Basque Cheesecake Recipe (with Video) • 5★ • 1 hr 40 min, plus cooling

Basque Cheesecake Recipe (with Video) • 5★ • 1 hr 40 min, plus cooling

Spanish1 hr 40 minServes 12 servingsMedium

Ingredients


Instructions


Full Article

Basque Cheesecake

Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.

Generously burnished and with a velvety, custardy interior, this rustic, crustless cheesecake from the Basque region of northern Spain is the platonic ideal of a low-effort, high-reward dessert. The caramelized exterior evokes a toasty marshmallow, but the cake itself is not too sweet. Marti Buckley adapted this recipe from La Viña, a small bar in San Sebastián, for her cookbook, “Basque Country” (Artisan, 2018). This statement cake is achieved using only five primary ingredients. It’s baked at a higher temperature than a classic New York cheesecake and in the hot oven, the cheesecake dramatically inflates into a soufflé-like puff before sinking into itself, creating a cradle for fresh fruit, should you wish to serve it with some. But Basque cheesecake is perfect on its own, at its arguable prime the day after it’s made, enjoyed at room temperature. —Tanya Sichynsky


Ingredients

Yield:12 servings

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

  1. Step 1
    Place a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 10-inch springform pan and line with parchment paper, leaving 2 to 3 inches overhanging the top of the pan. (You can trace and cut a circle to fit the base and then cut a band of paper to fit neatly around the sides, but the more rustic and simple method is to press an entire sheet into the pan, pleating the paper where it begins to crease. If you use multiple sheets of parchment, grease in between the layers so that they stick and lay flat.)
  2. Step 2
    In a large bowl using a handheld mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the sugar and cream cheese until smooth. (This can be done by hand as well; beat with a wooden spoon for about 5 minutes.)
  3. Step 3
    Add the salt and mix. Add the eggs one by one and beat until fully incorporated.
  4. Step 4
    Beat in the cream. Sift in the flour, then mix it in on low.
  5. Step 5
    Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
  6. Step 6
    Bake until browned and almost burnt on top, 50 to 60 minutes. The center will still be quite jiggly. Remove the cake from the oven and cool completely on a rack. It will have risen significantly, nearly past the top of the pan, but it will sink in the center as it cools.
  7. Step 7
    Before serving, remove the rim of the springform and gently tug away the parchment paper. Serve at room temperature.

My Notes