Description
A rich, creamy Basque cheesecake with a beautifully burnt top and soft center, made in a 6-inch round pan for the perfect small-batch dessert.
Ingredients
Crust:
130 grams ground vanilla wafer cookies (about 1 ¼ cup) or graham crackers
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
85 grams melted unsalted butter (6 Tbsp)
Filling:
454 grams brick-style cream cheese (18 oz), room temperature
100 grams granulated sugar (½ cup)
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
16 grams all-purpose flour (2 Tbsp)
½ teaspoon kosher salt
250 ml heavy cream (1 cup)
Instructions
1. Line a 3-inch deep 6-inch round cake pan with removable bottom using two layers of parchment paper, letting it overhang 2 inches above the rim.
2. Preheat oven to 425°F.
3. In a bowl, mix crushed vanilla wafers or graham crackers with salt and melted butter.
4. Press crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan using a tamper or the bottom of a glass.
5. Set aside.
6. In a food processor, blend cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Scrape sides as needed.
7. Add vanilla extract, then add eggs one at a time while the processor runs.
8. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and ¼ cup of cream until smooth. Slowly add the rest of the cream to create a lump-free mixture.
9. Add the cream mixture to the processor with the cream cheese batter and blend for 30 seconds until smooth.
10. Pour the filling over the crust and smooth the top with an offset spatula or spoon.
11. Place the pan on a baking sheet and bake for 35-40 minutes until the top is deeply browned but the center still jiggles.
12. Let cool completely in the pan at room temperature. Unmold and serve at room temperature or chilled.
Notes
Reduce salt by half if using table salt instead of kosher.
You can use either graham crackers or vanilla wafers for the crust.
Store in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Chilling the cheesecake results in a firmer texture, while room temperature serving gives a custard-like softness.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Cheesecake
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French, Spanish