Cheesecakes can not only brighten up the dreariest of times, but a well prepared and presented one can imprint your culinary skills on the minds of the guests forever. It is true that even a medium sized slice of it is filled with a good amount of sugar and fat, but hey, who’s talking about going on a cheesecake diet! If you need an excuse to keep your calorie counter aside for a while, let cheesecake be the reason. Cheesecakes come in endless varieties. Here is a basic cheesecake recipe that you can easily prepare. Read on to learn about the process.
Complexity Level: Basic
Time Required: 2 hours to prepare, overnight to set
Resources Required:
- Cream cheese 500 g
- Sugar 100 g
- Egg yolks 3
- Digestive biscuits 200 g
- Butter 50 g
- 8 inch springform tin or loose bottomed tin
Instructions:
1. Prepare the crust
Crush the biscuits coarsely in a ziploc bag with a rolling pin and throw them into the blender. Process for half a minute till they become crumbly. Microwave the butter for 10 seconds on 50% or half power. Pour the butter over the crushed biscuits and process for another 15 seconds. Take this clumpy mix and press it into the base of the springform tin, making sure to spread it evenly and into the edges. Place the tin in the freezer for about 30 minutes while you go on to make the rest of the cheesecake.
2. Prepare the filling
Place the cottage cheese, sugar, and egg yolk in a mixing bowl and mix with a blender till it becomes smooth.
3. Pour the filling
Take out the tin with the crust from the freezer. It should have set into a hard layer by now. Pour the filling over the crust.
4. Bake your cheesecake
Preheat the oven to 325/170. Place the cheesecake in the middle rack and let it bake for 50 minutes. If you are using a topping that needs further cooking, apply it and bake for the recommended time.
5. Cool and chill your cake
Remove it from the oven. You will know that it is done if it is firm on top but wobbly inside. Let it cool to room temperature. If you are using a topping that can set in the fridge, spread it over the cheesecake now. Cover with cling film or foil to prevent odors from being absorbed and place it in the refrigerator overnight.
6. Serve
Unfasten the clips to release the side of the tin. If you are using a loose bottomed tin, push the bottom up gently and slide the cake out on to a plate. Cut into generous wedges and serve.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I freeze cheesecake?
Place the cheesecake with the springform tin bottom in the freezer for an hour. After an hour, slide it out on to a piece of cardboard wrapped in foil. Cover well with cling film from all directions. Place this in a freezer bag and put it in the freezer. It will stay well for about a month. Do not freeze with topping. You can put the topping after thawing and before serving. Thaw by keeping it in the lower shelf of the refrigerator overnight.
Quick Tips:
1. The secret to making perfect cheesecake is in having every ingredient at room temperature. You will do well to plan ahead and keep everything out about an hour before you start preparing.
2. The recipe here is for a basic cheesecake. The standard cheesecake comes with a flavored topping which can be baked or set in the freezer. You can experiment with different types of toppings such as chocolate sauces, jams, and sour cream based toppings.
3. Foolproof toppings include strawberry jam (spread jam on top after cooling the cheesecake) and chocolate (melt chocolate, brown sugar, and cream over low heat, pour over baked cheesecake and bake it again for 10 minutes).
Things to Watch Out For:
1. Over-mixing the filling is a common mistake, since most people think they need to get air into the mixture like one would for a conventional cake batter. In this case, it can lead to too much air in the filling, as a result of which the cheesecake can crack and “fall” – an ugly sight. The way out of this is to mix the ingredients which is just enough for them to blend into a smooth consistency.
2. Cheesecakes are extremely high in calories. People with known weight issues or other health concerns need to be cautious while going for it.
3. Cheesecake contains dairy. Some of the popular cheesecake toppings contain peanuts and other nuts. Do not serve cheesecake to people who are allergic to these foods.
