecake she ever had!😊

So, don't think twice! Bake this today!

Ingredients

• cream cheese: I used the almarai squares. You may use cream cheese blocks sold at the cheese counter. Please do not use cream cheese spreads that come bottled or in the tub. 
• sugar: I used good old granulated white sugar.
• eggs: Use large eggs at room temperature. I have used 3 large eggs but you may use 2 large and 1 small. 
• whipping cream: We don't get heavy cream easily so I have used whipping cream and it should be cold to use. Do not be tempted to whip to stiff peaks! We don't need that here. 
• vanilla extract: this is to add flavour that will camouflage the egginess in the cake. 
• salt: a pinch or two would suffice. 
• plain flour: aka maida or all-purpose flour. Some recipe use cake flour. 

How to make

This is a simple straightforward easy cheesecake recipe but yet these kinda recipes are the ones that many fail. Remember upma? 🙂 Make sure you read the recipe well before you attempt. The recipe process involves four stages and each one has important steps to execute. 

1. prep the cake pan - grease and line with a large baking paper
2. prepare the batter - mixing one egg at a time
3. bake the cheesecake - until burnt brown and gold NOT black and charred
4. serve the cheesecake - room temperature

Prep the cake pan - grease and line with a large baking paper. Keep the cream cheese and eggs out to bring them to room temperature.

Prepare the batter - mixing one egg at a time as per the recipe.

Bake the cheesecake in preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes or until burnt brown and gold. Don't take it too far to black and charred.

Let it cool completely to room temperature. While cooling, the cheesecake will sink and that is perfectly ok. 

📖 Recipe

Print Recipe

Burnt Cheesecake

San Sebastian Basque Burnt Cheesecake has a stunning caramelized top and custardy centre. An easy decadent recipe worth the time and the calories!

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time45 mins

Total Time55 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Basque

Keyword: 7 inch burnt cheesecake recipe

Servings: 6 generous slices

Author: Famidha Ashraf

Ingredients

• 450 grams cream cheese squares softened to room temperature*
• ⅔ cup granulated white sugar
• 3 large eggs room temperature
• 1 cup whipping cream chilled
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• a pinch of salt
• 3 tablespoon plain flour

Instructions

Prep the cake pan

• Grease the bottom and sides of a 7-inch or an 8-inch springform pan with softened butter.
• Grease a large piece of baking paper with softened butter all over.
• Press this paper buttered side up into the pan making sure the paper comes at least 2-inch above the pan on all sides.
• Press another plain baking paper overlapping similarly to make sure every part inside the pan is covered with the baking paper neatly.
• Place the pan on a baking tray so you can easily slide in and out from the oven.

Prepare batter

• Preheat the oven to 200℃. Use a handheld electric mixer or standing mixer to make the batter.
• Add the softened cream cheese into a large bowl and beat to cream the cream cheese in medium speed for about a minute or until it is smoothed.
• Add the sugar and continue to whisk making sure to stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Whisk until sugar is dissolved and you have a very smooth with no lumps mixture. This will take about 2 minutes.
• Next, add one egg at a time, beating each egg for less than 15 seconds or just until incorporated fully. Again, make sure to stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Lastly, pour the heavy or whipping cream, salt, and vanilla extract and beat until combined for about 30 seconds. Your mixer job is done.
• Sift the flour over the batter and fold with a rubber spatula until the batter is very smooth and silky. Tiny lumps of flour are OK, it will eventually dissolve while baking.
• Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake

• Carefully slide the tray into the lower middle rack of the oven and bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until the top changes to burnt golden colour. The cheesecake would rise considerably tall. Keep an eye on the cake starting 35mins as each oven is different, yours may get done sooner or later.
• Carefully remove the cheesecake from the oven, you will see it jiggle like jelly in the centre.
• Let it cool completely to room temperature. While cooling, the cheesecake will sink and that is perfectly ok.

Serve

• Unmold the cheesecake from the pan by removing the outer ring of the springform pan and lift the cake with the excess baking paper and place it on the serving plate.
• Peel away the baking paper from the sides of the cheesecake and you may use a scissor to trim the excess for aesthetic purpose.
• Slice into wedges and serve at room temperature. You should serve this at room temperature which is the best way we loved or you may pop it in the fridge overnight completely covered and eat it cold or bring it to room temperature again before you serve any remaining cheesecake.

Store

• Store any leftover covered in the fridge for not more than 3 days. You may freeze the cheesecake wedges cling-wrapped in an airtight freezer container for not more than 2 weeks but I have not tried freezing yet. Or be kind and share some with your neighbour!

Notes

* I like to unwrap each square and keep them in a large bowl to soften to room temperature. If you don't unwrap while still cold, the cream cheese tends to stick to the wrapper making you lose some of it.